Voivode Vidul

Vidul Voyvoda, whose real name was Vidul Kunchov Vidulov, was one of the prominent figures in Bulgarian history in the early nineteenth century. He was born around 1777 and was an uncle of the well-known Bulgarian revolutionary Vasil Levski. Vidul Voyvoda should not be confused with another voivode named Vidul Stranski from Kalofer, who lived later.

Coming from a family with a long history of rebellious activity, Vidul Voyvoda was the eldest son of Kuncho and Visha. He had brothers Rusi, Tudur and Ivan, Vasil Levski's father, as well as daughters Kula, Visha and Elka. In 1796 Vidul fled his native village of Kochmalare and settled in Voynyagovo. When kardzhali bandits attacked that village, he and his band successfully repelled them at the locality of Skokat.

In 1812, after the killing of Sabri Bey from Plovdiv, Vidul Voyvoda and his son Kuncho went into hiding with other relatives. They settled in Voynyagovo, where Vidul Voyvoda married for a second time, to Yana Iskryuva, and had a son named Valyu. During this period Vidul Voyvoda roamed near and far with his band. Valko Buzdrev, known as Valko Voyvoda, from Voynyagovo, and Gencho Panov, known as Gencho Voyvoda, from Hisar Kyuselere, are also believed to have belonged to his detachment. They later became well-known voivodes themselves. Vidul's brother Tudur also served in his detachment but died in 1829 near Adrianople during General Diebitsch-Zabalkansky's campaign.

In 1833, during a clash with forces pursuing them, Vidul Voyvoda was seriously wounded and died of his injuries. He is described as a large, broad-shouldered man with blue eyes, blond hair and a moustache; Vasil Levski's sister Yana compared Levski's appearance to that of their uncle Vidul.