Voivode Zhelez

Zhelez Dobrev Zhelezchev, known as Zhelez Voivode or Zhelyu Voivode, was born in the village of Cherkeshliy, which was later renamed Zhelyu in his honour.

His childhood began unhappily because of a malicious stepmother who sent him to work as a shepherd boy. This experience, however, made him a healthy and strong young man, ready to face life’s challenges. Rather than being soothed by maternal songs, he preferred listening to dark legends and songs about the voivodes of old.

At eighteen, Zhelez became a hajduk and spent the next twelve years wandering through the Balkan Mountains, alone or with a small group of companions. He fought Turks and deceitful Bulgarians, and around 1840 joined Boycho Voivode’s men. After Boycho’s death, he became a member of Dimitar Kalachliyata’s detachment, but he was wounded in the legs in an engagement and forced to hide in Dobruja.

From 1853, he pursued hajduk activities for some three or four years alongside Peyu Buyukliyata and Zlati Konarchenina from Boycho’s company. He then commanded an independent detachment until about 1863.

During these thirty years of hajduk activity, Zhelez Voivode performed many courageous deeds. In 1854, he rescued two girls who had been abducted by Tatars. For this, he was acclaimed a national hero and celebrated in folk songs and legends.

The village of Zhelyu was named in honour of Zhelez Voivode, commemorating his courage and deeds.