Vasil Chekalarov

Vasil Hristov Chekalarov (Bulgarian/Macedonian: Васил Христов Чекаларов) or Vasil Tcakalarov (1874 – 9 July 1913) was a Bulgarian[1] revolutionary and one of the leaders of Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation in Macedonia. H. N. Brailsford described Chekalarov as the "cruel but competent general" of the Southern insurgents in Macedonia.[2] He considered the adherents of Macedonist ideas to be Grecomans.[3]

Vasil Chekalarov c. 1903
Voivode

Vasil Chekalarov
Vasil Chekalarov c. 1908
Native name
Васил Христов Чекаларов
Birth nameVasil Hristov Chekalarov
Born1874
Smrdesh, Monastir Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (now Krystallopigi, Greece)
Died9 July 1913
Belkamen, Ottoman Empire, (now Drosopigi, Florina), Greece
Allegiance
Service/branch Bulgarian Army
UnitMacedonian-Adrianopolitan Volunteer Corps
Battles/warsIlinden Uprising
Macedonian Struggle
Balkan Wars
Spouse(s)Olga Chekalarova
Signature

He was a leading komitaji in the bands of the Bulgarian Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Committees and took part in the battles against the Ottoman authorities as well before the Ilinden Uprising as after it. In 1901-1902 he created a channel for illegal purchase and transfer of firearms from Greece to Southern Macedonia. In 1904 he migrated into Bulgaria and became one of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) organizers of the military campaign against the Greek Struggle for Macedonia.

As a commander of a Bulgarian guerilla band, Chekalarov supported the Hellenic Army in the First Balkan War 1912-1913.[4] Later he fought on the side of the Bulgarian Army on the front in Eastern Thrace in the composition of the Macedonian-Adrianopolitan Volunteer Corps.

He was killed by Greek troops during the Second Balkan War and his head was publicly displayed in Florina.

The head of Vasil Chekalarov c. 1913

In 1934 a Bulgarian village was renamed Chakalarovo in honour of Vasil Chekalarov.[5]

References

  1. Vacalopoulos, Apostolos. Modern history of Macedonia (1830-1912), Thessaloniki 1988, p. 192
  2. Brailsford, H. N. Macedonia: Its Races and Their Future, London 1906, p. 145
  3. Чекаларов, Васил. Дневник 1901-1903, София 2001, с. 91, 122, 140, 188, 197 (Chekalarov, Vasil. Diary 1901-1903, Sofia 2001, p. 91, 122, 140, 188, 197)
  4. Силянов, Христо. От Витоша до Грамос. Пътят на една чета през Освободителната война 1912, София 1920, Македоно-Одринско опълчение 1912-1913. Личен състав по документите на Дирекция "Централен военен архив", София 2006, с. 794, 892.
  5. Мичев, Николай, Петър Коледаров. Речник на селищата и селищните имена в България 1878-1987, София, 1989, стр. 68.
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