Georgi Sava Rakovski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Georgi Rakovski
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| Георги Раковски | |
Georgi Rakovski
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Sabi Stoykov Popovich
Съби Стойков Попович 14 April 1821 Kotel, Sanjak of İslimiye, Adrianople Eyalet, Ottoman Empire
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| Died | 9 October 1867 (aged 46) Bucharest, United Principalities
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Georgi Stoykov Rakovski (born Sabi Stoykov Popovich) was an important Bulgarian leader in the 1800s. He was a writer and a revolutionary who fought for Bulgaria's freedom. He played a big part in the Bulgarian National Revival, a time when Bulgarians worked to bring back their culture and gain independence from the Ottoman Empire.
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Life of Georgi Rakovski
Early Years and Education
Georgi Rakovski was born in Kotel in 1821. His family was wealthy and loved their country. He went to school in his hometown and in Karlovo. In 1837, he moved to Istanbul to study at the Greek Orthodox College.
In 1841, Rakovski was involved in plans against the Ottoman rulers. He was sentenced to death but escaped to Marseille with help from a friend. About a year and a half later, he returned to Kotel. He was arrested again in 1845. He was sent to Istanbul and held alone for seven years. He was finally set free in May 1848.
After his release, Rakovski stayed in Istanbul. He worked as a lawyer and a merchant. He also joined efforts to create a separate Bulgarian church. This was important for Bulgarian identity. He was arrested again for starting a secret group of Bulgarians. This group aimed to help the Russians during the Crimean War. While being moved to Istanbul, he escaped. He then gathered a group of rebels. In June 1854, he moved to Bulgaria.
Writing and Literary Works
From 1854 to 1860, Rakovski focused on writing. He published articles and tried to avoid being arrested. He also started his own magazine called "Bulgarian Ancient Times" in 1865. Only one issue of this magazine was published. In his articles, Rakovski used many sources. He knew more than nine languages. He was the first European to translate old Vedic texts into Bulgarian. His wide knowledge made him a very skilled person during the Bulgarian National Revival.
His most famous work is a poem called Gorski Patnik. This means A Traveller in the Woods or Forest Wanderer. He wrote it while hiding from Turkish authorities. This was near Kotel during the Crimean War (1853–1856). It is seen as one of the first important Bulgarian poems. However, it was not published until 1857. The published version was clearer and better written than the first.
The poem tells the story of a Bulgarian man. He gathers a group of rebels to fight against the Turks. Rakovski wrote this poem to inspire people to fight for freedom. He wanted them to seek revenge for the Turks' cruelty. The story begins with the main character admiring nature. But his mind is filled with thoughts of his country's problems and lack of freedom. He encourages others to join his revolt. As the rebels travel, the reader learns about their bravery. This work is said to show all the hopes of the Bulgarian people. It shows their brave fight against Ottoman rule.
Rakovski never finished Gorski Patnik. It was written in an old style of language, which made it hard to read. Still, it had a big impact on Bulgarian society.
Revolutionary Efforts
In 1861, Rakovski helped create a Bulgarian legion in Belgrade. He met with a leader named Đuro Matanović. They talked about starting a rebellion at the same time in Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Albania. Rakovski also traveled around Europe. He tried to get support for Bulgaria's cause. His strong ideas sometimes faced opposition from others. But his writings encouraged young people to fight against the Turks. In this year, he wrote his Plan for the Liberation of Bulgaria. Many young people joined him to fight the Ottomans with the Serbs. However, the fight between Serbia and the Ottoman Empire ended quickly. So, the legion was broken up. Rakovski moved to Bucharest. There, he continued his work as a journalist and revolutionary.
In Bucharest, he started a newspaper called Badushtnost. It was printed in two languages. Rakovski supported the reform policies of Romania. He saw a chance for a union between Bulgaria and Romania. In Badushtnost, he wrote about good Bulgarian-Romanian relations. He mentioned the Second Bulgarian Empire. In that empire, both Bulgarians and Romanians lived together.
Rakovski believed that Ottoman power could only be ended by armed action. He began to organize small groups of fighters called cheti. Their goal was to cause trouble in Bulgaria. This would motivate the people to fight the Ottomans. To help organize this armed resistance, Rakovski and his followers started the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee. This group would become very important in the Bulgarian Liberation movement.
In 1867, the Committee sent two groups of cheti into Bulgaria. They were led by Panayot Hitov and Filip Totyu. They fought battles with the Ottoman forces. But they did not achieve their main goals. In 1868, 120 chetnitsi entered Bulgaria. They were led by Hadzhi Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha. They fought their way to Stara Planina mountains. There, the Ottomans surrounded them. Some fighters, including Stefan Karadzha, were hurt, captured, and later executed. The remaining men under Hadzhi Dimitar were defeated at Buzludzha Peak.
Georgi Rakovski died in Bucharest on October 9, 1867. He passed away from tuberculosis.
Honors and Legacy
Many places are named after Georgi Sava Rakovski. Rakovski Nunatak on Livingston Island in Antarctica is named for him. The Bolhrad High School also carries his name. An elementary school in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina is named after him. There is also a government school in New Delhi, India, called Georgi Stoikov Rakovski Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya. A street in Pliska, Bulgaria, 1 G. S. Rakovski street, is named after him. This street is believed to be a place where many plans for freedom were made. The Georgi Rakovski Military Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria, is also named in his honor.
Images for kids
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Bulgarian Haiduts, CE 1867, by Rakovski
