Internal Revolutionary Organization facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Internal Revolutionary Organization
Вътрешна революционна организация
Map of the revolutionary districts in Vasil Levski's Internal Revolutionary Organisation
Leader(s)	Vasil Levski
Foundation	1869
Dissolved	1872
Merged into	Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee
Country	Bulgaria
Headquarters	Lovech
Ideology	Bulgarian nationalism Democratic republicanism
Part of	National awakening of Bulgaria
Opponents	Ottoman Empire

The Internal Revolutionary Organisation (IRO) was a secret group of Bulgarian freedom fighters. It was started by a famous Bulgarian hero named Vasil Levski. He created this group between 1869 and 1871.

The IRO was a network of local groups across Bulgaria. These groups were all guided by a main committee in the town of Lovech. Levski believed that the fight for freedom should happen inside Bulgaria, not just from Bulgarians living in other countries.

In 1871, Levski wrote the rules for the IRO. His main goal was to free Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire. He wanted Bulgaria to become a democratic republic. This meant a country where all citizens were equal, no matter their background or religion.

Working Together for Freedom

By the end of 1872, Vasil Levski and Lyuben Karavelov decided something important. Karavelov was the leader of the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee (BRCC). This group was based in Bucharest, Romania. Both leaders realized that their groups needed to work together. This was the best way to fight for Bulgaria's freedom.

Joining Forces: IRO and BRCC

So, the IRO and the BRCC created a plan together. They wrote a shared program and a set of rules. In May 1872, they had a big meeting in Bucharest. There, they voted to combine their two organizations. The new combined group kept the name Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee.

IRO's Lasting Impact

The ideas and goals of the Internal Revolutionary Organisation were very important. They helped shape many other Bulgarian freedom groups that came later. These groups continued the fight for Bulgarian independence.

Some of these later groups included:

• The Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organisation (active from 1893 to 1912).
• The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation (active from 1919 to 1934).
• The Internal Thracian Revolutionary Organisation (active from 1922 to 1934).
• The Internal Dobrudjan Revolutionary Organisation (active from 1923 to 1940).
• The Internal Western Outland Revolutionary Organisation (active from 1921 to 1934).

See also

• Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee
• Macedonian Secret Revolutionary Committee
• Vasil Levski