Hristo Botev

Hristo Botev – one of Bulgaria’s greatest revolutionaries and poets, was born on December 25, 1847 (January 6, new style) in the town of Kalofer, in the family of the teacher Botyo Petkov and Ivanka Boteva. He studied in Karlovo for some time, and then went back to his hometown, where he continued studying, taught by his father. In 1863, he graduated the school in Kalofer. In October the same year, he went to Russia and became a student in the Second Odessa High School, but was expelled from it in 1865. He was a teacher in a small Besarab village for some time, and in 1867 returned to Kalofer and started preaching against the rich and the Turkish authorities in Bulgaria. Soon afterwards, he left Kalofer for good. In October 1867, he went to live in Romania. In 1872, he was arrested for conspiracy and revolutionary activities and was sent to prison. He was released, following the interceding of Levski and Karavelov. He started working as printer, and later became collaborator and co-editor of the revolutionary magazine, issued by Karavelov. This was the beginning of his active career as a journalist. In May 1876, when the news of the April Uprising came, Botev started organizing his cheta (revolutionary squad). He, together with some of his followers, went on board of the Radetzki ship and on May 17 forced the captain to stop on the Bulgarian shore. On May 20, 1876 (June 2) Botev entered his last and most serious battle, in which he found his death by a bullet in the head.