Stefan Karadja

Stefan Karadja (Stefan Todorov Dimov) was Bulgarian national hero, a revolutionary of the Bulgarian national fights for freedom and a voivode. He was born on May 11, 1840 in the village of Ichme (now Stefan Karadjovo), Yambol district. He studied in Tulcha, but he has to leave school because of lack of funds. In 1861, during a wedding, he defeated the famous Turkish fighter Gaazi Plisa. Chased by the Ottomans he hid a few months and then went into Romania, later joined the First Bulgarian legion in Belgrade. After it was disbanded he came back to Tulcha but soon left for Romania again. Several times he crossed the Danube River with revolutionary tasks. In 1867 he joined the Second Bulgarian legion. In 1868 he left the legion and again went in Romania. There he met Hadji Dimitar. On July 6 the two of them lead a detachment of 129 men, and crossed the Danube River near the village of Vardim, Veliko Tarnovo district. They started a fight in the Kanladere, near Vishovgrad. Stefan Karadja was badly injured and captured by the army and police, sent by the chairman of the State Council Midhad Pasha. Stefan Karadja was brought to Tarnovo on July 12, and then taken to Rousse on July 13. Half-dead he was sued by the extraordinary Turkish court, called Criminal council, and was sentenced to death by hanging. On July 31 1868 he was hung. He was buried by baba Tonka Obretenova who kept his scull for the generations.