NIKOLA KAREV

One of Macedonia’s finest sons and the very first President of a Macedonian state in the modern era, Nikola Karev’s unwavering Macedonian patriotism shines through his actions and his words. Of a pure at heart Macedonian background, Nikola served his people as best he could until his untimely death some time after the fall of the Krusevo Republic. The uniqueness of this legendary figure, apart from him being the leader of our first modern state, was that he rarely collaborated with the Bulgarian “friends” like some of our other historical figures. His idea of what it was to be a Macedonian was quite clear, he was a proud Macedonian and I as a Macedonian am proud that he was our leader. His existence is living proof of Bulgarian lies and historical falsification when it comes to the discussion of Macedonian matters in the early 20th century, especially the gross lie that the Ilinden Uprising was some sort of Bulgarian uprising rather than a Macedonian one. At some point later there is no doubt that aspects of the Ilinden Uprising took a Bulgarian tone, and this as explained by Krste Misirkov was chiefly the reason for its eventual failure. What is most important here is that the leader as with most of his followers and fellow warriors considered themselves as Macedonians and only Macedonians, and were quite hostile to their neighbours for the obvious reasons.

Nikola Karev’s descendants still live in Krusevo, I have had the privilege of meeting this revolutionary family due to personal linkages through family members of my own, his grand-son and great grand-daughter bear a striking resemblance to him, the dark curled hair, the facial features amongst other things. The Karevci are as Macedonian today as they were back then, god bless them and vecna mu slava na nasiot naroden heroj Nikola.


Some surviving texts from and relating to Nikola Karev.

1902
Letter from Nikola Karev to Goce Delchev.

Dear Goce
... In Krushevo and Bitola the night blockades appear almost every day, and a lot of affairs throw people in jail. We shouldn't wait anymore, Goce. It is time for us to stand up and fight. We shouldn't wait for freedom from Greeks, neither from Bulgarians, but we Macedonians should fight for our Macedonia, ... As I am concerned, nobody can take away my courage and my patriotism. I am proud to report to you, that all our men are prepared to fight, with guns in their hands. Nikola.


1903
NIKOLA KAREV interview with Greek newspaper ‘Acropolis’, 8 may.

G Interviewer: Are you Macedonian?

Nikola Karev: Yes.

G Interviewer: And subsequently Greek.

Nikola Karev: I do not know about this, I am Macedonian.

G Interviewer: Direct descendant to Alexander the Great?

Nikola Karev: Yes.

G Interviewer: And what was Alexander of Macedon, I beg you?

Nikola Karev: I do not know, but history says he was Greek.

G Interviewer: Then you, as his descendant, are Greek.

Nikola Karev: No.

G Interviewer: Why, since you are already Greek, do you want to free yourself using Bulgaria?

Nikola Karev: What Bulgaria, you mean the Committee?

G Interviewer: Yes.

Nikola Karev: My answer is that the Committee is not Bulgarian, and second, it seems that we lean towards Bulgaria because only they seem to be willing to help us. If Greece was doing the same, we would accept it with all our heart.

G Interviewer: We see Bulgarian protection only surface deep. Bulgaria does not want to free you of Turkish slavery, but to subjugate you.

Nikola Karev: Hm! If Bulgaria intends to make us their province, it has made a poor estimate. Otherwise, we are not interested in what Bulgaria thinks, but pay attention to the following: “Are we achieving our aim?” Are we getting our freedom? We are not interested in wether we get freed by Greece or Bulgaria. The only thing anyone of them can get is our gratitude.

G Interviewer: All right, if you are freed, what do you want to be, an autonomy?

Nikola Karev: Yes, like it is in Switzerland, where three different tribes live in complete love and harmony.

G Interviewer: Yes, but you know that that way you are doing a favour to Panslavistic Etheria whose branch is the Committee?

Nikola Karev: What kind of favour are we doing?

G Interviewer: As you made it clear above, Macedonia is a Greek land, and if every Greek land requests that they be an autonomy, then this will lead to a weaker Greece, and that is what the Panslavistic Etheria wants.

Nikola Karev: Why do they want this?

G Interviewer: So that one day it can subjugate both you and us, and therefore it wants to find us weak in order to achieve that more easily………(pause)………Why do you not want to unite with Greece?

Nikola Karev: Because if Mora(Greece) takes us it will become one large country, and subsequently a monarchy. In that case many evils will emerge – first the monarchy and everything else that comes with it, and second, Greece will force us to wage war with Bulgaria, which we do not want.

G Interviewer: What do you want?

Nikola Karev: We want a republic.

G Interviewer: Democracy and friendship with Bulgaria?

Nikola Karev: Not only with Bulgaria, but with anyone who will help us become free.

G Interviewer: You want to unite with Bulgaria?

Nikola Karev: No! No!

G Interviewer: Does the Committee teach you this too? Yes, then why does this Committee, which is so concerned about your independence, not seek protection from Greece, which has a greater responsibility to free you, but you have to lean towards these barbarians?

Nikola Karev: I will answer you immediately. We resemble a man who has fallen in the sea and is in danger of drowning any moment. In order to save himself will this man not grab anything he finds before him at that moment, even a snake? We are in this kind of situation. Even if a Turk offers his hand to save us, we will grab it with gratitude.

G Interviewer: But why are you killing firstborns, priests, and teachers, if you have nothing special against anyone?

Nikola Karev: These are lies. The Committee does not only kill Greeks, but Bulgarians and Serbs and Turks, and anyone who betrays.

G Interviewer: These are excuses for your sins. You destroyed many Greek patriots because they did not give money to your Committee.

Nikola Karev: You, Greeks, like the others, are inventing these things.

G Interviewer: Which others?

Nikola Karev: Well, those in Salonika you assigned people to do what they did in order to throw a shadow on the Committee (in salonika)………... (g interviewer speaks with other)……… When a tree has broken the ground to sprout, why should it not be watered to grow?

G Interviewer: Yes, yes, but you know what Bulgaria waters it with. With poison of hatred towards Greece.

Nikola Karev: Whatever kind of watering, it refreshes us and has forced us to turn our branches to that side which, we admit we have nothing in common, and to run from you with which we do not share the same blood and history. This is in some way a protest against Greek interests (in us).

G Interviewer: What you say is the result of Bulgarian watering, because Greece has never stopped supporting you through literacy and weapons…..And what do you intend to do now? (regarding 1902 uprising)

Nikola Karev: Nothing other than continue the struggle.

G Interviewer: Yes, but do you know that behind that struggle there is a mean and dishonest war hiding?

Nikola Karev: That does not interest us, it is enough that we achieve our aim.

G Interviewer: You mean by killing too?

Nikola Karev: If they are committed for the good of a people.

G Interviewer: You are right, the lessons you learned are like the teachers who taught you……





President Nikola Karev and “The Manifesto of the Krushevo Republic August 2nd-3rd, 1903”

Fellow compatriots and dear neighbors!

We, your perennial neighbors, friends and acquaintances from beautiful Krushevo and its pretty villages, regardless of faith, nationality, sex or conviction, not being able to endure any more the tyranny of bloodthirsty converts who hunger for human flesh, who would like to lead both you and us to slaughter, to reduce both you and us to poverty, and to turn our dear and wealthy land of Macedonia into a wasteland, we have today raised our heads and decided to defend ourselves with rifles in our hands from our and your enemies, and obtain freedom. You know very well that we are not evil and you understand that it is trouble that made us risk our lives, so that we might begin living like human beings or die like heroes! In addition, because since the times of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers we have lived together like brothers of this land, we consider you as our own, and would like it to remain the same forever. We have not raised our rifles against you - it would be shameful for us to do so; we have not raised against the peaceful diligent and honest Turkish people who, like ourselves, earn their living through sweat full of blood - they are our brothers with whom we have always lived and would like to live again; we have not risen to slaughter and plunder, to set fire and steal - we have had enough of countless feudal lords pillaging and plundering our poor and blood-stained Macedonia; we have not risen to convert to Christianity and disgrace your mothers and sisters, wives and daughters; you should know that your property, your lives, your faith and your honor are as dear to us as our own. Alas, we have taken up arms only to protect our property, our lives, our faith and our honor. We are not converts of our own land that has given birth to us, we are not robbers and plunderers, but revolutionaries sworn to die for justice and freedom; we rebel against tyranny and against slavery; we are fighting and will fight against converts, against robbers, against oppressors and plunderers, against soiling our honor and faith and against those who benefit from our sweat and exploit our labor. Do not be afraid of us and of our villages - we shall not harm anyone. Not only do we consider you as our brothers, but we also feel sorry for you as our brothers, since we understand that you are slaves like ourselves, slaves of the Sultan and of his appointed rulers, masters and governors, slaves of the rich and powerful, slaves of tyrants and oppressors, who have set fire to the empire from all four sides and have made us rise up for justice, for freedom and for human life. We invite you, too, to join us in our struggle for justice, freedom and human life! Come, Moslem brothers, let us together go against your and our enemies! Come under the banner of "Autonomous Macedonia"! Macedonia is the mother of us all and she calls on us for help. Let us break the chains of slavery, free ourselves from suffering and pain, and dry the rivers of blood and tears! Join us, brothers, let us fuse our souls and hearts and save ourselves, so that we and our children and our children's children might live in peace, work calmly and make progress!

Dear neighbors!
We understand that you as Turks, Albanians and Moslems might think that the empire is yours and that you are not slaves since there is no cross on the imperial flag but a star and a crescent. You will soon see and understand that this is not so and that you are wrong. Nevertheless, if your honor does not allow you to join us and declare yourselves against the Sultan's tyranny, we, your brothers in suffering and of the same homeland, shall do you no harm and shall not hate you. We will fight alone both for you and us, and if necessary, we will fight to the last man under the banner for your freedom and ours, for your justice and ours. "Liberty or Death" is written on our foreheads and on our bloodstained banner. We have already raised that banner and there is no way back. If you consider us as your brothers, too, if you wish us well, if you intend to live with us again as you have lived up to now, and if you are faithful and worthy sons of our mother Macedonia, you could help us in one way at least - and it would be a great help indeed - do not make partners of the enemy, do not raise guns against us and do not oppress the Christian villages!

May God bless our holy struggle for justice and freedom!
Long live the fighters for freedom and all honest and good Macedonian sons!
Hurrah! For "Autonomous Macedonia!"