Legends about Captain Petko Voyvoda

published on 11/21/13 1:12 PM

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The life of Captain Petko Voyvoda /Chieftain/ has been retold in songs, legends and different stories that come to testify on the admiration and love, kept in the memory of the people about this brave man. RB’s Albena Bezovska will tell you some of the stories via some of the songs, related to them. We will kick off with the soundtrack of the popular 1980s TV mini-series, devoted to the Bulgarian revolutionary in the rendition of actor Vassil Mihaylov, who played the character.

Captain Petko Voyvoda, one of the most honored and beloved guardians of the people, was born in 1844 in Aegean Thrace, back then in the Ottoman Empire. He spent his rebel period in the Rhodope Mountain. His entire life was devoted to the liberation fight of the Bulgarians from that part of Thrace and the joining of the region to Bulgaria. There are over 20 monuments in this country, reminding of his exploits. A peak on the Livingston Island in the Antarctic has been named after him. Back in 2004, due to the 160th birth anniversary of the chieftain, a monument was unveiled in Rome, situated right next to the one of Giuseppe Garibaldi. Both organized a company in Italy in 1866 and took part in the Cretan Revolt.

Petko Kiryakov was a really tall, strong and agile man. He had a nice voice and loved singing and playing chain dances. One of his favorite songs was the one about Delyo Chieftain – a famous Rhodope guardian. People remembered Petko as a calm and intelligent person, despite his military talent. He went out in the woods barely at the age of 16. One of the versions is that Petko and his friends were attacked by Turks on their way to a fair in the neighboring village. Two of the boys were killed, but Petko managed to escape and took off his revenge. His biographers say the two guys killed were actually one of his brothers and a cousin of theirs. Despite his young age, Petko gathered a small detachment a kicked off a series of attacks. The murderers received their punishment, as well as the main villain – a local Turkish nabob, known for his cruelty.

The enemies of the chieftain used bullets, made of gold and silver, legend says. They placed ambushes and traps, shot at him, but the brave Bulgarian was untouchable. Old and young people would go to him, asking for his protection. Petko was called once to save a village. He made the people create a straw dummy and place it on the church belfry. The captain also ordered all windows of the church to be walled, except for a tiny crevice under the dummy, where he stood in an ambush. When the posse appeared, Petko fired a shot. The attackers saw the dummy and covered it with bullets in response. They thought they had killed the shooter and asked about his name. As instructed, the villagers answered that the place belonged to Captain Petko Voyvoda and that the Turks should leave. The latter were happy with the message on the alleged death of the famous rebel, allowing them to outrage. However, other shots came from the belfry. The surviving Turks ran away in panic and never returned to that village.

“Who’s ever heard and seen this – one kingdom and two tsars, two landlords. The sultan in Stambul and Petko Voyvoda in Maronia!” This text has many versions. Legends say that the sultan tried many times to tempt Petko Voyvoda with some high positions. However, the hero refused, saying that he needed no kingdom, but the love of the people – of the widows, the hungry ones and the kids.

Another popular legend tells the story of Kerima white hanim, who was supposed to cross the mountain with 500 guards and lots of silver and gold. Petko Voyvoda gathered his men and told them to save the beautiful woman and let her go, but to guard the Turkish warriors and to take the gold and the silver for swords, guns and saddles, thus being able to continue protecting the people.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev

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Legends about Captain Petko Voyvoda

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