Nikola Karev

Nikola Karev (23 November 1877 – 27 April 1905) was a revolutionary from the region of Macedonia. He is best known for leading the Ilinden Uprising in 1903 and becoming the president of the short-lived Kruševo Republic. He was a member of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO), a group that wanted freedom for Macedonia from the Ottoman Empire.

Nikola Karev was born in Kruševo, a town in what is now North Macedonia. At the time, it was part of the Ottoman Empire. He studied to become a teacher and later became involved in political and revolutionary activities. He also spent time in Bulgaria and was influenced by socialist ideas.

In 1903, Karev helped organize the Ilinden Uprising, a rebellion against the Ottoman authorities. During the uprising, the rebels created a small independent government called the Kruševo Republic. Karev was chosen as its president. The republic only lasted for about 10 days before the Ottomans took back control.

After the uprising, Karev continued to fight for the freedom of Macedonia. He was killed in 1905 during a battle with Ottoman soldiers near the village of Rajčani.

Nikola Karev is remembered as a hero in North Macedonia. His name is used for schools, streets, and monuments. He is seen as a symbol of the fight for independence

Poulton, Hugh. Who Are the Macedonians? C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2000. Rossos, Andrew. Macedonia and the Macedonians: A History. Hoover Institution Press, 2008.