User:Gurther/Sandbox 3
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Macedonian Revolutionary Organization[5][6] also known as the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (Macedonian: Македонска Револуционерна Организација, Внатрешна Македонска Револуционерна Организација, romanized: Makedonska Revolucionerna Organizacija, Vnatrešna Makedonska Revolucionerna Organizacija), often times shorten to MRO or IMRO (VMRO in Macedonian) was a revolutionary organization created by Macedonians in 1893, it's main objective was the liberation of Macedonia and Thrace from the Ottoman Empire.[7]
Macedonian Revolutionary Organization Македонска Револуционерна Организација (mk) | |
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Active | October 1893 - May 1908 |
Allegiance | United Macedonia |
Branch | MFO, ITRO, Ilinden Organization, IMRO (U), MSRC, SMAC, IDRO, Gemidžii |
Size | 2 million (1905 estimate)[1] |
Motto(s) | Freedom or Death[2] |
Engagements |
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Commanders | |
Ceremonial chief | Hristo Tatarčev (1893 - 1896) Gjorče Petrov (1896 - 1897) Hristo Matov (1896) (acting leader)[4] Ivan Hadži Nikolov (acting leader)[4] Hristo Kocev (1897) Grigor Popev (1897) (acting leader) Pere Tošev (1897 - 1898) |
The Revolutionary Organization was created in October 1893 in the town of Solun, now known as Thessaloniki,[8] where the first congress was held, Hristo Tatarčev, the founder of the organization around the time was working as a teacher in a local school in Solun, he and a group of his friends realized the terrible conditions Macedonia and Thrace were in, so decided to form a revolutionary Organization that would liberate Macedonia from the Ottoman Empire.[9]
The organization would go on to create multiple headquarters in Skopje, Veles, Ohrid, Struga, Prilep and many more.[10] Eventually in 1903 it would try to free itself from the Ottoman Empire with the beginning of the Macedonian uprising in August 2nd, also known as the Ilinden Uprising. At first it would have some success and freed some places in Western Macedonia but by november-december of 1903 the uprising would be crushed. Because of this failure the organization would try a more diplomatic way of bringing freedom to Macedonia and some have even suggested the idea of a Balkan federation.[11]
Diplomatic peace would not be succesful and in May 1908, after the May congress the organization would be officially ended with the last leader of the organization being Jane Sandanski, the organization after it ended would be split into two, the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (United) and the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (Autonomous). IMRO (United) would end up becoming socialist and would fight for the recognition of the Macedonians, while IMRO (Autonomous) would become terrorist and anarchist and it would eventually turn towards fascism and would help Nazi Germany during WW2.
The legacy of IMRO in Macedonia is undeniable, it helped with spreading the concept of Macedonian unity and the Macedonian language, culture and history, multiple streets, cities and even villages have the names of members of the Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, According to some analysis the Macedonian Revolutionary Organization is the second most famous thing from Macedonia, first being Alexander the Great, According to journalist Sotir Kostov, regarding the Macedonian Revolutionary Organization
The role of the Macedonian Revolutionary Organization in building the Macedonian identity, language and culture is great, immeasurable. It is actually decisive for the birth and creation of Macedonian statehood. Although the idea of Macedonian statehood appeared in history and has been present since more recently (from the 6th to the 10th century), however, it began to be legally and politically formed and built in the second half of the 19th century, in the pre-MRO and pre-Ilinden periods.
- Sotir Kostov[12]
Multiple Macedonian revolutionaries who worked with the MRO are mentioned in the national anthem of the Republic of Macedonia which is known as Denes nad Makedonija (which translates to Today over Macedonia). In the anthem they also include the Kruševska Republica which was created by Macedonian revolutionaries from the MRO.[13] Despite the organization being pro-Macedonian and advocating pro-Macedonian ideals many Bulgarian historians consider it as Bulgarian, this is mostly due to the anti-Macedonian opinion in Bulgarian media created by the known xenophobic dictator Todor Zhivkov.[14][15][16][17]