Georgi Benkovski

The revolutionary who made his band take flight

Who is he?

Georgi Benkovski was one of the leaders of the April Uprising and the commander of the “hravrkovata cheta”.

Why is he an overman?

Georgi Benkovski’s energy and determination were key to the April Uprising. He rose to leadership solely because of his personal qualities, which had a visible impact in igniting the revolutionary spark.

As a person, Benkovski was active and capable of thriving in any environment. His courage and charisma inspired the Bulgarians and gave wings to the cause of the uprising.

Quotes:

My goal has already been achieved! I have inflicted such a deep wound in the tyrant’s heart that it will never heal!

Short biography:

21 September 1843 – 24 May 1876

Georgi Benkovski was born Gavril Gruev Hlatev in Koprivshtitsa to a merchant family. His father died young, and his mother did everything in her power to provide him with the best possible education. He apprenticed as a tailor and later became a successful cloth merchant.

After getting into a conflict with the Turkish authorities on Spasovden, “arresting” several gendarmes, and then spending some time in prison, he left Bulgaria. He spent the following years traveling as a merchant, leading an interesting life and managing to make good money, though he didn’t keep it for long.

In Bucharest, he met Stoyan Zaimov and became passionate about revolutionary activities. He took part in an unsuccessful attempt to set Constantinople on fire. Around that time, he obtained documents identifying him as a Polish engineer and changed his name to Georgi Benkovski. After returning to Romania, he joined the Giurgiu Revolutionary Committee.

In Bulgaria, he participated in the preparations for the April Uprising in the fourth revolutionary district. Initially, he served as Panayot Volov’s deputy, but Volov later ceded the leadership role to him. He received the “Bloody Letter” from Todor Kableshkov in Panagyurishte and incited the surrounding area to revolt. He formed the “Hvarkovata cheta” (the “flying” group of revolutionaries), whose goal was to quickly reach various points of the battles. When the uprising was suppressed, he fled to the Teteven Balkan, where he was shot by the Ottomans.