Krusevo | history & culture

Middle ages and the Ottomans in Krusevo

Mentioned in documents from the 15th century, as a small settlement with Macedonians. Later, in 1769 the Vlachs have settled here after their town of Moscople (in Albania) has been demolished. As the town was growning and developing, it has reached his golden era in the 19th century. In 1650, the town had 12,000 citizens, and has been important mechant's, craftsman's and cultural destination.

Krusevo during the Ilinden rebellion

Krusevo is a living museum, famous for its traditional architecture, cultural sites, and legacy as the site of the great 1903 Ilinden uprising against Ottoman domination. The rebellion failed, but its memory is cherished in Macedonia even today, as a symbol of the national struggle for freedom and democracy; while it lasted only 10 days, the Krushevo Republic of revolutionary leader Nikola Karev represented a desire for self-rule under a modern European political system. Today an enormous monument on the hill above Krusevo marks the elusive dream of the Ilinden revolutionaries.

During the Ilinden rebellion in 1903 the rebels proclaimed a short live Krusevo Republic. Having suppressed the uprising the city was almost completely destroyed by the Ottoman army. The republic known as Krusevska Republika was established here in 1903 during the Ilinden insurrection. One of the most important points in the Ilinden uprising was the declaration of the Manifesto of Krusevo. It called for all the people of Macedonia regardless of their nationality and religion to fight together the Ottoman Empire and live peacefully in a free country of Macedonia.

There is in the area a monument called Mečkin Kamen (Bear's Stone). This was the place where Pitu Guli's band (cheta) was trying to defend the town of Kruševo from the Turkish troops coming from Bitola. The whole band and their leader (voivode) perished and Kruševo as well as many of the nearby villages were set to fire by the Ottomans.