Strumica | history & culture

Strumica in antiquity

The history if the region of Strumica, dates even from the Neolithic period, but Strumica as a town is first mentioned in the 5th century BC, when was settled by the Thracian tribes. Also in the Hellenistic period, during the rule of Philip 2nd and his son Alexander 3rd of Macedonia, the Strumica region was divided between the ancient Macedonian state and the other stayed to the Thracians.

The town was mentioned for the first time in the history by the Roman historian Tit Livius in 181 BC, under the name Astraion, and occured in connection with Demetrius, the brother the last ancient Macedonian king Perseius (179-168 BC).

In the Roman period the region of Strumica went in the borders of Upper Macedonia. The biggest town was called Tiveriopol. In 395 AD the Roman empire fall apart and Macedonia belonged to the Eastern Roman Kingdom. Later Tiveriopol got into the borders of Macedonia Salutaris (end of 4th century) and in the province Macedonia Secunda (end of 5th century).

Early middle ages and Slavs in Strumica

When the Slavs arrived they changed the ancient name Tiveriopol to Strumica. A fortress was built right to the city, which stays in ruins today called Carevi Kuli. Carevi Kuli is a fortress from the late ancient period. It is located on the southern side of Strumica and has size 100 meters and is oriented east-west.

The all region of Strumica was settle by the Slavs in the year of 630 AD. This Slavs were different from the other they mixed with the ancient population and got the name Macedonian Sclavinii (Sclavinæ). Near Strumica was played the battle between the soldiers of Tzar Samoil and the Byzantine emperor Vasilius 2nd. The monastery of Vodoca is one of the most preserved monuments from the Slavic period. It's claimed that in this monastery St. Clement held education and worship. After the fall Samoil's Empire, Strumica got under Byzantine rule and later by the Serbian.

The Ottomans in Strumica

In the period after 1395 Strumica falls under Turkish authority and by them it was held for 529 years until the Balkan wars in 1913. Then went in the borders of Bulgaria and later after the first world war in Serbia.

Strumica after the Balkan and the World wars

During the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) the town was liberated from the Turks and for some six years became part of Bulgaria. Following Bulgaria's defeat in First World War, under the 1919 Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine Bulgaria was forced to cede Strumica to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later to be called Yugoslavia.

Strumica, which was the geographical centre of the province of Macedonia, now became a bordering town. Strumica had extremely big damages during the period of the two world wars, when it was burned and bombed. During the Second World War, this town was occupied by the Bulgarians (April 6th 1941).