A century since the death of Todor Aleksandrov: some non-anniversary reflections

A CENTURY SINCE THE DEATH OF TODOR ALEKSANDROV: SOME NON-ANNIVERSARY REFLECTIONS 

Dimităr L. Tyulekov 

(Summary) 

Examining the legacy of the legendary IMARO/IMRO leader Todor Aleksandrov (1881 – 1924) on such a sad anniversary is a challenge to creativity and science. Perhaps because it is about the violent death of a richly gifted man who, in another historical time and under other circumstances, could have made a more impressive contribution to the common human civilization, and thus also enriched the cooperation between the peoples of the neuralgic region of South-Eastern Europe. The assassination of Todor Aleksandrov put the sad end to the romantic stage of the liberation movement of the Macedonian Bulgarians. But the head of IMRO has not lost the public recognition of a popular leader after his death, because the legend was early on intertwined with his rich revolutionary path. The talented organizer, ideologue, conspirator, politician and ‘irresponsible statesman’ drove the stakes into the established all-Bulgarian national liberation front. From these approaches he continued the lawful as well as the revolutionary struggle of the Macedonian Bulgarians in the years to follow. That is why Todor Aleksandrov occupies such a prominent and well-deserved place in the all-Bulgarian spiritual space even today.  

Keywords: Todor Aleksandrov, Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization, Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, IMARO/IMRO, Macedonian Bulgarians, all-Bulgarian spiritual space