Pavlos Rakovitis

Pavlos Nikolaidis (Greek: Παύλος Νικολαΐδης, 1877–1907), known by his nom de guerre Rakovitis (Παύλος Ρακοβίτης, "Pavlos of Rakovo") was a member of the Hellenic Macedonian Committee, a captain of a band of 40 klephts that fought in the Macedonian Struggle against the Bulgarians.

Life

Born in Rakovo, near Florina, Manastir Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (modern-day Kratero, Florina, Greece) in 1877. He was a Greek Macedonian.[1] In 1900, he moved to the United States on seasonal work. While away, his village was burnt down by the Ottomans in 1903,[2] upon which he began training in guerrilla tactics. He joined the Hellenic Macedonian Committee which supported the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Greek cause in 1905, and entered the detachment of Efthymios Kaoudis. His village had in the meantime suffered threats and assassinations by the IMRO which targeted Patriarchist villages in order to force them to support the Bulgarian Exarchate.[3]

Macedonian Greek commanders from Bitola, Mariovo and Rakovo.

Rakovitis led a band of 40 men, which was active in the territories of Florina and the Baba mountain. It fought both Ottomans and Bulgarians. In 1907, Bulgarian bands entered his village and brutally destroyed it once again. Rakovitis was furious with the actions of the Bulgarians, especially since his own father was burnt to death in the family home. Eventually, Rakovitis was executed by a former fellow fighter named Mihail, who was bribed to assassinate him.

Legacy

Many people from the region of Florina know of Pavlos Rakovitis and his glorious story, in fact the Society Of Kratero Melbourne, Australia have him as their official logo, and are very proud to be associated with the defence of his people, village and Macedonia.

References
  1. Giannēs Koliopoulos (1999). Λεηλασία Φρονημάτων: Το Μακεδονικό Ζήτημα Στα Χρόνια Της Κατοχής Και Του Εμφυλίου Πολέμου Στη Δυτική Μακεδονία, 1941-1949. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers. pp. 268–. ISBN 978-1-85065-381-3.
  2. Dakin, D. 1993, p. 103
  3. Vacalopoulos, A.E., Modern History of Macedonia 1830-1912 pp. 189–194
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