The Razlovci uprising (; ) was a Macedonian Bulgarian rebellion in the areas of Maleševo and Pijanec in Ottoman Macedonia.Славе Гоцев. „Национално-революционни борби в Малешево и Пиянец 1860–1912“, Издателство на Отечествения фронт София, 1988, стр.66–80At the time of the Russo-Turkish war and in connection with the Berlin Peace Treaty several significant events took place on the local level. The Bulgarian April uprising in 1876, that was the prelude to the Russo-Turkish war, also spread into Macedonia at Razlovtsi in east Macedonia, but the uprising was unsuccessful and soon suppressed by the Ottoman authorities... Macedonian historians naturally challenge the unity of the Bulgarian people. They stress the local character of an uprising...Here we encounter the problem that in many sources the population is called Macedonian Bulgarians. In most cases it is not clear if the words Macedonia/Macedonian have anything else than a regional (as opposed to national) sense. For more see: Ethnic rivalry and the quest for Macedonia, 1870-1913, Vemund Aarbakke, East European Monographs, 2003, , pp. 54; 57-58."Shortly after the April uprising in Bulgaria started, in early May the Razlovtsi Insurrection among a small group of Bulgarians in Ottoman Macedonia also broke out and was suppressed." For more see: Renée Worringer, 2021, A Short History of the Ottoman Empire, University of Toronto Press, , p. 179.
The work on its preparation began in late 1875 in Thessaloniki. A revolutionary group was created there, that took a decision to organize an anti-Ottoman insurrection. This group consisted of activists of the Association "Bulgarian Dawn". Исторически записки по първото македонско въстание през 1876 г. Коте Попстоянов, Д. Дойнов, стр. 15–20. The leader of the group was Dimitar Popgeorgiev - Berovski. In March 1876, , a courier of the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee, met with the conspirators in Thessaloniki. He informed them of the preparations for the April Uprising, which was scheduled to break out in May.Коте Попстоянов, Тридесет години назад, Исторически записки по първото македонско въстание през 1876 г. (Съставител Бойко Киряков, Издателство на Отечествения Фронт, София, 1988) "Дневници и спомени за българската история", стр. 45.
The preparations for the rebellion began in late 1875 in the village of Razlovci, guided by Dimitar Berovski and Stoyan Razlovski. Nedelya Petkova and her daughter sewed the flag of the uprising.For Freedom and Perfection: The Life of Yané Sandansky, Mercia MacDermott, Journeyman Press, 1988, , p. 10. She also founded the society "Bulgarian dawn" which became the nucleus of the rebellion.Енциклопедия. Българската възрожденска интелигенция. Учители, свещеници, монаси, висши духовници, художници, лекари, аптекари, писатели, издатели, книжари, търговци, военни... София, ДИ „Д-р Петър Берон“, 1988. с. 47, 57, 501. It was planned that the rebellion would cover Maleševo, Radoviš, Strumica, Petrich, Melnik and later the Osogovo. Due to betrayal, the planned for May Bulgarian uprising, broke out in late April and therefore it was subsequently called the April Uprising.
After its outbreak, a number of arrests were made by the Ottoman authorities in Razlovci area.Антони Гиза. „Балканските държави и македонският въпрос“, Македонски Научен Институт, София, 2001. Because of this, the revolt broke out prematurely on May 7 (May 19 in Gregorian), in Razlovci. Two revolutionary bands of about 60 people got the village for a short time, and then the rebellion spread in Malеševo and Pijanec. However, the revolt was suppressed, and many of the rebels were killed or arrested. One of the chief organizers, priest , managed to withdraw to the Rila Monastery, where, to protect the monastic brotherhood, he committed suicide.Енциклопедия. Българската възрожденска интелигенция. Учители, свещеници, монаси, висши духовници, художници, лекари, аптекари, писатели, издатели, книжари, търговци, военни... София, ДИ „Д-р Петър Берон“, 1988. с. 565. The survivors escaped into the Maleševo Mountains, but no further action was possible.Freedom or death, the life of Gotsé Delchev, Mercia MacDermott, Journeyman Press, 1978, , pp. 41-42.
According to Bulgarian historians, although the rebellion was prepared independently and had no direct organisational connection with the April Uprising, it is considered part of it. This view is also supported by the Norwegian historian Vemund Aarbakke, per whom the Macedonian historians baseless challenge its Bulgarian character. A distinct Macedonian national identity was not developed at that time, while the designation "Macedonian" had mostly a regional meaning. According to Macedonian historians, the uprising had Macedonian national and political goals - to intensify and turn the attention of European powers to bring diplomatic intervention on Macedonia's behalf and it had no direct relation to the April uprising.Македонските възтния, Свято дело - македонско списание, год. I, книжка VII, Кюстендилъ, априлий, 1903. „Възстания въ Македония е имало нѣколко пати, но първото е ста-нало прѣзъ 1876 г. въ Разловца подъ водителството на Димитръ п. Ге-оргиевъ Беровски и попъ Стоянъ Раздовски. Това възстание не е било въ никаква връзка съ Априлското прѣзъ сащата година, и ако еднакво датувать, това е по една случайность. Много врагове на Македонската не-зависимость говорятъ, че всичкитѣ възстания и бунтове въ долинить на Вардаръ и Струма били възбуждани отъ България, и че не съществували причини за недоволство въ Турция. Който смисли по-дълбоко върху събитията на Балканския п-овъ и сади по-самостойно и независимо отъ своитѣ тѣсно националистически възгледи, ще дойде до по друго заключение и ще оправдае всичкитѣ тия дѣйствия на македонския народъ противъ петь-вѣковната тирания. Че не България е причината за всегдашното недо-волство у християнското население въ Европейска Турция, и че причината е друга, вятрѣшна, показва ни историята на първото Македонско възста-ние. Тогава не е сяществувала още България като политическа единица, а революционното движение, което е повдигало духътъ на македонцитѣ, се е подкрѣпяло направо отъ Цариградъ и Солунъ.“ Per academic Blaže Ristovski, the uprising had a Macedonian national-liberation character and was connected with April Uprising and Herzegovina Uprising and some of the Great Powers. According to the leader Dimitar Popgeorgiev, the rebellion was organised to provide support for the Herzegovina Uprising.
See also Constantinople Conference
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