Angel Tanasov () or Anđelko Tanasović () was a rebel leader active in Ottoman Macedonia.
Biography Angel Tanasov was born in the Cer, near Kichevo, at the time part of the Ottoman Empire (in modern western North Macedonia) in about 1850.Българското опълчение 1877-1878. Биографичен и библиографски справочник в три тома, том 2, Стара Загора 1999, с. 10. (Bulgarian Opalchenie 1877-1878. Biographical and bibliographical reference book in three volumes, Volume 2, Stara Zagora 1999, p. 10.)
He lived in Romania from 1872 and volunteered in the Serbian-Ottoman War in 1876. On May 1, 1877, he joined Bulgarian Volunteer Corps in the Russian army and fought at the Battle of Shipka Pass during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878).Македония: История и политическа съдба, Т.1, София 1994, с. 236. (Macedonia: History and political destiny, S.1, Sofia 1994, p. 236.) After the war Atanasov returned to Macedonia where he supported the legal and illegal struggle of local Bulgarians to alleviate their situation. Tanasov gave support to the efforts of the Bulgarian Exarchate to collect appeals from oppressed Christian communities concerning their plight.Църнушанов 1966, p. 132 The combined bands of Angel Voyvoda and Iliya Deliya killed the Ottoman tyrant Smail Aga and his son Zekir.MacDermott, Mercia. Freedom or Death The Life of Gotsé Delchev, The Journeyman Press London & West Nyack, 1978, p. 55.
In 1880–81 he took part in the revolutionary movement in Western Macedonia (Brsjak Revolt) as voyvoda (commander) of cheta (armed band) in the region of Kichevo. He was in connection with other revolutionary activists - Hristo Stefanov, the priest from Krushevo, and revolutionaries from Ohrid - brothers Angel Sprostranov and Petar Sprostranov, Ivan Paunchev, Kosta Limonchev and Zlatan Boykikev (a brother of bishop Nathanael of Ohrid) etc.Църнушанов 1966, p. 147: "Затова от време на време Илия и Ангел слизаха до Охрид, а по-често при тях отиваха Ангел и Петър Спространови, Иван Паунчев, Коста Лимончев и Златан Бойкикев, който пък им донасяше писма от Натанаил", pp. 151–152: "От нелегалните присъстваха Илия, Ангел, Мияйле, Мицко и Насте Латовчето, придружени от отбрани четници. От Охрид бяха дошли Спространови, Иван Паунчев, Златан Бойкикев, Коста Лимончев и Зафир Белев, от Крушово - поп Христо и Георги Мицарев. От селата имаше повече хора...")
In 1881, after the Ottoman suppressing of the rebellion, Angel withdrew to the region of Galichnik, in western Macedonia. In the summer of 1881 he shot himself by mistake near the village of Lazaropole. Attacked by Ottoman regular and irregular troops in a cave, he was seriously wounded and captured. Later he was killed by bashi-bazouks (irregular troops) near the village of Dushegubica. His head was cut off and sent to his native village.Дуко Тасевъ (Кичевски войвода 1880—1900 г.). Спомени, София 1938, с. 6 (Tasev, Duko. Memories, Sofia 1938, p. 6)Църнушанов 1966, p. 180
Legacy
Angel Tanasov was glorified in a folk song known as Seven years of the Bulgarian mountains, o, AngelДуко Тасевъ, Кичевски войвода 1880—1900 г. Спомени, София 1938, с. 6: "Седумъ години бугарски планини, Ангеле бре" or Seven years of the Bulgarian voyvoda, o, Angel.Църнушанов 1966, p. 180: "Седумъ години бугарски войвода, Ангеле бре"
Annotations
References
Sources Църнушанов, Коста. Охридското съзаклятие: предшественици, вдъхновители и дейци [Ohrid conspiracy: predecessors, inspirators and activists], Национален съвет на ОФ, София 1966