Kniaz Momchil of Pirdop
Momchil of Pirdop ([Княз Момчил Пирдопски, Kniaz Momchil Pirdopski] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help)) is the medieval bulgarian county Kniaz (i.e. local Prince) of Tzar Ivan Shishman of Bulgaria in Pirdop county in Sub-Balkan valleys of Upper Thrace. As testifies the commemorative inscription in Pirdopian Apostle after the fall of the bulgarian capital Tarnovgrad on 17 July 1393 to him in the Pirdop fortress-monastery St. Elijah come and have protection the Patriarch of Bulgaria Euthymius. The forces of the Prince Momchil Pirdopski for years with stubbornness and heroism have defended the valley and the southwest borders of Bulgaria Tzardom. When Orhan, the sultan Bajazid's cousin, personally led the Turks' campaign in the autumn of 1393 against the Bulgarians of prince Momchil Pirdopski, the Ottoman invader was not only defeated and repelled, but Prince Momchil beheaded the Turkish leader Orhan himself. After the victory, the Bulgarians leaded by their kniaz Momchil Pirdopski attacked the Turkish capital, which since 61 years form 1362 (and until 1453) is Adrianople. In the battle under the Adrianople walls Prince Momchil Pirdopski was killed in 1393, but the Turks for many long years did not dare to dispose in Pirdop, a witness of which is the Monastery of "St. Elijah" intact till 1498, unlike of the others Bulgarian monasteries looted yet at the beginning of the Turkish yoke.
The honour to Kniaz Momchil Pirdopski
- In town of Pirdop one of the main streets is named in honour of the brave bulgarian prince "Kniaz Momchil Pirdopski" street.
- The bulgarian prominent writress Fani Popova-Mutafova write for Kniaz Momchil Pirdopski the essay "Искрата на свободата" (The spark of the freedom).
References
- Official site of Pirdop Municipality
- Иванов, М. Палеографически, граматически и критически особености на Пирдопския апостол. – Сборник за народни умотворения, наука и книжнина, 6, 1891, 83-112