Levski vs Makedonia

Petar Darvingov

Petar Darvingov was born in Kukush (today Kilkis, Macedonia (Greece)) in 1875. He graduated Bulgarian Men's High School in Solun (Thessaloniki) in 1892. He continued his education in the Military School in Sofia, graduated it in 1896 with honors and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. In 1900 Darvingov was promoted to the rank first lieutenant.

Petar Darvingov joined Supreme Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Committee and in 1902, during the uprising in the region of Gorna Dzumaya headed a military detachment. During the Ilinden uprising in 1903 Darvingov was a military organizer of the bands of IMORO. Asvoivode of the revolutionary district of Seres he fought in the region of Melnik.

After the uprising Darvingov returned to Bulgaria and do a real service in the Bulgarian army. In 1906 he was promoted in rank of rotmistar (captain). In 1909 he graduated military academy in Turin, Italy. On May 18, 1911 Darvingov was promoted to the rank of Major and appointed assistant chief of the Intelligence Department in the headquarters of the Bulgarian Army. Darvingov took part in the First Balkan war, as with the Order № 5 September 25, 1912 issued by the head of the headquarters of the army Major General Ivan Fichev, Darvingov was appointed Chief of Staff of Macedonian-Adrianopolitan Volunteer Corps. On May 18, 1915 Darvingov was promoted to the rankLieutenant Colonel.

During the First World War (1915-1918) Darvingov was an organizer and in 1916 Chief of Staff of Eleventh Macedonian infantry division, completed by Bulgarians from Macedonia. In May 1916 Darvingov as colonel was appointed commander of the 1st Regiment of the 11th Macedonian division. One year he received the appointment of Chief of Staff of Moravian military region, which position remained to 1918. On August 15, 1917 he was promoted in rank of Colonel.

On November 4, 1918 Darvingov was transferred to the reserve and was engaged in scientific and public activity. His research interests were related to military history. Darvingov book "History of the Macedonian-Adrianopolitan Volunteer Corp" is one of the first studies on a single Bulgarian military unit and still is regarded as the best work dedicated to the corps.

Darvingov was honorary President of the Association of Macedonian-Adrianopolitan voluteers, as well as president of the Society of the Bulgarian publicists and the Bulgarian Association of military writers.