Kavadarci History, Macedonia

Kavadarci is a town that lies in the region of Tikves in Macedonia. Since this town is located in the core of the country’s wine region, it can also be said that Kavadarci has the biggest winery in Southeast Europe. The town also has the biggest artificial lake in Macedonia and the capital of the Kavadarci Municipality. Learn more about Kavadarci History through the following facts.

Kavadarci History – Name Origin

One legend states that Kavadarci got its name from Nikola’s lost cow, Kravoder, which he found in the area and skinned it to cover his bruises. Another legend was about the Serbian king visiting the region and asked for coffee, which is “kava” in Serbian language and “dar” in the local language. Since, he could not remember the name of the village the mapmakers named the place Kavadar, and afterwards became Kavadarci.

Kavadarci History – Classical Antiquity

Numerous archaeological artifacts and constructions were unearthed in the region of Tikves, some of which were excavated near Kavadarci. These relics are made from bronze and ceramic and date back to the 500 and 600 BC. According to some, it was during the Hellenic Age that the town was founded. Because of its strategic location, it is assumed that Kavadarci became a center of culture, economy, and armed forces during that period.

It is also said that a Jewish village survived in the area in the course of the 3rd century. Unfortunately, the synagogue of the village was knocked down in the 300s to make way for the construction of a Christian basilica. Between the late 400s and the beginning of the 500s, Kavadarci was destroyed because of the Avaro-Slavs attacks.

Kavadarci History – Ottoman Occupation

The oriental architecture became dominant when the Turks occupied Kavadarci and the rest of Macedonia in the 14th century. Many villagers from the nearby communities fled to the region and by the 17th century, the population grew, consequently formally founding the new town named Kavadarci.

Documents show that by the end of the 19th century, the town had a total of 1,330 houses and Kavadarci was under the Pashaluk authority. Since the majority of the population in the town were Turkish, many homes and a number of mosques were constructed around the town. During this time, Kavadarci already became the new center of the region of Tikves.

Another important point in Kavadarci History was when the town took part in the Ilinden Uprising which aspired to liberate the whole of Macedonia from the oppression of the Turks.

Kavadarci History – 20th Century

Following the two Balkan Wars in the 1910s and the liberation from the Ottoman occupation, many Muslim residents of the town began to leave the place. After this, Kavadarci started to develop and prosper as a town. Its economy greatly improved and its significance as the center of politics and administration in the Tikves region intensified. Unfortunately, the prosperity did not last for long because the Bulgarians took over the town.

When World War II broke, Kavadarci fell under the authority of Germans and Bulgarians. During this time, the town, like other towns and cities in Macedonia, suffered immense losses. Despite these, it remained one of the most important places in Europe like Thessaloniki, Greece and Sofia, Bulgaria.

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