Macedonian Committee
The Macedonian Committee, also known as the Hellenic Macedonian Committee, was a Greek revolutionary group formed around 1900 in Athens to liberate Macedonia from the Ottoman Empire and to defend Greek interests against Bulgarian influence. It organized and led guerrilla fighters, the Makedonomachoi, in Ottoman Macedonia (the Monastir and Salonika areas) from 1904 to 1908.
Led by Dimitrios Kalapothakis and founded by Stefanos Dragoumis, its members included Ion Dragoumis, Pavlos Melas, Georgios Katechakis, Germanos Karavangelis, and other Greek aristocrats, politicians, and notables. The committee aimed to strengthen the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate against the Bulgarian Exarchate and to protect Greek communities there.
After the Bulgarian Exarchate was established and the Ilinden Uprising failed in 1903, the committee intensified Greek resistance. Dragoumis handled finances, while Georgios Katechakis led military efforts. Karavangelis, sent as Bishop of Kastoria, helped raise morale and organize Greek opposition; he and Katechakis coordinated local guerrilla groups and even recruited former IMRO members when needed. The fighters drew heavily on Macedonian Greeks and also attracted volunteers from Greece, especially Crete and the Mani region. Many former Greek Army officers joined to provide leadership and logistics. The Makedonomachoi formed the core of Greek action during the struggle, while IMRO's Komitadjis operated on the opposing side.
The term Makedonomachoi means “Macedonian fighters.” The movement is described in Greek literature and memoirs, including accounts of the Macedonian Struggle. The organization continued until 1908, dissolving after July of that year.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 18:42 (CET).