History Blagoevgrad

petition roman emperor gordian iii inhabitants of ancient scaptopara

an ancient thracian settlement called scaptopara (market town in thracian, Σκαπτοπάρα in greek) emerged on site around 300 bc , later conquered roman empire. settlement known hot springs in vicinity. although history of settlement in middle ages unknown, during ottoman rule of balkans became muslim-majority town called cuma-ı bala, meaning upper juma in persian , ottoman turkish. bulgarian quarter called varosha formed during bulgarian national revival, many of typical houses , church of presentation of mother of god 1844 being preserved day. chitalishte founded in 1866 , balkan wars of 1912-1913 saw liberation of area ottoman rule , integration in bulgarian state. before balkan wars, cuma-ı bala bounded kaza serez sandjak in selanik vilayet.

in 1900, according vasil kanchov population of town numbered 6440 people, of whom 1250 bulgarians, 4500 turks, 250 vlachs, 200 roma, 180 jews , 60 greeks. during time of turks lived in city , bulgarians lived in surrounding villages. many refugees greek , vardar macedonia arrived in town in subsequent decades town, known gorna dzhumaya (a partial translation of ottoman name), continued grow in size , importance. name gorna dzhumaya ( Горна Джумая; upper dzhumaya ) distinguishes town dolna dzhumaya (Долна Джумая; lower dzhumaya , cuma-i zir in turkish) south, today called irakleia , located in serres regional unit, macedonia, greece.

the town renamed blagoevgrad in 1950.