Hristo Botev died on June 1 1876 in the mountain near the town of Vratsa, northern Bulgaria. The manner of his death continues to generate the greatest myth surrounding his life. As with any hero’s death, Botev’s has been described by poets, writers and painters as an act of great heroism and bravery in the face of the enemy. There are pictures and portrayals of Botev’s final moments, showing him in broad daylight seconds before being struck by an enemy bullet in the centre of his prominent forehead.

During communism, the official line was that Botev’s company, fatigued by prolonged fighting, outnumbered and encircled by Ottoman soldiers, was engaged in a decisive battle. In the course of the fighting, Botev stood up bravely and was shot down. After his death, the Bulgarian company split up and ran for cover only to be later either killed or captured by the Ottomans. Only a few survived to tell the truth.

However, the fact that this so-called truth was never actually properly relayed goes to show that Botev’s death was not exactly what poets and writers say. Indeed, Botev died on June 1 1876 in the Kamarata area near the peak Vola, above Vratsa. Indeed, he and his companions were chased by the Ottomans and their mercenaries. However, the writings of the few survivors say that the ensuing events were slightly different. The most famous of these survivors was Nikola Obretenov. He was among the organisers of the Bulgarian uprising and was among Botev’s companions.

In his memoirs, Obretenov recalls that after the fighting, Botev’s company decided to rest for the night. As Botev was discussing the future movement of the company with Obretenov and the others, Turkish mercenaries started advancing in the night. Obretenov recalls that indeed Botev stood up to see the position of his men and in that particular moment he was shot dead in the chest by a single unknown shot.

This is the main question about Botev’s death: whether the shooting came from the Turkish mercenaries or was a result of friendly fire. Obretenov says only that the shooter was unknown. This has led to much speculation about Botev being shot by his fellow soldiers who wanted to end the fighting and go home. The thought well served many authors who through the years have wanted to prove that Botev was betrayed by fellow Bulgarians in the way that Vassil Levski had been.

Betrayal equals heroism, the logic of such authors claimed. No one wants to believe that one of Bulgaria’s greatest poets and revolutionaries died because he did not foresee the coming danger. According to prominent historian Professor Georgi Markov, Botev died exactly because of this danger. He was ambushed by Turkish mercenaries who, unlike the regular Ottoman army, did not have the habit of resting for the night. True or false, the myth about Botev’s tragic death endures. Botev’s unknown grave also adds to the mystery of his death, something which Botev has in common with his friend Levski.