Petrich was included in the territory of the Bulgarian State during the reign of Knyaz Boris I(852-889). During the Middle Ages it was a Bulgarian fortress of importance during Tsar Samuil's wars (997-1014) with Byzantium. During Ottoman rule, it was initially part of the Serez sanjak of the Rumeli vilayet. After that it became a kaza of the Serez sanjak in the Selanik vilayet. From 19 January 1892 Petrich and its district were included in the Bulgarian Exarchate, before being included in Bulgaria following the Balkan Wars in 1912-13. The Greek army attempted to capture the town in 1925 but was stopped at the outskirts; this event is known as the Incident at Petrich
