Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

168 years since the birth of Stefan Stambolov

The statesman who laid the foundations of modern Bulgaria

Photo: BGNES

Stefan Stambolov was a rarity in Bulgarian political life. Very few if any of the statesmen in this country have been able to achieve as much for a life span.

A revolutionary and a poet, evolved into a politician and reformer, he is one of the Founders of Modern Bulgaria.

He was born on January 31, 1854 in the town of Tarnovo, the ancient Bulgarian capital, he had 9 siblings. His father sent him to study at the Theological Seminary in Odessa. But instead of obedience and prayer, he devoted himself to anarchism. He joined the Movement for the Establishment of an Independent Bulgarian Church and was expelled from the Odessa Seminary.

He joined the Bulgarian Central Charitable Society, which took an active part in the Russian-Turkish war of liberation of 1877-78. The Berlin Congress of 1878 revised the results of the war and divided the Bulgarian territory, shortly after the country was liberated from Ottoman rule. Stambolov was among the founders of the Unity Committees for the Unification of the Bulgarian Lands.

He was one of the most zealous defenders of the Unification of the Pricipality of Bulgaria with Eastern Roumelia in 1885. As chairman of the National Assembly, he strongly opposed the pro-Russian coup that overthrew Prince Alexander Battenberg. In 1886 he was appointed to the regent's council of the young principality.

Stambolov was only 25 years old when he plunged into politics to lay the foundations of Bulgarian statehood.

You can learn more interesting facts about the personality and work of the great Bulgarian statesman from the publication “Stefan Stambolov - the statesman who modernized Bulgaria” from the collection of Radio Bulgaria.

Compiled by: Darina Grigorova

English version: Elizabeth Radkova



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

The Christmas fasting - 40 days of spiritual purification before the glorious Nativity

On November 15, the second longest fasting in the Bulgarian Orthodox tradition begins, which is preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. ‎ It is believed that, although it lasts 40 days, the Christ's Nativity fast is not as..

published on 11/15/23 9:44 AM
The solemn proclamation of Northern and Southern Bulgaria into an independent Kingdom, September 22, 1908.

The Birth of the Third Bulgarian Kingdom

After the Russo-Turkish war of 1878, with the Treaty of Berlin, the Bulgarian ethnic land was divided. Northern Dobrudja was handed over to Romania, and Nis and Pirot regions - to Serbia. The Principality of Bulgaria, a vassal of the Ottoman Empire,..

published on 9/22/23 9:10 AM

Kurban Bayrami begins with Arife day

The biggest holiday for Muslims, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, is Eid al-Adha. It begins in the evening hours of the day of Arife (June 27), when Muslims pay respect to their deceased relatives..

published on 6/27/23 1:54 PM