Unification of Bulgaria

The Unification of Bulgaria (Bulgarian language: ?????????? ?? ????????, Suedinenie na Bulgariya) is the act of unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and the then-Ottoman province of Eastern Rumelia in the autumn of 1885. It was co-ordinated by the Bulgarian Secret Central Revolutionary Committee (BSCRC). The Unification was accomplished after revolts in Eastern Rumelian towns, followed by a coup on 6th September 1885 supported by the Bulgarian Knyaz Alexander I.

Related Topics:
Bulgarian language - Unification - Principality of Bulgaria - Ottoman - Eastern Rumelia - 1885 - Bulgarian Secret Central Revolutionary Committee - Coup - 6th September - Bulgaria - Knyaz - Alexander I

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The BSCRC, formed by Zahari Stoyanov, began actively popularizing the idea of unification by means of the press and public demonstrations in the spring of 1885.

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It was planned that the Unification is conducted in the beginning of September, when the Rumelian militia was mobilized for performing manoeuvres. The first plans were the Unification to be announced on 15th September, but on 2nd September a riot began in Panagyurishte (then in Eastern Rumelia) that was brought under control the same day by the police. It was decided that the act of unification is performed earlier due to the danger of mass riots and the arrest of the organizers of the plot. BSCRC representatives were sent to different towns in the province, where they had to gather groups of rebels and send them to Plovdiv, the capital of Eastern Rumelia, where they were under the command of Major Danail Nikolaev.

Related Topics:
15th September - 2nd September - Panagyurishte - Plovdiv - Danail Nikolaev

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On 4th September rebels led by Chardafon announced the Unification and took control of the village of Golyamo Konare. The government with Ivan Geshov at the head consulted with the Russian representatives in Plovdiv, hoping for Russian approval of the Unification. The Russian representative's reply was categorically negative.

Related Topics:
4th September - Chardafon - Golyamo Konare - Ivan Geshov - Russia

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On 5th September several hundred rebels from Golyamo Konare were moving to Plovdiv. In the night the units led by Danail Nikolaev gained control of the city and removed the Eastern Rumelian government led by Governor-General Gavrail Krustevich. A temporary government was formed with Georgi Stranski at the head and general mobilization was declared.

Related Topics:
5th September - Governor-General - Gavrail Krustevich - Georgi Stranski

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After Alexander I supported the Unification and after the Serbo-Bulgarian War that followed and was quickly won by the newly united Bulgarian state, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire signed an agreement, under whose terms Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia now had a mutual government, parliament, administration and armed forces. The only delimitation that was operating until the Independence of Bulgaria was announced by Tsar Ferdinand in 1908 was that the Bulgarian Knyaz was formally appointed by the Sultan to be a Governor-General of Eastern Rumelia.

Related Topics:
Serbo-Bulgarian War - Ottoman Empire - Government - Parliament - Administration - Armed forces - Independence of Bulgaria - Tsar - Ferdinand - 1908 - Knyaz - Sultan

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6th September is celebrated in Bulgaria as the Unification Day and is a national holiday.

Related Topics:
6th September - Bulgaria - Unification Day - National holiday

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