Bulgarian Kingdom Research Articles

The image of Bulgaria on the pages of the newspaper «Russian invalid» during the First World War (1916–1917)

The article examines and analyzes the image of Bulgaria, which was created by domestic journalists on the pages of the periodical «Russian invalid» during the First World War (1916–1917), when the Russian Empire was in active military confrontation with the countries of the Quadruple Alliance, and the Bulgarian Kingdom, being a member of the military-political alliance of the Central Powers, actively participated in military operations on the Thessaloniki Front against Russia’s allies – Serbia and Romania. Correspondents of the «Russian invalid» on the pages of their publication in 1916–1917. Attention was paid to Bulgaria, but to a much lesser extent than to Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey. Most of the information about the Bulgarian Kingdom was posted in the headings «External News», «Military Review», «Balkan Peninsula» and «Serbian Front». Based on the results of the analysis of the materials presented on the pages of «Russian invalid», the following distinctive features of the image of Bulgaria formed by the journalists of this newspaper in 1916–1917 were identified: - a minor ally of the Hohenzollern Empire on the Balkan Peninsula, which was under complete control from Berlin; - a country that sought to realize its territorial claims through participation in the world war; - a state that had great political ambitions, but did not have the necessary resources to achieve them; - a country in which there was no public consensus regarding the participation of their armed forces in the war on the side of the Quadruple Alliance. In conclusion, it is concluded that the Bulgarian Kingdom in «Russian invalid» appeared as a state that sought to defend its state interests, including trying to revise the results of the Second Balkan War, which were perceived by the Bulgarian political elite as «the first national catastrophe».

The colorful facade decorations of the secession style in Sofia. Sofia mineral baths and the recovering of missing elements

The report presents the national specific of the Secession style in the colourful ceramic decoration of some buildings in Sofia. The most representative between them are the church of St ?Nikolay Novi Sofiiski?, buildings of the Synodal Palace, the Central Mineral Baths, and the Higher Theological School at the Holy Synod, built and decorated between 1900 and 1922. They are the works of the architects Friedrich Gr?nanger, Yurdan Milanov and Petko Momchilov. The accent of the research is the ceramic decoration of the facades of the Central Mineral Baths in Sofia, by the project of Haralampi Tachev. The details of the types of ornaments are presented and analysed. The graphic designs for the restoration of the missing elements were considered. The impact of colour in the design of the facades is analysed. The peculiarities in the decoration and the connection of this style with the medieval elements, were examined. The connection of the facade solutions with the Bulgarian historical traditions of the early Middle Ages and Byzantium is explained through examples from Preslav, the capital of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. This way the coloured ceramic tiles of the facades of the Central Mineral Baths are represented as an expression of the Bulgarian medieval tradition in the Secession style in Sofia. The colour facade interpretations of the buildings in Vienna, Paris and Prague of that period are presented for comparison and demonstration of the national differences, decisions and tasks of the Secession style.

Archaeology of landscape: field survey in the Valley of Hadzhiiska, Byala and Aheloy River

In the autumn of 2020 and spring of 2021, archaeological and geological field surveys were conducted within the Nessebar and Pomorie municipalities, as part of the project “Archaeology of Landscape: Patterns of Reconstruction of the Ancient Environment.” The project aims to reconstruct the landscapes of the Southern slopes of The Emine Stara Planina Mountain during Antiquity, as well as investigate human impact on the environment and archaeological sites. During the surveys, 102 new archaeological sites were discovered (see Fig. 1). Two sites date back to the Late Chalcolithic period, four to the Late Bronze Age, and nine small settlements to the Early Iron Age. These settlements were located along the banks of the Aheloy River and Hadzhiiska River. The majority of the sites (51 settlements) date back to the second half of the 1st millennium BC. Eleven settlements were dated to the Archaic and Classical periods, and ten to the Hellenistic period. Thirty sites did not yield enough diagnostic artifacts, and thus were largely dated to the second half of the 1st millennium BC. The Early and Late Roman periods, as well as Late Antiquity, were represented by a total of 54 sites, with 13 sites from the Roman period and 41 from Late Antiquity. However, this remains a conditional division, as some of the sites from Late Antiquity could potentially date back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The Medieval period was represented by 46 sites, with three sites dating back to the earliest part of the period (8-10th century). These sites contain pottery from the First Bulgarian Kingdom, while eleven sites belong to the 10th-12th centuries, and eighteen sites to the 13th-14th centuries.

Paristrion as Centre and Periphery: from Byzantine Border Province to Heartland of the Second Bulgarian Tsardom

In 1185, after a successful revolt against the Byzantine empire, the so-called second Bulgarian kingdom was established on the territory of the former province of Paradounavon/Paristrion, that had been the first area of settlement of the Bulgars who had crossed the Danube and established their state in 681, and had become a peripheral region of the Byzantine empire after the conquests of Tzimiskes and Basil II. Even before the 1185 revolt, however, Paristrion had already begun to develop an embryonal degree of self-consciousness, although not in a ‘national’ way, owing to its peculiar history and ethnic composition. During the course of the 9th–12th century it had experienced a constant influx of invaders from the north, many of whom had in the end settled, either forcibly or after reaching an agreement with the imperial authorities. Those mixobarbaroi, half-civilized barbarians (according to the Byzantine point of view) had gradually integrated with the local population, made of Bulgarians, Vlachs, and Byzantine soldiers, settlers and administrators coming from the various provinces of the empire. When the military presence on the Danube was strong the region prospered economically, and became integrated in a vast trade network managed by Cuman and Rus’ traders and raiders; but during the 12th century the empire gradually withdrew its troops and its interest in Paristion, and this relative prosperity began to diminish. Coupled with the remembrance, in popular traditions, of the past glory and abundance of the first Bulgarian empire, and with the increasing fiscal burden that oppressed the local traders, the Paristrians gradually became convinced that their future prosperity, much like at the time of the first Bulgarian kingdom, was in their independence from the empire. Once again, this peripheral region began the centre of an independent polity that traced its roots in the past Bulgarian kingdom, but exhibited also some radically different traits.

PATRIARH EUTHYMIUS OF TARNOVO, THE ETHNIC PASSIONARY IN THE BULGARIAN LITERATURE

The article is the first attempt in the Bulgarian humanities to analyze, on the basis of comparative material from different time segments of the Bulgarian literary process, the image projections of Patriarch Euthymius. This is done in the light of a very debatable theory – the theory of the importance of passionaries for historical procedurality. We are looking for interpretive visions, attracted by the philosophy of history, ethnology andl iterature, to prove the complex understanding of the role and importance of this Bulgarian passionary through the axiological options of the times in which literary works were created, whose main actor was the last patriarch of the second Bulgarian kingdom.

Once Again about the Multifold Slavonic Translations and their Context: “On Prayer” by Evagrius of Pontus (CPG 2452)

The article examines the history of the Slavic translations of the work On Prayer by Evagrios (Evagrius) of Pontus (CPG 2452). The witnesses are more than 35 – in manuscripts of Russian, Serbian, Bulgarian and Moldavian-Wallachian provenance, from the 12th to the 17th century. Two translations are analysed, which are distributed in monastic collections compiled in different ways. The first of these can be situated in the context of the early parenetic literature of the First Bulgarian Kingdom (10th c.), and the other is related to the literary tradition and ascetical practices of Hesychasm in the 14th century. A version of the first translation, which appeared in the 14th century in the Bulgarian milieu is also considered. The comparison of the language of the translations with their Greek original allows for extremely interesting observations on the translators’ approaches. The reception of the text On Prayer is a key to understanding the processes that take place in the Slavic literature over a long period, characterized on the one hand by the continuity, and on the other by the introduction of new phenomena, both in the selection of vocabulary and in the compositions of the manuscripts as a whole. The history of the work On Prayer sheds light on the connections of the monastic centres on the Balkans, Russia, and Mount Athos.

ДИПЛОМАТИЧНІ ПРАКТИКИ В’ЯЧЕСЛАВА ЛИПИНСЬКОГО В ОЦІНКАХ ІСТОРИКІВ

In recent years, researchers are increasingly focused on the Viacheslav Lypynskyi (Ukrainian politician, theorist of Ukrainian conservatism) : from practical political actions to a detailed study of theoretical reflections. They interested in various vectors of Lipin studies. It should be noted that V. Lypynskyi became sufficiently studied in recent years as the head of the Ukrainian Embassy in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Scientists, on the work of which drawn attention in the relevant topic: Igor Ducks, Igor Girich, Tatyana Ostashko, Irina Interim and others. This article is aimed at summing a certain result in the long run of scientists. The article is trying to collect, analyze, explore and outline certain results in the historiographic study of the place of V. Lypynskyi in the international politics of the Ukrainian state. The main submers are considered, which researchers studied in the context of the activities of V. Lypynskyi as ambassador during their work from 1918 to 1919. The topics of scientific research were especially studied: Embassy staff (appointment, the appointment of those who are responsible for certain sectors and criticism of personnel by opponents, both from among the government and the social democratic forces); The struggle for territorial encroachments and at the same time ratification of Beresia Agreement (peace treaty between the Ukrainian People’s Republic on the one hand and German, Austria-Hungarian, Ottoman Empires and the Bulgarian kingdom of the other side). The strong Polish diaspora prevented the joining of the Kholm region and part of the smashes in the Ukrainian state. Also, the activity that puts themselves the goal of helping the prisoners of war in concentration camps and citizens of Ukraine, which were in Austria – Hungary); Lypynskyi’s care from the post of Representative of Ukraine in Vienna (comes to power in Kiev in November 1918, the directory of UNR and the inability to find a common language with new government structures). As a result of scientific research, we conclude that this topic is sufficiently studied. Most scientific works used during the writing of the article are combined into a positive assessment of the role of V. Lipinsky as ambassador.

FOREIGN POLICY OF BULGARIA IN 1908–1915 IN THE EVALUATION OF RUSSIAN JOURNALISM

The article covers the coverage of Russian magazines of foreign policy of Bulgaria in 1908–1915. Popular, large-circulation publications were the most prominent representatives of various ideological directions, influenced the atmosphere, and the perception by Russian society of various foreign events, international relations and the foreign policy of individual states. The article includes materials of “Vestnik Evropy”, “Russkoye bogatstvo”, “Russkaya mysl” and “Sovremennyy mir”. One of the purposes of the article is the reconstruction of the historical atmosphere of the time and the relation of the leading Russian periodicals to current events. The main directions of the policy of the Bulgarian kingdom in 1908-1915 were determined. Also, the great states of the beginning of the 20th century - German, Austro-Hungarian, Russian and Ottoman Empires, the French Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The pages of Russian magazines reflected the relations between the great powers and the Balkan countries. The article analyzes the subject and content of the articles, the attitude of journalist analysts to international events and conflicts. The main attention is paid to displaying on the pages of Russian periodicals growing political tensions on the Balkan Peninsula. All without exception, analysts of the magazine noted an increase in the number of contradictions in the foreign policy of Bulgaria. Summarizing the analysis of Russian publications, it can be noted that their tone about the events of 1908–1915 is not very, but nevertheless, differed. Generally, in all journalists without exception, what they saw in the future was optimistic. Inevitable premonition of a quick war, fundamental inconsistency, inconsistency of events, excessive social tensions is the mental atmosphere in which contemporaries lived.

„Radikal“ Newspaper Publishing Company

The study examines the newspaper company „Radikal“, which is founded in 1914 and declares bankruptcy in 1939 in the wake of WWII and the major transitions in Bulgaria during that time. The company’s final end comes in 1953. There are no studies in the journalistic literature that examine „Radikal“ in detail, so this study aims to fill this gap by tracing and evaluating the company’s activities. The study uses a chronological approach and content analysis and is based on archival sources that have not been previously used in the scientific literature, as well as on newspaper sources and other references from the journalistic and historic literature. The study concludes that „Radikal“ presents a good example of a successful party-associated newspaper publishingcompany, which is why it left a significant mark on the newspaper industry in the history of the Bulgarian Kingdom.

The New Critical Edition of the Martyrdom of the Fifteen Martyrs of Tiberioupolis (BHG 1199) by Irini-Sophia Kiapidou and Several Problems of the Text

Abstract The review-article discusses the new critical edition of BHG 1199 and its traditional attribution to Theophylact of Ohrid (which is rejected). The legend representing the conversion of Bulgaria with no participation of Cyril and Methodius or their disciples must go back to the tenth century First Bulgarian kingdom.

Traces of Strong Eneolithic and Medieval Earthquakes Hitting the Durankulak Archaeological Settlement in Northeastern Bulgaria

We have conducted paleo- and archaeoseismological surveys in the Durankulak Eneolithic archaeological settlement in northeastern Bulgaria, identifying many earthquake-related deformations of different ages. The ubiquitous presence of counterfort walls added to damaged original (nearly north–south) walls on the eastern side provides evidence of the first significant earthquake in Durankulak that seems to have occurred during Middle to Late Eneolithic time (4650–4100 B.C.). This seismic event made the north–south walls tilt westward, so that the ancient residents had to build counterfort walls to prevent the original walls from collapsing. However, the upper excavations in the archaeological settlement show that the next, later, seismic deformation induced a tilting and collapse of remains of the original walls eastward, producing a gap of a few tens of centimeters between the original walls and the counterfort walls. Afterwards the settlement was abandoned. It may be surmised that the later earthquake was stronger than the earlier one, which left room for reconstruction work. The local seismic intensity of the earlier earthquake seems to have been at least Il ≥ VIII, while the later event had Il ≥ IX on the МSК-64 scale. Considering that the masonry of both walls, the original and the counterfort ones, is about the same age, the time interval between the two seismic events must have been short, one or two hundred years. Nevertheless, the epicenters of both of these earthquakes were to different directions from Durankulak. The seismic motion (compressive waves and shocks) went from the west during the first earthquake and from the east during the second. The rupture zone of the first seismic event was obviously related (1) to an earthquake-generating zone in continental Bulgaria situated west of the archaeological settlement in question, or (2) to the Intramoesian active fault that was responsible for the large earthquake of 1444. The rupture zone of the second seismic event was nearby, in the coastal part of the Black Sea; the responsible feature seems to have been the Shabla–Kaliakra seismogenic zone. Considerable seismic deformations were also identified in structures on the southern slope of the island in a dwelling dating back to the First Bulgarian Kingdom (the 9th century A.D.). This seismic event produced distortions in the walls (in map view), sigmoidal patterns, as well as fractures and rotations in the walls. The local seismic intensity due to this earthquake is supposed to be at least Il ≥ VIII. The rupture zone of a third seismic event was likely to be nearby, in the coastal part of the Black Sea, and the responsible feature must have been the Shabla–Kaliakra seismogenic zone.

Монастырская архитектура эпохи святых Наума и Климента Охридских в контексте храмового зодчества Первого Болгарского царства и архитектурных традиций византийских провинций IX–XI веков

Монастырская архитектура эпохи святых Наума и Климента Охридских в контексте храмового зодчества Первого Болгарского царства и архитектурных традиций византийских провинций IX–XI веков

Political Censorship in Post-Socialist Bulgaria

This article presents how the political changes in Bulgaria after 1989 have infl uenced the interpretation of 20th century history. The emergence of the new censorship is traced through the introduction of a new canon for presenting the past. Three decades ago, Bulgaria began its transition from Soviet-type state socialism to political democracy. For historians, this meant removing political and ideological censorship. Initially, this freedom gave historians the chance to upgrade historical knowledge with hidden facts that were inconvenient for the BCP government. Soon, however, new political parties came to power and began to impose their political version of history. This meant re- moving facts related to the history of the communist movement and anti-fascism in Bulgaria. The attempts at rewriting history are especially visible in the presentation of the socialist period. The political intervention began with the renaming of streets, towns, and institutions. Names associated with the anti-fascist resistance and Russian and Soviet history were removed. Instead, names from the time when Bulgaria was part of the Tripartite Pact were restored. The modern political censorship is most evident in the rewriting of history textbooks. The new curricula introduced a mandatory positive presentation of the history of the Third Bulgarian Kingdom. The actions of the Communists had to be presented as terrorist, and the entire post-war government was defi ned as totalitarian. Instead of socialism, we should use the term “communism”. In 2019, when approving the new history textbooks for high schools, right-wing non-governmental organizations intervened and, as a result, facts about the socio-economic development of the country in the socialist period were removed.

The Great Bulgarian Kingdom of Khan Kubrat and the Kuphis River

The Great Bulgarian Kingdom of Khan Kubrat and the Kuphis River

Тамгата – хералдичен знак на прабългарския владетелски род Дуло в неговата представителна функция

In essence and function, the heraldic sign tamgha of the Proto-Bulgarian ruler’s clan Dulo is a sign of ownership with one primary-basic function – the possession, and two secondary-derived and additional functions – the representative and the protective (apotropheic). Khan Asparuh ordered the tamgha of the Dulo clan to be carved on a suitable stone and to be built over the main gate of the Belgorod Fortress as a sign that there is a descendant of the Dulo clan, who is also a ruler, a khan of the entrusting Proto-Bulgarian tribes. He directed the repair of the Drustar fortress and ordered the tamgha of Dulo clan to be carved on the fortress walls. The wall in front of the village of Byala, Varna district is the last and the most southern wall that Khan Asparuh builds. On it the tamgha of the Dulo clan is carved between two Runic letters, so the whole inscription translates as The State of Dulo. The urns with the ashes of the khans and their wives from the First Bulgarian Kingdom are stored in a special pit into the most hidden underground tunnel connected to the palace of Khan Krum. The title канартигин is formed on the basis of the Proto-Bulgarian expression *каган-ирт- тикин, literally “prince-after-kagan”, i.e. “crown prince”.

Историографический обзор: о храмах Второго Болгарского царства в работах болгарских ученых

The article deals with the history of the study of church architecture in various regions of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1186–1396) on the material of the most significant monuments of such regions as Nessebar, Sozopol, Cherven, Shumen, Veliko Turnovo and Asenovo, etc. An attempt is made to analyze the main bibliography on the topic and present various points of view of Bulgarian authors regarding the specific features and significance of the churches of the period in question.

Монументальная живопись Никейской империи: границы и этапы развития

The article deals with the murals of the Empire of Nicaea. There were several centres of art production in the Empire. At the time of the Empire’s foundation the murals of Zoodochos Pege in Monagri on Kos and of Tavşan Ada (the 4th layer) were created by the same local artists. The next stage (first third of the13th century) is represented by the paintings in Caria and Ionia: on the Inçekemer Taş rock, in the destroyed church in Punta on Mykale cap, Deesis in the skeuofylakion of St. John church in Ephesos, in the church onTheatre terrace in Pergamon and the frescoes of Latmos (monastic caves outside the Kellibaron gate, cave of Christ above Ancient Latmos, cave of St. Paul of Latmos). Some echoes of the dynamic style of the 12th century are combined in these ensembles with new trends — voluminous characteristic faces, modeled in Kellibaronin live pasty technique. The frescoes of Pergamon and Ephesos look more ordinary. Next stage, the reign of John III Vatatzes, is represented by the paintings in Kyriakosellia on Crete (1230–1236) attributed to Nicene masters. These are high quality paintings, with much more plasticity and inspiration, however, with some provincialism. They are characterized by spatial compositions, complicated architecture,dynamic poses of saints with voluminous figures and plastic faces, sometimes grotesque. On the contrary, the third layer of murals of St. Michael at Thari and the first layer in St. Phanourios in the old cityof Rhodes (1226–1234) made by Nicene painters demonstrate more archaic elements. The second layer of the murals in Patmos refectory (1230–1240) must have been created under Nicene influence, while some ensembles on the islands of Crete, Leros and Cos made under the influence of Patmos were painted by Niceneartists themselves, as A. Katsioti suggests. The style of frescoes in the basilica of Anaia and the two pastophoria of St. Sophia in Nicaea continue and develop the trends outlined in Kyriakosellia, demonstrating the third stage in the development of Nicene art at the end of the reign of John III Vatatzes and Theodore III Laskaris(1240–1250s). Their careful consideration reveals high quality of painting, refined colors, monumental scaleof figures of saints and angels, obvious emphasis on volume and lively turns. The faces have beautiful classical types with large features. The monumental classicism of these poorly preserved paintings, dating back mostlikely to around the middle of the 13th century, is impressive. These frescoes should be placed somewhere between the paintings of Mileševa and Sopoćani. To Nicene painters should be also ascribed the frescoes of Bojana(1259), the first layer in the church of Sts. Nicholas and John in Stavropigi, Mesa Mani, and the murals inthe monastery of the Virgin Kyriotissa in Constantinople. Appreciating the role of Nicea in the developmentof art one should consider another important center, Thessaloniki. Yet the art connections between these two centers, Constantinople and The Second Bulgarian Kingdom, were really complex. Poorly preserved and little-known monuments of the Empire of Nicea allow a better understanding of the artistic processes of the13th century, which led to the appearance of the Early Palaeologan style.

Церковная архитектура Первого Болгарского царства: исследования и исследователи

The paper deals with the history of research on the ecclesiastic architecture of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. The main stages of this process are described, starting from the first ethnographic expeditions of the 1880s and first archaeological investigations of the 1890s to the modern times. Analyzing the methods of research on Bulgarian monuments the author shows that throughout the 20th century the interpretations of facts and archaeological finds have not always been free from changing ideological concepts.

Първите керамични школи в България, основа на съвременната керамична пластика

The Bulgarian ceramic art has its deep traditions. This paper examines its historical development from the First Bulgarian Kingdom to present. After the Liberation, the ceramic art has passed through various development stages and has been established not only as an utilitarian art, but also as a craftsmanship of clearly defined and proven artistic qualities.

The Bulgarian Occupation Zone During World War II

After the invasion of Yugoslavia, especially Kosovo by the German army in World War II (1941), Kosovo was divided into three occupation zones, which were defined in the Vienna talks. In addition to the interests of of the big countries like Italy and Germany, the latter also sought to meet the demands of Bulgaria, another ally of the Fascist Bloc. Thus, Bulgaria sought to pass under its rule a part of the districts of Gjilan, Vitia, Old Kacanik, the region of Presevo, Kumanovo, Skopje, Veles, Prilep and Bitola. In these regions lived about 200.000 Albanians, who came under Bulgarian occupation. Thus, the Bulgarian occupation zone covered an area of 900 km², with 60.842 inhabitants, or 8% of the total area of Kosovo and over 9% of its population. The Bulgarian invaders declared all Albanian territories annexed by them as an integral part of the Bulgarian Kingdom. The policy followed by the Bulgarians against the Albanians during their rule in these areas was usually of the ordinary brutality. Albanians were interned, imprisoned, and killed in the most inhuman ways. In others word, they have been denied every national and human right. As a result of the violence and pressure on the part of the Bulgarian invaders, by September 1942, 3.000-4.000 Albanians were displaced from their lands invaded by the Bulgarians.