Chapter 44： Independence of Bulgaria

When the Turkish bourgeois revolution was in full swing, not only Austria-Hungary had his idea. Turkey's neighbor Bulgaria also intends to use this Turkish bourgeois revolution to realize its own plan.

After the defeat of Turkey in the last Russian-Turkish war between 1877 and 1878, the Principality of Bulgaria was established in the northern part of the Balkan Mountains. Romania and Serbia were also established at this time. In 1885, North and South Bulgaria merged to achieve unity.

The relationship between Bulgaria and Russia during this period was very complicated. At that time, Russia’s Balkan policy was formulated by Count Ignatyev. Ignatyev’s plan was to gradually turn Bulgaria into a Russian stronghold in the Balkans by supporting Bulgaria, which has almost the same language and origin as Russia. It can connect Serbia and Czechoslovakia, threaten the core area of ​​the Austro-Hungarian Empire, retreat can quickly oppress Constantinople, and cut off the throat of Ottoman Turkey.

It can be said that the core of Russia’s foreign policy during this period has been adjusted to fully support Bulgaria. When Bulgaria and Romania were at odds over the ownership of the Dobrogea region, Russia even took the side of Bulgaria and believed in the Orthodox Church. Romania was pushed to the camp of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

But Bulgaria did not retaliate for Russia’s enthusiasm. In the eyes of Bulgarians, although the big Russian brother did make great sacrifices for the liberation of Bulgaria, Bulgaria was everywhere after independence, and Russian consultants and garrisons who interfered in the internal affairs of Bulgaria from time to time. Only the Bulgarians feel uncomfortable.

The most ironic thing is that the Russian experts who helped Bulgaria formulate the new constitution were all Westerners who were rather uncomfortable in Russia. What these experts designed for Bulgaria is a highly modern constitutional monarchy that is impossible to achieve in Russia. The Bulgarians with this regime, in turn, have a sense of ideological superiority over Russia, which is still under absolute autocracy.

To make matters worse, the German king Alexander, chosen by the Russians for Bulgaria, did not become a puppet in the Russian imagination. Alexander quickly mastered Bulgarian and converted to the Orthodox Church. It gradually gained the support of Bulgarian political elites and became the spiritual sustenance of Bulgarian nationalists.

And King Alexander’s home country, Germany, also used this natural connection to divide and unite Bulgaria’s political elites, enabling a German politician-Bulgarian nationalist anti-Russian alliance with King Alexander as the link to be realized. In the face of Bulgaria's increasingly strong centrifugal tendency, Russia's approach can be described as simple and rude. While increasing political control and military pressure, it instigated the Bulgarian pro-Russian army to launch a coup to overthrow King Alexander.

This kind of brutality aroused great indignation from the Bulgarian government and opposition. In the end, the coup d'état ended in failure in 1886. Bulgaria expelled all the Russian advisers and garrisons and fell to the German and Austrian side. The Balkan front that Russia had painstakingly managed since the Crimean War was wiped out, and the straits that were already close at hand suddenly became out of reach.

Izvolsky, who was in charge of Balkan affairs after 1886, began to actively exert his personal influence and reshape Russia's position in the Balkans. In addition, the Bulgarians had too much involvement with Russia, and they were slowly affected back. In 1908, Bulgaria still favored Russia.

"Now the Turkish bourgeois revolution is our opportunity. Bulgaria does not need to have a nominal suzerain. Moreover, many of our ethnic groups in Turkey are being bullied and oppressed by them. This is something we cannot bear." Bulgarian Foreign Minister Stephen Uros said about himself. Heartfelt.

Stephen Uros is a supporter of Greater Bulgaria, and now most people in Bulgaria have this kind of plot.

‘Greater Bulgaria’ is a Bulgarian national unity ideology aimed at restoring the largest territory in Bulgaria’s history. Including the plains between the Danube River and the Balkan Mountains, North and South Dobrogea, Sofia, Pirot, Vranje, North Thrace, parts of East Thrace, Macedonia and other regions.

"There is just an opportunity to take advantage of." Prime Minister Alexander Malenov said.

What the Prime Minister said was that on August 2, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs held a lunch at home and did not invite the Bulgarian diplomatic representative in Constantinople. He was considered insulted by the self-esteem diplomatic representative and reported the situation to Bulgaria. This makes Prime Minister Alexander Malenov a treasure, and this is an excellent opportunity.

When the ministers were discussing, the Grand Duke of Bulgaria, Ferdinand I, was not idle either. He made a secret visit to Austria-Hungary in Vienna. The uprisings launched in southwestern Macedonia and eastern Thrace failed due to the support of the "Macedonia-Adrian Fort Supreme Council" (referred to as the "Supreme Council") in 1903. Grand Duke Ferdinand felt that he needed the support of other powers to include the above-mentioned places in his own land.

The Grand Duke set his sights on Austria-Hungary, hoping to get the support of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. If one of the two powers with the greatest influence in the Balkans can be supported (and Russia will not oppose it), then Grand Duke Ferdinand’s dream will have a good chance to become a reality.

On August 2, 1903, the "Supreme Council" launched an uprising in southwestern Macedonia and eastern Thrace. A combined rebel army composed of Bulgarians, Wallachiians, and Greeks captured some cities, but they suffered The desperate resistance of the Turkish and Albanian *** was soon suppressed by the Turkish "Bashi-Bazok" again.

This time, the Turkish government is determined to make Bulgarian residents extinct in Thrace and Adrian Fort, because it is too close to the imperial capital. Hundreds of Bulgarian villages were looted and burned, more than 5,000 people were killed, more than 70,000 people were displaced, and more than 30,000 people fled to the Bulgarian mainland to find refuge.

The headache is that in addition to the insurgents of the "internal revolutionary organization" and the Turkish armed forces, neighboring countries have also sent armed men to take advantage of the chaos. These troops are no less inferior to the Turks in killing alien Christians.

Serbia’s Chetnik (the “irregular army”) attacked Bulgaria’s “Comitadji” (the “volunteers”), and in turn was vendetta by the other side; both sides were with the Greeks. Like Andartes, the Albanians and Turks were hunted everywhere, while the Turkish authorities were instigating discord among the Christians.

The chaotic state of Macedonia provides Russia and Austria with an excuse for interference. In 1903, they put forward a series of administrative, financial and public security reform requirements to the Sudanese court, demanding that Turkey turn Macedonia into an independent autonomous province divided into five districts and managed by the great powers. Skopje is owned by Austria, Thessaloniki is owned by Russia, Séré is owned by France, Drama is owned by the United Kingdom, and Bitola is owned by Italy.

The Turkish authorities were shocked by the demands of the great powers for the autonomy of Macedonia. This is also the reason for the early uprising of the Young Turkish Party.

The incident in Turkey shocked the Bulgarian government and Grand Duke Ferdinand. They originally wanted to annex Macedonia through an uprising of an "internal revolutionary organization", and Turkey's implementation of constitutional reform will undoubtedly make Bulgaria lose this opportunity. After the young Turkish coup, Bulgaria found that not only could it not wait for the Macedonian fruit to fall naturally after it was ripe, it had to pick it quickly instead.

Bulgaria made tense preparations for war on the one hand, and on the other hand decided to use the chaotic situation of the abolition of the Turkish Sultan to declare independence and completely get rid of its vassal relationship with Turkey. But independence means tearing up the "Berlin Treaty", which will bring danger to Bulgaria. Coincidentally, according to the "Berlin Treaty", Austria will return Bosnia and Herzegovina to Turkey after the 30-year occupation period (that is, 1908). It also didn't want to do so, so the two countries came together and decided on a pace. Unanimously tear up the "Berlin Treaty."

This is also the reason why Grand Duke Ferdinand visited Vienna secretly. Now the news from the country has caused the Grand Duke to speed up the coordination with Austria-Hungary. On the second day, Grand Duke Ferdinand had a secret discussion with the Austro-Hungarian Prime Minister Alois.

Ferdinand said openly, "We all need mutual support. I hope we can coordinate the time and catch the Turks by surprise."

"I agree with this point very much, even if the strength is strong, it requires the least price." Seeing that Grand Duke Ferdinand is relatively straightforward, Prime Minister Alois also spoke very directly.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister is right. Coordinating the two parties can reduce a lot of unnecessary troubles. Why not do it in our favor." Grand Duke Ferdinand also agreed to say that after a good conversation, the two sides reached an agreement. Bulgaria first became independent, and Austria-Hungary announced the merger of Bosnia and Herzegovina two days later. It allows both parties to reduce external pressure.

After the agreement was reached, Grand Duke Fedenand returned to Sofia and told the prime minister and a group of people. This greatly encouraged the Bulgarian government to discuss preparations for independence.

In Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, on September 22, Grand Duke Fedenan officially announced in the National Assembly that Bulgaria was independent from the Ottoman Empire. On the same day, he officially announced that Bulgaria had become a kingdom, and he would become the new king of this kingdom.

After announcing the news of independence to the people, Grand Duke Fedennan approached Prime Minister Alexander Malenov and told him one of his thoughts. "I want to crown myself as the'Tsar.' This is my tribute to the early rulers of Bulgaria."

The Prime Minister thought after listening and said. "This decision is a good idea. As long as we explain to Russia, I believe they will not refute us against a title."

Hearing the Prime Minister’s analysis, Grand Duke Fedenand said with satisfaction, “According to the agreement with Austria-Hungary, we declared our independence on October 5th. I want to go to the Church of St. Forty Martyrs in Tarnovo. The independent martyrs announced the news."

"This is a wise decision that can make the people of the kingdom burst into fanatical patriotism." Prime Minister Alexander Malinoff admired the king's decision. This allows the people to love their king even more, and for King Ferdinand to say that being loved by others will strengthen his position in Bulgaria.

In St. Petersburg, Nicholas II looked at the message, which was brought to him by the Prime Minister Stolypin. It says that Bulgaria will become independent as a kingdom and hope that the king will be crowned as Tsar.

"We should congratulate on the news from Bulgaria. Now the relationship with Bulgaria must be strengthened. After all, if we disagree, Austria-Hungary will not let this opportunity pass." Seeing that Nicholas II looked at the telegram silently, Stolypin quickly explained the impact on Russia.

After all, the title of Tsar is now known to be unique to Russia. Suddenly there are more than one named Tsar, which makes Nicholas II happy. Soon Russia sent a message of congratulating Bulgaria's independence to Sofia, and it also understood King Ferdinand's coronation as the "Tsar".

On October 5th, in the Church of the Forty Martyrs in Tarnovo, King Ferdinand was officially crowned as the ‘Tsar’ and the Bulgarian Declaration of Independence was announced.