On 22 September Bulgaria celebrates the 116th anniversary of the declaration of Independence.
On September 22, 1908 in the old Bulgarian capital Veliko Tarnovo took place the "Solemn Proclamation of North and South Bulgaria into an Independent Kingdom".
With this act Bulgaria not only became an independent state, but the process of the 1885 Unification of the Principality of Bulgaria with Eastern Rumelia was officially completed.
Three key dates in our recent history mark Bulgaria's path to independence. They are of equal importance and for each of them our people have paid with many sacrifices.
The first, undoubtedly, is March 3, 1878, when, as a result of the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation, the Third Bulgarian Kingdom was resurrected after 500 years of Turkish rule.
The second, is the Unification of the Principality of Bulgaria with Eastern Rumelia on 6 September 1885. This act will be carried out entirely independently by the Bulgarian people and its elite, bearing the best of the Renaissance traditions. Thanks to the courage of the young Bulgarian army and its commander-in-chief Prince Alexander I Battenberg /1879-1886/ the cause of Unification was protected during the Serbo-Bulgarian War.
It received diplomatic and international recognition with the Bulgarian-Turkish Agreement of 20 January and the Act of the Great Powers of 24 March 1886. In order not to undermine the authority of the Padishah, because Eastern Rumelia was a tributary autonomous principality under his rule, diplomatic wording was used. The Sultan recognized the personal union of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia headed by the Bulgarian ruler.
Passing through a number of political vicissitudes, Bulgaria reaches the third memorial date. Exactly 30 years after the liberation, on 22 September Bulgaria was declared an independent kingdom. Here is what Tsar Ferdinand I /1887-1918/ wrote on this occasion in his manifesto:
"...For thirty whole years, the Bulgarian people, steadfastly loyal to the memory of the nationalists for their freedom and inspired by their covenants, have worked tirelessly to settle their beautiful land and have created out of it, under my leadership and that of the late Prince Alexander, a state worthy of being an equal member of the family of civilized nations.
Encouraged by this bright work, and to meet the needs of the State and the popular desire, I proclaim, with the blessing of the Most High, the united Bulgaria of September 6, 1885, an independent Bulgarian kingdom, and with my people I firmly believe that this act of ours will find the approval of the great powers and the sympathy of the whole enlightened world.
Long live a free and independent Bulgaria!
Long live the Bulgarian people!
The independence of Bulgaria was proclaimed in the Church of St. Forty Martyrs" in the old capital Tarnovo. Prince Ferdinand I, in the presence of members of the government and other public figures, reads the manifesto to the Bulgarian people. The proclamation of Independence in this very temple was a symbolic act of continuation of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. In keeping with historical tradition, the Bulgarian state was proclaimed a kingdom and Prince Ferdinand was given the title of Tsar.
The Bulgarian state thus rejected its vassal dependence on the Ottoman Empire, unjustly imposed by the Congress of Berlin (1878), and returned to the family of independent European states. In addition to political benefits, our country also gained economic advantages, since until then the customs regime was determined not by the Bulgarian state but by the European powers. The status of Bulgarian diplomatic missions was also raised. Independent Bulgaria changed its constitution and coat of arms in 1911 and now had the right to make alliances, including political, military and economic ones.
The final merger of North and South Bulgaria was confirmed by the recognition of Bulgarian independence in 1908-1909. Initially, there was a threat of war breaking out, but as the Great Powers were not prepared for a large-scale conflict the diplomatic settlement of another Eastern crisis was relied upon. Sofia's differences with the Highgate were settled with the help of Russia, and three interstate agreements were concluded in April 1909. According to these agreements, Russia forgave Ottoman debts remaining from the war of 1877-1878, in return for which the Ottoman Empire renounced all financial claims against the formerly tributary principality of Bulgaria, and the Bulgarian side undertook to pay 82 million francs to Russia within 75 years. In the same month, the Ottoman Empire recognized Bulgaria's independence, followed by the Great Powers.
The now officially recognized United and Independent Bulgaria prepares for the next step - the wars for the liberation of the enslaved brothers of Macedonia and Thrace.
The solemn program on September 22, Sunday, starts at 11.00 in front of the Independence Monument on Knyaz Alexander I Square in Sofia. The programme will feature the Sofia Wind Orchestra, the St. Sofia Choir led by Valentin Bobievski, the Gusla Male Choir and actress Vasilka Sugareva. A speech will be delivered by Prof. Dr. Vesselin Yanchev, lecturer at Sofia University "St. The lecture will be given by Prof. Jan Janszek, professor at the University of St. Kliment Ohridski.
Traditionally, the culmination of the solemn celebrations is in Veliko Tarnovo. I BGNES
