As the Great Depression spreads across the globe, Bulgaria is particularly vulnerable for a multitude of reasons. Meanwhile, the country's bachelor king finally finds love.

Major Characters in this Episode:

Prime Minister Andrey Lyapchev

Tsar Boris III

Princess Giovanna di Savoia of Italy

Ivan Mihailov

Timeline for this episode:

• 1930, Jan 20th - A reparations conference is held in The Hague during which payments are eased.

• 1930, Jan - The first talking film presented in Bulgaria - Atlantic - is screened at the “Modern Theater” in Sofia.

• 1930, Mar 28th - On the request of the Turkish government, international bodies begin to refer to Constantinople as Istanbul.

• 1930, May 15th - Lyapchev forms a new cabinet

• 1930, 12-22nd June - A bomb is detonated at the Nis railway station, leading to the arrest of 25 Macedonian activists in Bulgaria under British pressure.

• 1930, Jun 17th - The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act comes into law, kicking off a round of tariffs around the world that will worsen the Great Depression and slow international trade.

• 1930, Jul - Ivan Mihailov purchases 1,000 rifles from a Croatian manufacturer through the Ustaca organization.

• 1930, Oct 5-12 - The First Balkan Conference for Cooperation is held in Athens with all Balkan states participating.

• 1930, Oct 31st - Tsar Boris marries Princess Giovanna.

Sources:

• История на България в Дати by Vasil Katsunov, Plamen Mitev, Valeri Kolev, Evgenia Kalinova, and Iskra Baeva

• The Rose of the Balkans by Ivan Ilchev

• History of the Balkans: Twentieth Century by Barbara Jelavich

• Crown of Thorns by Stephane Groueff

• The Balkans by Misha Glenny

• Alexander Stamboliiski by R.J. Crampton

• A Concise History of Bulgaria by R.J. Crampton