168 Muslims in Late 19th Century Bulgaria
In this special episode finishing off season 7, we cover the unique challenges faced by Bulgaria's Muslim population following the 1878-9...
top of page
Season 7: Independence
Finally free from the Ottomans, Bulgaria fights to find its way in the world as great power politics, radical ideas, and wars shape and reshape the young country.
Eric D. Halsey
- Aug 30, 2022
- 1 min
167 Looking Back on Independence, Part 2
This episode covers the second half of Season 7, roughly from 1886 until 1895. In that time, Stefan Stambolov ran Bulgaria with near...
93 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Aug 23, 2022
- 1 min
166 Looking Back on Independence, Part 1
This episode covers the first half of Season 7, roughly 1879 until 1886. In that time, Bulgaria drafted its first constitution, found...
165 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jul 31, 2022
- 1 min
165 The End of an Era
Stambolov's long predicted assassination finally occurs. Meanwhile, Ferdinand wonders whether the price asked of him for reconciliation...
178 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jul 31, 2022
- 2 min
164 Revolutionary Deja Vu
As the Stoilov government decides to support them, Macedonian revolutionaries attempt to resolve their differences and form a united...
130 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jun 29, 2022
- 2 min
163 A Changing of the Guard
As Bulgaria enters a new post-Stambolov age, we examine his legacy and see just what Prince Ferdinand and the new Prime Minister Stoilov...
131 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jun 27, 2022
- 2 min
162 An Heir and the Fall of Stambolov
Bulgaria sees fundamental shifts as the long reign of Stefan Stambolov comes to an end, a son and heir to the throne is born, and a new...
128 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- May 31, 2022
- 2 min
161 To Chicago and Back
This episode covers the journey of Aleko Konstantinov to the Grand Columbian Exhibition, giving a glimpse into life, travel, and how...
124 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Apr 27, 2022
- 2 min
160 Murders and Wedding Bells
As Bulgaria experiences yet more assassinations, and Stambolov's power looks more uncertain despite diplomatic victories, the pressure on...
183 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Apr 26, 2022
- 3 min
159 The Knife, the Gavel, and the Noose
An assassin comes for Stefan Stambolov, triggering a major political shakeup in Bulgaria as Prince Ferdinand begins the search for a...
113 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Mar 30, 2022
- 1 min
158 A Royal Ruckus and the Panitsa Plot
Both Serbia and Austria-Hungary face dramatic changes in their royal families as Russia continues its campaign to overthrow and replace...
121 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Mar 27, 2022
- 2 min
157 Rebels and Railways
As Ferdinand and Stambolov settle into their roles running the country, their opponents foreign and domestic continue to try and take...
119 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Feb 28, 2022
- 1 min
156 The Stambolovshtina Begins
As Ferdinand searches for a man to lead his first government, there seems to be only one possible candidate. With his appointment as...
162 views1 comment
Eric D. Halsey
- Feb 27, 2022
- 1 min
155 Coronation
Ferdinand has finally accepted and Bulgaria finally has a monarch once again. But that doesn't mean his becoming Prince of Bulgaria will...
109 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jan 30, 2022
- 2 min
154 Ferdinand Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Bulgaria's newly elected Grand National Assembly scours Europe for a suitable monarch while the great powers find themselves on the brink...
173 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jan 29, 2022
- 2 min
153 "Friendly Advice"
In the aftermath of Stambolov's counter-coup, the new regency tries to repair relations with Russia. However, Tsar Alexander III has his...
130 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Dec 28, 2021
- 2 min
152 The Fall of Alexander Battenberg
Despite his military and political victories, nothing seems enough to save Alexander Battenberg from his bad relationship with the Tsar...
170 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Dec 27, 2021
- 2 min
151 The Serbo-Bulgarian War, Part 2
After turning back the initial Serbian attack, Bulgarian forces enter Serbia. But while the Bulgarian army is advancing in the field,...
228 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Nov 29, 2021
- 1 min
150 The Serbo-Bulgarian War, Part 1
The Serbian declaration of war came as a shock to Bulgaria, who now has to rush its soldiers from the Ottoman border to meet the...
327 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Nov 29, 2021
- 2 min
149 Unification
As Bulgarian unification with Eastern Rumelia rushes ahead, forcing politicians and royals alike to quickly adapt, Bulgaria waits to see...
179 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Oct 30, 2021
- 3 min
148 Some Kind of Normalcy
After years of chaos, some level of stability finally comes to Bulgarian politics. However, while this allows the government in Sofia to...
150 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Oct 26, 2021
- 2 min
147 A punch in the nose
Now that every possible faction in Bulgaria's chaotic political system has angered every other faction, it seems only two things can now...
193 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Sep 27, 2021
- 3 min
146 Burned Bridges Everywhere
Now that Prince Alexander's coup has in theory given him everything he wanted, the question of what he can do with his new power remains....
152 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Sep 25, 2021
- 4 min
145 The Bomb and the Coup
As a far-off assassination rocks Bulgaria, Prince Alexander finally sees an opening to achieve his aims to govern as he wishes. However,...
165 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Aug 31, 2021
- 3 min
144 The Liberals Get Their Chance
As the Liberal Party finally get the chance to govern, it quickly makes enemies at home and abroad. Political fights get ugly and...
372 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Aug 30, 2021
- 3 min
143 Politics at its best and worst
As Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia each face the many problems associated with their new independence, they take very different approaches....
185 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jul 26, 2021
- 2 min
142 An Inauspicious Start
In this episode, we dive into the first Bulgarian political factions and the complex political environment into which the young Prince...
184 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jul 23, 2021
- 1 min
141 A Constitution and a Prince
In this episode, Bulgaria's Constituent Assembly begins the work of agreeing on a Constitution and finding a foreign prince. As this...
275 views0 comments
Eric D. Halsey
- Jun 21, 2021
- 3 min
140: Hope and Despair
Even as the ink on the Treaty of Berlin is drying, Bulgarians are up in arms about its provisions. Soon, new uprisings are planned,...
270 views0 comments
bottom of page