History
MODERN BULGARIAN STATE
The Modern Bulgarian State came into being on 3rd of March 1878, when the Treaty of San Stefano puts an end to the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. Bulgaria restores its territories from 14th century (including present day Republic of Macedonia). The first Bulgarian Knyaz was Alexander of Battenberg, a German Prince who was a nephew of the Russian Emperor Alexander II. Bulgaria got big territories on the Balkans and that is why the treaty was revised at the Congress in Berlin held in June 1878. The state was divided in two – Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia, who reunited several years later – on 6th of September 1885. Although being successful union, in 1886 Knyaz Alexander I was forced to resign and the Austrian Prince Ferdinand Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was invited to ascend the throne. He also got the title Knyaz (Prince). On 22nd September 1908 Bulgaria gained its full political independence and from that time on the title of the Bulgarian ruler became a Tsar. Since 1879 the capital of Bulgaria is Sofia.
In 1912-1913 Bulgaria took part in the Balkan Wars, which changed its territory as a result. During the WW I Bulgaria was on the side of the defeated and lost a part of its lands yet again. Tsar Ferdinand abdicated and his son Tsar Boris III succeeded him to the throne.
During the WW II, reluctantly though, Bulgaria again takes the German side. After the mysterious death of Tsar Boris III, his 6-year old son Simeon II succeeded him to the throne.
After WW II the Yalta Conference allocated Bulgaria to the Soviet sphere of influence and in 1946 the lawful heir the throne was expelled from the country which was declared People's Republic. The Bulgarian Communist Party came to power and its one-party government ruled the country until the totalitarian regime of the leader Todor Zhivkov was overthrown on 10th of November 1989.
Thus the Bulgaria’s transition to democracy started. In June 1990 were held the first multiparty free parliamentary elections since 44 years. The new democratic constitution was adopted the next year. In 1992 were held the first democratic presidential elections. In 2004 Bulgaria joined NATO and in 2007 became full member of the European Union.
The Modern Bulgarian State came into being on 3rd of March 1878, when the Treaty of San Stefano puts an end to the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. Bulgaria restores its territories from 14th century (including present day Republic of Macedonia). The first Bulgarian Knyaz was Alexander of Battenberg, a German Prince who was a nephew of the Russian Emperor Alexander II. Bulgaria got big territories on the Balkans and that is why the treaty was revised at the Congress in Berlin held in June 1878. The state was divided in two – Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia, who reunited several years later – on 6th of September 1885. Although being successful union, in 1886 Knyaz Alexander I was forced to resign and the Austrian Prince Ferdinand Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was invited to ascend the throne. He also got the title Knyaz (Prince). On 22nd September 1908 Bulgaria gained its full political independence and from that time on the title of the Bulgarian ruler became a Tsar. Since 1879 the capital of Bulgaria is Sofia.
In 1912-1913 Bulgaria took part in the Balkan Wars, which changed its territory as a result. During the WW I Bulgaria was on the side of the defeated and lost a part of its lands yet again. Tsar Ferdinand abdicated and his son Tsar Boris III succeeded him to the throne.
During the WW II, reluctantly though, Bulgaria again takes the German side. After the mysterious death of Tsar Boris III, his 6-year old son Simeon II succeeded him to the throne.
After WW II the Yalta Conference allocated Bulgaria to the Soviet sphere of influence and in 1946 the lawful heir the throne was expelled from the country which was declared People's Republic. The Bulgarian Communist Party came to power and its one-party government ruled the country until the totalitarian regime of the leader Todor Zhivkov was overthrown on 10th of November 1989.
Thus the Bulgaria’s transition to democracy started. In June 1990 were held the first multiparty free parliamentary elections since 44 years. The new democratic constitution was adopted the next year. In 1992 were held the first democratic presidential elections. In 2004 Bulgaria joined NATO and in 2007 became full member of the European Union.
