How Did Bulgaria Unite? | The Bulgaria Crisis of 1885

Why did a crisis break out in Ottoman Bulgaria in 1885? For four centuries Bulgaria was ruled by the Ottoman Empire but in 1878 (with the help of Russia) a new Bulgarian state came into being. As a result of Great Power politics at the Congress of Berlin, that state would be reduced in size, but the people of Bulgaria remained intent on reforging their country.

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Sources Consulted:
Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers. “6.1 European population committee (CDPO)”. p. II. The Demographic Situation of Ethnic/minority Groups 1. Population Size and Growth. 1999.

Miller, Stuart T. Mastering Modern European History. London: Macmillan Education LTD, 1990.

[Veriox]

Its nice that you cover multiple events from the balkans. This region is usually overshadowed by more recent events like WW2 and yugoslav wars.

[YankoYankov]

As a Bulgarian, I really appreciate videos on Bulgarian history as I feel like the country, and the Balkans in general are quite overshadowed compared to events in Western Europe/Russia

[jonathanwebster]

Legally speaking; the unification of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia in 1885 was de jure a personal union: Eastern Rumelia legally continued to exist as an autonomous Ottoman province, it was 'just' that the same person who was the Bulgarian Prince happened to be, at the same time, the Governor-General of the Province at the same time in a personal union. This was a state of legal affairs that existed until formal independence in 1908.

Of course, de facto, the two territories were to all intents and purposes united (Eastern Rumelia for example sent representatives to the Bulgarian national assembly), and Bulgaria's tributary status to the Sublime Porte was itself little more than nominal, but it's an interesting state of affairs nonetheless.

[rewriting-history]

Great video! Thank you so much for creating a video about my country! I like your style of videos, keep up the good work!

[auridisavan]

I clicked on this video on kind of a whim, and honestly wasn't expecting much. But man, this video was excellent. Concise, informative, interesting, and well animated. It reminds me of Ten Minute History/History Matters' old long-form content before he had to cut back. I watched several other videos of yours and they were all fascinating and as well made. You have earned a sub my friend, and I want it down on the record that I was here at 26k, because this channel is going to be huge one day. Your videos are excellent, simply put

[ki]

A good presentation with some mistakes, though.
It was not Bulgaria who broke free from the Ottoman Empire the last, it was Albania in 1913.
The population of Macedonia was predominantly Bulgarian, and not that diverse as suggested here.

The San Stefano treaty was not possible, as Russia and Austria had a pre-war agreement acc. to which Bulgaria within such borders will not be created.

[lucianoosorio]

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[catalinmarius]

Very interesting video! I knew about the Bulgarian unification but always thought it's something the Ottomans allowed. Never thought not only the Ottomans, but also the great powers were against it, kudos to the Bulgarians! You mentioned in this video, and I remember hearing that Romania had 2 proposal for unions, one from Bulgaria mentioned in the video and another from Hungary after WW1 (but not sure if before or after the Hungarian-Romanian War). Why did the union with Bulgaria fail? And what happened in the Hungarian proposal for union after WW1?

[Veriox]

San Stefano Bulgaria looks blessed and cursed at the same time.

[vasil.kamdzhalov]

About the conflict with Serbia, it was short but some details are interesting. First Russia was really mad about the unification, they broke diplomaticc relations and recalled all help that was there ( this is important ). When the unificaiton happened, bulgarian army was send to the new south border expecting turkish retaliation but to surprise of our foreign minister, who asked the serbian one what was the reason for all that movement of troops and are they to declare war ( he said no ), wae was declared and the wanted to take all east provinces of Bulgaria including the capital. The situation was dire, as no troops from Bulgaria were on the border of near the capital, few troops were there are were used for as much diversion as possible. After the russians recalled all personel from Bulgaria the highest military rank in Bulgaria was captain while Serbia had a full fledged professional army as the serbian population didnt want to fight. To save the unification all troops had to move from the south, this happened with roman legion style marching. This would mean for 3-4 days to reach the capital while marching day and night for up to 500km and immidiately enter combat. Most combat in the end happened to be bayonet charges as most rifles broke as they were second hand by Russia. High morale is what saved Bulgaria, if Serbia took all the west provinces this geopolitically would have meant that they have the sole influence to expand in Macedonia.

[FreshVito_bg]

Nice video! I always hoped someone to make a video about our unification.

[Da__goat]

The West intervening in Balkan affairs single handedly prevented the independence and rise of Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece, and functioned to instead hurt these cultures in the long term in the name of British and French influence

[DigitFalconer]

"Slavic rebels" - Bulgarian rebels. Or "fully united" - Bulgaria was divided in 5 parts, Rumelia was only one of 5. Why you even bother when not researching in advance...

[ДженкаПавлова]

Thanks sir video is good. Before the trident period, Bulgaria was a Great Christian Empire that culturally and spiritually influenced the entire Slavic world, giving them an alphabet, a language, relics and many customs. And today it is a state of the empire of the spirit with one of the richest cultures

[sahrazad]

I love this channel. The art, maps, and topic choices are so great

[Komap]

Bulgaria was never fully united, in a way this was the reason for the second balkan war
Knyaz (prince) Alexander was exiled due personal task bestowed to him (Being against unification)

[Jzscrstsprstr]

Very good video, man. I know it's a touchy subject and occasionally you get a touchy commentators (we bulgarians are not good at diplomacy), but you did very well. Cheers!

[beadsman]

As Bulgarian I didn't know that Bulgaria and Romania wanted an unification. For the first time I hear such thing.

[bcchiriac]

It would be great for Bulgaria to unite with Romania because although they came from the Volga River and intermixed with the natives being Thracian, they are considered part of the Thracian blood like us Romanians who separated to be Dacians. Yet Dacians ancestors are Thracian and we are all Thracian in Romania and Bulgaria in which that union should and must be called Thracia!

[megalodon]

Awesome video can the next video be how Bulgaria got its modern borders. And the rise and expansion of the Ottoman Empire from is an Ghazi to Sultan Murad III pls keep up the great work peace.