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Treasury Reform and Progress
Efforts to reform the treasury bore fruit by 1679 A.D. Records from the Topkapi Palace archives demonstrate a significant advancement in organizing Ottoman register books. These books were meticulously arranged in numerical order and provided detailed descriptions of goods, marking a notable improvement compared to previous practices.
Preservation Challenges and Historical Insights
Despite progress, only a few treasury books dating before 1679 A.D. have survived in the Palace archives. These ancient records, dating back to the eras of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror and Sultan Bayazit II, consist of inventory lists with limited descriptions. The scarcity of these documents raises questions about the preservation of historical records over the centuries (104).
Challenges during Military Campaigns
Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, the Imperial Army engaged in continuous military campaigns. During these expeditions, the treasury played a crucial role, with treasury carts accompanying the army even before the Sultan and his officials. The register books containing records of valuable items, including holy relics, were subject to wear and tear during these arduous campaigns, often leading to their deterioration or loss Private Istanbul Tours.
Historical Records and Absences
While treasury register books from the reigns of Sultan Beyazit II and Yavuz Sultan Selim are available, records from the periods of Magnificent Suleyman, Murat III, Selim II, and Murat IV are notably absent. The reasons behind this discrepancy remain unclear. It raises questions about whether such records were maintained or if they were discarded for unknown reasons. The proverb “He was so wealthy that he was not aware of his properties’ accounts” highlights the challenges of managing the vast riches flowing into the empire during these prosperous periods.
In conclusion, while efforts were made to improve treasury management and record-keeping, challenges such as preservation during military campaigns and the sheer volume of wealth entering the empire posed significant obstacles to maintaining comprehensive historical records.
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The Grim Legacy
As we surveyed the desolation around us, the true extent of the horror became painfully clear.
A Grim Graveyard
The churchyard, once a place of solace and reverence, now lay desecrated by the savagery of the massacre. The dogs, scavengers of death, had unearthed a gruesome sight—limbs, heads, and torsos protruded from the mass grave, a macabre testament to the thousands who met their end here.
Innocence Lost
Among the ghastly remains were the bodies of children—tiny, fragile beings whose lives were snuffed out by unspeakable cruelty. Curly heads crushed beneath heavy stones, small feet preserved by the scorching heat, and baby hands outstretched in futile plea for salvation. Theirs were the silent cries of innocence extinguished too soon Tour Packages Balkan.
Mothers’ Sacrifice
Mothers, in a final act of love, shielded their children with their own bodies, their maternal instinct overpowered by the merciless onslaught. Young girls wept and pleaded for mercy, while infants gazed in wonder at the gleaming sabres and bloodied hands of their assailants. Now, they lay together in a grotesque tableau of death, their voices silenced forever.
A Church of Despair
Entering the church, we were met with a scene of unspeakable horror. Charred and blackened remains filled the space, a sickening reminder of the atrocities committed within. The stench of decay hung heavy in the air, driving us to the brink of sickness.
Repeating Tragedies
As we wandered the streets, the same scenes repeated themselves endlessly. Men, women, and children—once vibrant with life—now reduced to mere skeletons, their flesh rotting away in the unforgiving sun.
The horrors of Batak will haunt us for a lifetime. Amidst the ruins and devastation, we bear witness to the darkest depths of human depravity. Yet, in the face of such unspeakable evil, we must never forget the resilience and courage of those who perished. Their memory will endure, a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit.
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Devingrad Tracing Centuries of Civilization
Origin and Evolution
Devingrad, also known as “Momina Krepost,” lies east of Tsaravets, its name evolving from ancient Thracian origins through Byzantium to its present-day nomenclature under Ottoman rule. Through meticulous research, the mist of time surrounding this ancient site has begun to clear, revealing a rich tapestry of civilization dating back to the end of the Bronze Age and the dawn of the Iron Age around 1300 B.C.
Thracian Heritage
Early evidence, including rudimentary fences and structures, offers glimpses into ancient habitation patterns, with artifacts from hunting, cooking, and pottery production dating back to the Iron Age. The zenith of Thracian society around 500-400 B.C. is marked by strong cultural ties to Greek civilization, evidenced by the widespread use of classic Greek amphorae.
Byzantine Connections
The Byzantine era leaves its mark on Devingrad through the remains of fortress walls, basilicas, and domestic architecture reminiscent of the ancient city of Sikidava. Destroyed around 700 A.D., Sikidava’s influence persisted into the early 9th century A.D., coinciding with the spread of the First Bulgarian Kingdom as evidenced by archaeological findings Private Turkey Tours.
Rise to Prominence
The 11th and 12th centuries witness Devingrad’s population growth and transformation into a secure urban center, eventually evolving into a capital city from 1186 to 1393. This transition catalyzed a surge in commercial activity, fostering prosperity, trade, and artistic craftsmanship. Notably, Turnovo became renowned as a cultural hub, attracting artists, writers, and intellectuals who contributed to its vibrant identity.
Cultural Renaissance
The city’s distinctive style flourished, giving rise to identifiable schools of art and architecture that bear the hallmark of Turnovo’s unique heritage. From meticulously crafted precious metals to intricate artworks, Turnovo’s artisans and merchants thrived, solidifying its reputation as a beacon of cultural and economic prosperity.
Devingrad’s journey through time unveils a captivating narrative of human ingenuity, resilience, and cultural innovation. From its humble beginnings in antiquity to its zenith as a bustling capital city, Devingrad’s legacy endures as a testament to Bulgaria’s rich historical heritage and enduring spirit of creativity.
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Devingrad Tracing Centuries of Civilization
Origin and Evolution
Devingrad, also known as “Momina Krepost,” lies east of Tsaravets, its name evolving from ancient Thracian origins through Byzantium to its present-day nomenclature under Ottoman rule. Through meticulous research, the mist of time surrounding this ancient site has begun to clear, revealing a rich tapestry of civilization dating back to the end of the Bronze Age and the dawn of the Iron Age around 1300 B.C.
Thracian Heritage
Early evidence, including rudimentary fences and structures, offers glimpses into ancient habitation patterns, with artifacts from hunting, cooking, and pottery production dating back to the Iron Age. The zenith of Thracian society around 500-400 B.C. is marked by strong cultural ties to Greek civilization, evidenced by the widespread use of classic Greek amphorae.
Byzantine Connections
The Byzantine era leaves its mark on Devingrad through the remains of fortress walls, basilicas, and domestic architecture reminiscent of the ancient city of Sikidava. Destroyed around 700 A.D., Sikidava’s influence persisted into the early 9th century A.D., coinciding with the spread of the First Bulgarian Kingdom as evidenced by archaeological findings Private Turkey Tours.
Rise to Prominence
The 11th and 12th centuries witness Devingrad’s population growth and transformation into a secure urban center, eventually evolving into a capital city from 1186 to 1393. This transition catalyzed a surge in commercial activity, fostering prosperity, trade, and artistic craftsmanship. Notably, Turnovo became renowned as a cultural hub, attracting artists, writers, and intellectuals who contributed to its vibrant identity.
Cultural Renaissance
The city’s distinctive style flourished, giving rise to identifiable schools of art and architecture that bear the hallmark of Turnovo’s unique heritage. From meticulously crafted precious metals to intricate artworks, Turnovo’s artisans and merchants thrived, solidifying its reputation as a beacon of cultural and economic prosperity.
Devingrad’s journey through time unveils a captivating narrative of human ingenuity, resilience, and cultural innovation. From its humble beginnings in antiquity to its zenith as a bustling capital city, Devingrad’s legacy endures as a testament to Bulgaria’s rich historical heritage and enduring spirit of creativity.
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The Turkish Dominion
Suppression of Bulgarian Identity
Destruction of Bulgarian Church (Late 15th Century)
Under the orders of Sultan Bayazid, the leader of the Muslim Turks, the Bulgarian national church faced severe destruction. The Bulgarian clergy was either killed or forced to flee. Byzantium, now more commonly known as Constantinople, aimed to reintroduce earlier Greek practices into the language of the Bulgarian church.
Fall of Constantinople and Ottoman Rule (1453)
In 1453, Constantinople succumbed to the Turks. The Turkish Ottoman Empire now governed the Balkans, much like ancient Byzantium did in its prime. The Turks, for political reasons, supported the Greek Orthodox Church based in Constantinople. This unwritten alliance between the Turks and the Greeks endured for four centuries. Under this arrangement, Orthodox Christians within the Ottoman Empire, particularly the Slavs, were politically subordinated to the Turks and spiritually to the Greeks City Tours Istanbul.
Dark Age for Bulgarian Identity (15th-19th Century)
This period marked a dark age for the Bulgarian national spirit, surpassing the challenges faced under Greek influence alone. Bulgarian books were burned, and the Bulgarian language, both spoken and as a literary medium, was officially replaced in church rituals by Greek. Bulgarians ceased to speak their language in public, adopting Turkish when conversing with the Turks and Greek when communicating with the Greeks.
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The Turkish Dominion
Suppression of Bulgarian Identity
Destruction of Bulgarian Church (Late 15th Century)
Under the orders of Sultan Bayazid, the leader of the Muslim Turks, the Bulgarian national church faced severe destruction. The Bulgarian clergy was either killed or forced to flee. Byzantium, now more commonly known as Constantinople, aimed to reintroduce earlier Greek practices into the language of the Bulgarian church.
Fall of Constantinople and Ottoman Rule (1453)
In 1453, Constantinople succumbed to the Turks. The Turkish Ottoman Empire now governed the Balkans, much like ancient Byzantium did in its prime. The Turks, for political reasons, supported the Greek Orthodox Church based in Constantinople. This unwritten alliance between the Turks and the Greeks endured for four centuries. Under this arrangement, Orthodox Christians within the Ottoman Empire, particularly the Slavs, were politically subordinated to the Turks and spiritually to the Greeks City Tours Istanbul.
Dark Age for Bulgarian Identity (15th-19th Century)
This period marked a dark age for the Bulgarian national spirit, surpassing the challenges faced under Greek influence alone. Bulgarian books were burned, and the Bulgarian language, both spoken and as a literary medium, was officially replaced in church rituals by Greek. Bulgarians ceased to speak their language in public, adopting Turkish when conversing with the Turks and Greek when communicating with the Greeks.
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Bulgaria's Political Landscape in the Interwar Years
Seeds of Division
As the 1920s unfolded, Bulgaria found itself deeply divided, setting the stage for decades of political intolerance and uncontrolled violence.
The Rise of Red Terror
Inspired by Moscow, the Communist Party leaders embraced terror as a means of political struggle, leading to the initiation of the “red terror.” This dark chapter reached its peak on April 16, 1925, with a horrific explosion at the church of St. Sabbath in Sofia. The failed attempt on the life of the King and attending ministers resulted in the loss of hundreds of innocent lives. In response, the government unleashed a period of fierce “white terror,” marked by arrests, torture, and executions, causing international condemnation and a significant decline in government authority. By early 1926, Professor Tsankov resigned.
Lyapchev’s Attempt at Reconciliation
The subsequent government, led by Andrei Lyapchev, aimed at achieving national reconciliation and restoring part of Bulgaria’s international prestige. However Sightseeing Turkey, the rise of fascism in Italy and national-socialism in Germany led to the emergence of pro-fascist organizations in Bulgaria, notably the People’s Social Movement.
The Impact of the Great Depression
The Great Depression of 1929 further destabilized Lyapchev’s cabinet, as unemployment and impoverishment sparked social indignation. In the summer of 1931, the People’s Block coalition, led by Alexander Malinov, won a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections, but the government struggled to overcome the economic remnants of the global crisis.
The Emergence of the “Monarch-Fascist Dictatorship”
In 1933, Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers’ Party came to power in Germany, prompting Bulgaria to reevaluate its foreign policy. Following Hitler’s example, King Boris III sought to revise post-war borders. Despite not joining the Balkan Treaty Organization in 1934, Bulgaria faced internal strife and political turmoil.
In conclusion, the interwar years in Bulgaria were marked by a series of tumultuous events, including political violence, economic challenges, and shifting foreign policies. The nation grappled with internal conflicts and external influences that would shape its trajectory in the years to come.
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Unveiling Aziz Pacha's Unconscionable Acts
A Friday of Despair Shells and Escape
Friday marked a grim turning point in the harrowing events that unfolded in Bulgaria. Shells rained down on the inhabitants, leaving chaos in their wake. As the night fell on Thursday, a significant number of men managed to escape the impending horror. However, this fleeting freedom was short-lived, as many were hunted down in the following days, becoming victims of the relentless violence inflicted upon the populace.
Desperate Appeals The Pleas for Peace Ignored
In the midst of despair, those left in the church and churchyard sought refuge, with fewer than a hundred men and hundreds of vulnerable women and children. Desperation led them to dispatch messengers—three or four elderly individuals—begging Aziz Pacha for peace. Tragically, these messengers never returned, likely falling victim to the brutality of the Bashi-Bazouks. Aziz Pacha, in the absence of any attempt to negotiate or understand their pleas, unleashed a bombardment on the desperate congregation.
Indiscriminate Violence Shelling the Helpless
Aziz Pacha’s actions reveal a callous disregard for human life. The church, now a sanctuary for women and children, became the target of merciless shelling. The inhabitants, having fled to what should have been a place of safety, found themselves trapped in a slaughter-pen. The heart-wrenching reality is that Aziz Pacha continued the assault even when faced with a congregation that posed no threat and had ceased any form of resistance.
Refusal to Listen The Commander’s Heartless Stance
Aziz Pacha’s refusal to listen to pleas for mercy echoes through the tragedy. Three appeals for protection were made, each met with callous indifference. Without waiting to hear the inhabitants’ defense or considering alternative paths, Aziz Pacha chose the path of destruction. His heartless bombardment of a church filled with defenseless women and children underscores the stark brutality inflicted upon those seeking refuge.
Failed Protectors Guarracino’s Dubious Credit
In an ironic twist Bulgaria Holidays, those claiming credit for the messengers’ non-arrival showcase a distorted sense of accomplishment. Guarracino and Turkish apologists boast about the lack of success of messengers, conveniently ignoring the commander’s direct responsibility for their fate. This twisted narrative attempts to deflect blame and shields Aziz Pacha from the accountability he deserves.
Conclusion Unveiling Unconscionable Acts
In concluding this grim chapter, Aziz Pacha’s unconscionable acts stand exposed. The bombardment of a church filled with women and children, the refusal to entertain pleas for peace, and the relentless violence against the defenseless populace demand accountability. This tragic episode reveals the dark depths of cruelty and underscores the urgency of addressing the crimes against humanity that transpired in Bulgaria.
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From Siege to Surrender
Perustitza’s Saturday Morning Ordeal
As the sun rose on Saturday morning, a pivotal moment unfolded in the besieged village of Perustitza. The Armenian girl’s account offers a window into the shifting dynamics as the gates of the churchyard, once a sanctuary, were slightly ajar. The subsequent events reveal a mix of coercion, promises, and the complex psychology of those caught in the throes of conflict.
A Glimpse of Hope The Churchyard Gates Slightly Ajar
Saturday morning marked a potential turning point in the tragedy of Perustitza. The Armenian girl, peering out from the church, witnessed an unexpected sight—the gate of the churchyard slightly open, guarded by a soldier. In a daring move, she ran out, fear etched on her face, and pleaded with the soldier not to harm her. The soldier, in a surprising twist, assured her safety and urged her to beckon the others to join.
The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. The gates, which had confined the villagers within the churchyard’s walls, now offered a glimmer of opportunity. The soldier’s reassurance and the slight opening of the gate hinted at a potential reprieve for the beleaguered inhabitants, setting the stage for a momentous decision that would shape the course of events.
The Illusion of Mercy Surrendering to Aziz Pacha
As the two hundred and fifty to three hundred villagers, predominantly women and children, cautiously stepped out of the churchyard, they found themselves face to face with Aziz Pacha. A peculiar twist of fate unfolded as Aziz Pacha Balkan Tours, seemingly awaiting their surrender with open arms, praised the Armenian girl for taking the lead in persuading others to follow suit. However, his words carried an unsettling undertone, shifting blame onto the villagers for their perceived stubbornness in not surrendering sooner.
Aziz Pacha’s narrative painted a distorted picture of mercy and magnanimity. He asserted that the siege and bombardment would have ceased long ago had the villagers chosen to surrender willingly. In a disconcerting juxtaposition, he expressed astonishment at the persistence of the women and children who, in his eyes, needlessly subjected themselves to bombardment when they had the option to embrace his supposed benevolence.
The complex psychology of coercion and manipulation comes to the fore in this moment of surrender. The villagers, worn down by the relentless siege and the horrors they endured, faced an agonizing decision. Aziz Pacha, whether through genuine intent or strategic manipulation, had created an environment where surrender appeared as the only viable option.
The surrender of Perustitza’s inhabitants, orchestrated under the shadow of bombardment, raises profound questions about the dynamics of power, coercion, and the blurred lines between true mercy and calculated manipulation in the crucible of conflict. This pivotal Saturday morning, while marking the end of the immediate siege, leaves an indelible imprint on the collective memory of Perustitza, a village forever altered by the complex interplay of forces beyond its control.
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Lord Derby made the statement
When Lord Derby made the statement in the House of Lords that the Government had received no information from the consuls at Scutari, Belgrade, and Galatz about the atrocities of the Bashi-Bazouks, was he indulging in fun at the expense of his noble auditors?
If he had said that the Government had received no information from the consuls at St. Petersburg, Berlin, and Vienna respecting the Dublin riots, he would not have made a more irrelevant statement. As far as the difficulty of communication is concerned, and the time required for the transmission of a letter, Galatz and Belgrade are further away from Philippopolis and the scene of the atrocities attributed to the Bashi-Bazouks than Vienna or St. Petersburg are from Dublin.
The consuls in Belgrade and Galatz know absolutely no more of what is passing here than do the consuls in Bordeaux or Lyons. It is therefore to be fairly presumed that until Mr. Baring was sent out, the Government had absolutely no means of obtaining news, except through the papers, and that they will have obtained no direct information until Mr. Baring shall have made his report.
Compare Statements
As before stated, I also came with the mission of investigating and making a report. I think I came in a fair and impartial frame of mind. I had determined to see for myself wherever it was possible; to make inquiries, to weigh and compare statements, to carefully sift evidence and get at the plain unvarnished truth, and not allow my mind to be influenced by unsupported assertions on either side.
I had looked at the question first from the Christian and then from the Turkish point of view. I had heard the violent assertions of the one party, and the soft-worded apologies of the other City Tours Istanbul, with equal coolness and impartiality, and had especially made a large allowance for the “gross exaggerations of the Christians.”
I had, in truth, listened to both sides with such equal impartiality that I had grown somewhat sceptical, a state of mind, I take it, peculiarly adapted to the spirit of scientific inquiry. I had besides resolved to keep up this frame of mind to the end. It is generally easy enough to bear the ills of other people, and to be calm and judicial where others’ woes are concerned. I am now obliged to confess that I had miscalculated the circumstances.
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Philippopolis and Tatar Bazardjik
Mr. Baring, I am informed, will report that in the districts about Philippopolis and Tatar Bazardjik alone there have been about fifty villages burnt, without counting those that have been only pillaged, and that nearly 15,000 people have been slaughtered. This is the lowest estimate, and it does not include the districts about Sofia and those north of the Balkan. The French and Russian Consuls and the railway officials give much higher figures, and would put the number of villages burned at over a hundred, and the killed at 25,000 to 40,000.
There are people who put the number of killed at 100,000. For my own part, once the enormous number of 15,000 killed in four days is admitted, I do not care to inquire further. The French Consul and the German railway officials may be right or they may he wrong. Fifteen thousand is enough ; for no mere increase in a statement of round numbers can add to the horror of the thing. It is only in the recital of City Tours Istanbul the details accompanying the butchery that the mind can grasp and understand the fearful atrocity of the business.
Greek Consul
The Greek Consul, who is not friendly to the Bulgarians, tells me of 12,000 wretched women and children marched into Tatar Bazardjik, nearly all of whom suffered the vilest outrages. He tells me of Bulgarian fathers who killed their wives and children in order to put them out of reach of the ferocity of the Bashi- Bazouks.
The German officials tell me of the bodies of men cut up and flung to the dogs in villages near their own railway stations; of little children of both sexes maltreated and brutalised until they died; of a priest, whose wife and children were outraged and slaughtered before his eyes, and who was then put to death, after the most fearful torture, the details of which are too abominable to be re-told. I have the story of a young and beautiful girl, who having found means to obtain the rudiments of an education, opened a school in her native village, and tried to do something for the education of the poor people about her, who is now lying in prison here sick and brokenhearted, whose story is too sad for recital.
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Insurrection in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Things went on pleasantly enough until the breaking out of the insurrection in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Raika was eighteen, she had been a teacher for two years, and had nearly paid her debt. Then there were signs of approaching trouble. Fresh upon the news of the war in Herzegovina came the tax-gatherer with demands for the year’s taxes and those of the previous year, which had been remitted owing to the failure of the crops.
Many were unable to meet these unlooked-for demands. Their property was instantly seized and sold at any price it would bring. The cattle, the agricultural implements of the peasants, were seized and sold without the slightest regard to future consequences. Some were even thrown into prison, when nobody offered to buy the poor effects that were offered for sale. Naturally these acts resulted in a great deal of misery and dissatisfaction Private Turkey Tours.
Population are heavy enough
The taxes upon the agricultural population are heavy enough, often amounting, as they do, to twenty and thirty per cent., according to the tax farmer’s capacity for extortion, without being suddenly doubled at a moment’s notice. Hard upon this followed the demand for the taxes of 1876 in advance, which resulted in still more forced sales, extortions, quarrels with the tax-collectors, misery, and discontent.
The young men of the place began to hold secret meetings and to talk of throwing off the yoke of the Turks, and asserting their independence, like their brothers of Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Servia. I may as well state here that it was in this place that the insurrection, if such a puny outbreak as occurred here may be dignified by that name, broke out. There was, it seems, an Insurrectional Committee at Bucharest, composed of young Bulgarians, in the schools or in business there.
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Bulgarian massacres
As it is intimately connected with these Bulgarian massacres, and will at the same time give an idea of the condition of the Bulgarian people, I may as well give it in full, as she gave it to me. Her name is “ Raika,” and she is the daughter of a priest in the village of Otlukkui, or Panagurishti, about twenty miles from Tatar-Bazardjik. At the age of twelve she had been already remarked for her intelligence and beauty, and a kind of village literary club, which exists in the place, decided to send her to school and educate her.
For this purpose a subscription was set afoot, and the requisite funds were soon raised. They decided to send her to Eski-Zara, where the American missionaries had established a school for girls, which they afterwards turned over to the Bulgarians, by whom it is now conducted Private Turkey Tours.
American and English
It may not be amiss to remark here that the American and English missionaries have done an immense deal of good in Bulgaria by establishing schools throughout the country, educating teachers, and showing the Bulgarians how to organise and establish schools for themselves. In this they have succeeded so well that there is scarcely a village in Bulgaria without its school.
Raika remained at this school four years, and acquired seemingly a very fair education; better, perhaps, than many an English girl gets in a better school. She had a particular fondness for needlework, and she acquired so much skill in all sorts of curious and tasteful embroidery that she became famous throughout all the country.
When she returned to her native place, after four years’ study in a boarding-school, she was looked upon as a veritable marvel by all the people around her. It was particularly the wonders she worked with her needle that astonished and pleased them, and this, with her wonderful education and her sweetness of character, made them begin to look up to her as a being of a superior order.
She was now sixteen, and there was a career already marked out for her— that of a teacher ; and she entered upon it gladly. The schools in Otlukkui, or Panagurishti, as it is called by the Bulgarians, were at that time in a very flourishing condition. Since hearing Raika’s story I have been there, and I took pains to inquire into the matter.
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Kubrat’s third son
Kubrat’s third son – Asparuh, led his father’s tribe across the river Dnepr to settle in a naturally fortified area called Ongal among the rivers Danube, Prut and Dnestr. Soon the Proto- Bulgarians came into union with the Slavs who had already settled in the lands south of the Danube and together they recognized the Byzantine Empire as a common enemy. Out of this union was born the First Bulgarian Kingdom…
In the foundations of the new state lied elements of the social organization and the spiritual traditions of both Slavs and Proto-Bulgarians. Major position in the economic life of the Proto-Bulgarians occupied animal breeding, and in particular horse husbandry. All pastures and herds were common but unlike the situation in Slavic society, slavery was rather wide-spread among the Proto-Bulgarians. Besides with hunting and fishing, the tribes were familiar with the potter’s wheel, the art of jewellery, hide processing, carpentry and the blacksmith’s craft Tour Packages Bulgaria. The basis of further social and cultural development was provided by the monotheistic religion – with Tangra, the Supreme God of Heaven – combined with many different beliefs and cults. A sign of some advance in that culture was also the Proto-Bulgarian calendar system based on a twelve-year lunar zodiac cycle.
Proto-Bulgarian
A map of the lands on which the first Proto-Bulgarian horde had settled.
So in the second half of the 7th century before the Slavs and the Proto-Bulgarians stood the great historical task of establishing a new state under the name of Bulgaria…
Though He Live Well Man Dies and Another Is Born, So May The Last Born Gazing on This Remember Him Who Made It…
Khan Omurtag’s inscription from the first half of the 9th c.
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Dandolo died in 1205
Venice, who was at once the promoter, counsellor, and hero of the expedition, was after the taking of the city elected emperor, but refused the diadem of all the Caesars,’ and Count Baldwin of Flanders, the valiant leader of the Norman knights, was nominated emperor instead. Dandolo died in 1205, and was buried in St. Sophia. His capture of the city was sullied by the license of his soldiers, and by his own rapacity in conveying to Venice the treasures of Constantinople.
The Latin rule lasted for the space of fifty-eight years, Count Baldwin being succeeded by his brother Henry, who transmitted the sovereignty to his collateral descendants in the noble house of Courtenay. During the whole period it was maintained as an alien military usurpation by the presence in the capital of a large European force, frequently replenished by new soldiers from the West. On the final evacuation of Palestine by the Crusaders, it entirely collapsed, and the Greek Empire (whose representatives had, on their expulsion from Constantinople, retired to Nicsea, and there kept up the semblance of a court) was again restored by the successful exertions of Michael Palaeologus, who had been the most active opponent of the residue of the invaders, and who, as a subtle politician, had successfully neutralised the power of their Venetian allies by securing an alliance with their jealous and powerful rival, the Republic of Genoa,
So great, however, were the external weaknesses of the restored Empire, so multiplied its intestine feuds, so minute and intricate its religious differences, so uncertain its dynastic successions, so enfeebled its population, and so infatuated its counsellors, that a blight seemed to brood over its fortunes, and to foreshow its delayed, but assured, destruction. Truly within the walls of Constantinople were concentrated at this time—
A feeble government, eluded laws,
A factious populace, luxurious nobles guided istanbul tours,
And all the maladies of a falling state.’
The Genoese allies
The Genoese allies, the chief agents in the restoration of the Empire, became in their turn the instruments of mischief and of disaster. Palaeo- logus, in a spirit of generous but impulsive gratitude, granted to the subjects of that Republic exclusive possession of the suburb of Galata. They here quickly revived the commerce of Constantinople, but became a thorn in the side of its rulers. Claiming an independence of jurisdiction, and surrounding their districts of Galata and Pera with walls and fortifications, they demanded privileges injurious to the majesty and unity of the Empire; and when an Emperor more than usually spirited dared to refuse them, they awoke the horrors of a civil war at the very gates of the palace, and frequently they overran the capital itself.
This antagonism to the authority of the Empire was persevered in year after year, until they were themselves subjugated by the Turks in their final conquest of Constantinople. Nor was the final catastrophe delayed. Sultan Bayazid, surnamed Yilderim, or Lightning, from the celerity of his military movements, determined to obtain possession of the city (1396). His schemes of conquest were, however, suddenly arrested by a call to defend his own territories against Tamerlane, and he himself was taken prisoner at the battle of Angora in 1402. This unlooked-for humiliation of Bayazid was the reprieve of Constantinople, and prolonged for nearly half a century the failing hopes and falling fortunes of the Byzantine emperors, when Murad II., the grandson of Bayazid, having achieved the deliverance of his country from the Mogul yoke, led his victorious army to the gates of Constantinople.
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The chief warden Todor Moravenov
On the initiative of the chief warden Todor Moravenov, an influential notable and a native of Koprivshtitsa, considerable funds were raised in 1830 for the restoration of this oldest Orthodox church in Plovdiv. In 1832 another Plovdivian worthy, Vulko Kurtovitch Chalukov, procured a sultan’s firman granting permission for the simultaneous construction of the churches of SS. Constantine and Helena and St. Nedelya. The buildings were completed within the same year. Today the SS. Constantine and Helena Church is a holy historic place and a monument to the talent of some of the most outstanding builders, carvers, icon-and mural-painters of Bulgaria. Petko Bozveliyata, a renowned master-builder from Bratsigovo, designed the magnificent three-aisle basilica – one of the first to be built in Plovdiv.
In 1836 Yoan Paskulis from Metsovo completed the lofty iconostasis, adorned with splendid baroque carving and modelled on ‘Viennese’ specimens. All the icons on the iconostasis were painted in 1836 – 1840 by one of the greatest artists in the Revival Period – Zahari Hritovitch Zograf. Later Nikola Odrinchanin and Stanislav Dospevski added to the ornamentation of the church. In 1864 -1866 the interior walls were entirely painted by Stefan Andohov and Atanas Podzhenov, both from Pazarjik travel bulgaria. They did the colouring and gilding of the ‘Viennese’ iconostasis.
A 6m -8m high stone wall surrounds the Church of the SS. Constantine and Helena and its compound. There are several additional buildings along the inner side of the wall – a tall four-storey bell tower, an administrative premise, a school, living premises and a marble fountain. At the eastern gate of the courtyard is the small building of the Holy Sepulchre Cloister, which in the 17th -19th c. accommodated the monks representing the holy city of Jerusalim. Nowadays the building of the former primary school has been reconstructed into a permanent exhibition of iconography in the area of Plovdiv.
REVIVAL PERIOD ARCHITECTURAL ENSEMBLES
Old Plovdiv has rows of Revival Period private and public buildings scattered all over the Three Hills and forming ensembles of unique atmosphere enhanced by their picturesqueness and amphitheatrical position along the sloping streets. Most prominent are the buildings on the streets Tsanko Lavrenov, K. Nektariev, Dr Chomakov, Strumna, 4th Januarty, Architect Hristo Peev and Saborna
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The ancient theatre
The cultural life of the city is very rich. Plovdiv has a phil-harmonic orchestra, a puppet theatre and an opera company, as well as a drama theatre. There are several higher educational establishments in the town for medicine, food industry, agriculture, music, research institutes, English and Bulgarian language schools and the Paissi of Hilendar University. There is an Archaeology Museum, a National Revival Museum, a Museum of the Workers’ and Revolutionary Movement, art gallery, etc.
Tourist attractions
The old part of the town, the Three Hills, is an architectural reserve. In Roman times the Three Hills were known as Trimontium; few cities in Bulgaria have such picturesque spots from the National Revival Period. On both sides of the cobbled narrow streets rise the walls of old National Revival houses, painted facades, bay windows and vaults, eaves curved like yokes, solid wooden nail-studded gates, grassed courtyards, stone wells. A big granary from the Roman times was discovered on Nebet tepe hill. The fortress walls were destroyed and restored again and again during Roman and Byzantine times, and later under the Bulgarians. The eastern gate of the fortress, Hissar kapiya, was rebuilt and repaired several times private tours istanbul, as was the Round Tower to its southeast.
One of the major recent archaeological finds is the Ancient Theatre (2nd century) discovered in the Old town. It has been restored and now carries out its former functions. An ancient stadium was discovered in the main street which complements it.
The Argir Koyumdjioglou House on the eastern slope of Nebet Tepe hill, built 1847, is typical of Plovdiv symmetrical houses. It holds the Ethnographic Museum. An international chamber music festival is held in the museum’s courtyard each September.
The Georgiadi House east of Hissar Kapiya was built in 1846. It has a picturesque facade with bay windows and yokelike eaves. It houses the Museum of the National Revival and of the National Liberation Struggles.
The Alphonse de Lamartine Museum, built in 1829-1830. It is also a typical Plovdiv symmetrical house. The famous French poet Lamartine lived here in 1833 after his return from the Orient.
I he St Constantine and Elena Church, built 1832 on the remains of an older church. The belfry has five storeys. The gilded iconostasis is in early Baroque style and was made by the Debur engraver Ivan Pashkoula. Many of the icons were painted by Zahari Zograph in 1836.
The St Marina Church built 1852-1853 on the southwestern part of Taxim Tepe hill. It was the main episcopal church. The woodcarvings of the iconostasis, the pulpit and the bishop’s throne are particularly valuable. The holy gates feature scenes from the life of St George and St Dimiter, Adam and Eve and Samson Killing the Lion. The icons were painted by Stanislav Dospevski.
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