Eastern European History
° Burgas ° Ruse (Ruschuk) ° Varna
The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks.
The three main port cities were Varna and Burgas on the Black Sea and Ruse on the Danube River.
Burgas
A successor of a small Roman town, called Deultum (later named Develt), was a military colony. Its first inhabitants were the Thracians. In the Middle Ages a fortress—possibly used as a watchtower—called Pirgos was erected at Burgas. Develt was renamed during the 17th century; initially it was Ahelo-Burgas, and after the Liberation – Burgas. Burgas, a small settlement, gradually became the centre of the Southern Black Sea coast with well developed trade and industry. Most of its growth was during the late 1800s.
Ruse
Set up in the 1st century B.C. as a Roman military fort and port under the name of “Sexsaginta Prista” (“Port of sixty ships”). By the end of 19th century and the beginning of 20th century, due to the wide range of economic and spiritual contacts with the countries along the Danube, Ruse turned into the biggest city in Bulgaria, with a distinct European aspect and tradition. A number of stylish Secession style buildings with unique interior and exterior decoration were erected – designed and built by Italian, Austrian, German and Bulgarian architects.Varna's
Varna dates back to almost five millennia, but it wasn't until seafaring Greeks founded a colony here in 585 BC that the town became a port. During occupation by Turkish forces in the last decades of the 14th century, Varna preserved its significance as a port and trade center. Varna was captured by the Ottomans in 1399 and remained under the rule of the Ottoman Empire for almost 500 years. Along with Shumen, Silistra, and Ruschuk (now Ruse), Varna was one of the four Ottoman strongholds in the northeastern region of modern Bulgaria. During the centuries of Ottoman domination, the town assumed an oriental appearance and, due to the thriving trade and handicrafts, Varna began to revive from its economic decline. More than 500 ships cast anchor in its harbour every year, and 43 countries had consulates in the city.The national self-awareness of the Bulgarian people awakened in the early 19th century, giving rise to a rapid patriotic upsurge. A Bulgarian municipality was set up in Varna. In 1828 a Russian squadron commanded by Admiral Grieg blockaded the fortress.
In a brave attack during the night, Russian sailors boarded the Turkish fleet. After a siege of two months, Varna fell. The chief of the Turkish garrison handed over the keys to the city to the Russian Emperor Nicholas I. The citizens of Varna had also kept alive for many years memories of the battle at Cape Kaliakra in 1791, when the Russian Admiral Ushakov defeated the Turkish fleet. After the victorious end of the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation of 1877-1878, the long awaited day of freedom finally came for Varna, as it did for most of Bulgaria.
July 14, 1877, Week's News
London, United Kingdom
The Russo-Turkish War.
THE RUSSIANS IN BULGARIA.
In comparison with last week's war news there are no events of great importance to chronicle in our present issue.— Day by day legions of Russians, the material of war and the enormous supplies needed for 120,000 soldiers in the field, have been crossing the slender pontoon bridge between Simnitscha and Sistova. The great mass of these troops will apparendy remain there till all is safe in their rear as they advance. Flying columns and masses of Cosset cavalry have meanwhile done much. Biela has been captured though with heavy loss, and the bridge over the Jantra has beien secursd. Many villages have been occupied, and a considerable force has been sent against Nicopolis. In a short time Rustchuk, which cannot be taken without a regular siege, will probably be masked, and it is stated that the eighth corps is being hurried forward to Tirnova en route for the Balkan passes.
Of the army corps in the Dobrudscha little is heard, except that the bridge at Matchin is as much in request as that at Sistova, and that General Zimmerman is likely to invest SUistria. The Turks at each of the fortresses of the Quadrilateral are apparently quiescent, but we are told soon to expect stirring news from the entrenched camp at Shunila, where Abdul Kerim Pasha has perfected his plan of action, in the success of which there is implicit confidence. The Turks are cautious, but they were circumvented when the enemy crossed the Danube. The Russians w ill also be cautious, for the stakie is great, and a defeat in Bulgaria would be an overwhelming disaster. If we succeed in a decisive battle in the Bulgarian plains," Prince Gortschakoff is reported to have recently said, our task will be completed in a short time. If the Turks retire into the Balkans, and I have reason to believe they will, then we shall have annoying delays because of their excellent positions for defence, and then will commence our difficulty in provisioning the army." It may be doubted whether one campfUgn in Bulgaria, though it may exhaust both belligerents, will bring about decisive results. The Porte is now fully aware that every nerve will have to be strained to beat back the Russian invasion. The Sultan, arovtsed from his complacency by the startling news of the easy crossing at Sistova, has sent Redif Pasha, the Minister of War, to the front, which event may, it is thought, break up the Palace clique and pave the way fpr the recall of Midhat Pasha. The troops which were caniped on the borders of Montenegro have been ordered round to Adrianople, and none of them could be spared even to hold in subjection the restive Greeks of Thessaly and Epirus, Who, with their brethren across the frontier, are prepared to make war upon the Turks at the first news of a Russian victory. Thus far Russia and Austria combined have kept the Servians quiet, but it is now semi-officially reported from St. Petersburg that a Roumano-Scrvian alliance "is a possible event" '— the meaning of which is that the troops of Prince Charles may cross the Danube into the Timok Valley with the ready consent of Servia, and without bringing about the threatened Austrian occupation of that principality. Later telegrams "state that a council of Ministiers at Bucharest has decided tliat the Roumanian army will assume the offensive.
In 1881, after the liberation, Mihail Koloni, the mayor of Varna, spearheaded a move to build a modern public park. He was met with resistance, but funds were granted and soon the park grew to 26 decares, 130 trees were planted, paths were cleared and ''towards nightfall alleys thronged by a long train of gentlemen and dressed-up ladies." Baroque, turn-of-the-century and contemporary architecture blended with shady promenades and a handsome seaside garden., which was founded by Greeks in the sixth century B.C.
