Bulgaria at the time of Asparuch and Tervel
681 - 718
The founder of the first Bulgarian Empire was Asparuch, called Isperich (679—701). He, with his troops, about the year 660 settled down in the Dobrudja, from where he also ruled over south Bessarabia. This circumstance gives inducement to the historians to look upon the Dobrudja as the „cradle of the Bulgarian people”. According to the treaty which Asparuch closed with the Byzantinic Emperor Constantine IV Pogonatos in 679, the country between the Danube and the Balkan Mountains, as far west as the river Iskar, was left to the Bulgarians. Later on, after the defeat of the Avarians, the Bulgarian frontier ran up west to the river Ogosta. About that time Bulgaria had already incorporated the districts north of the Danube as far as the walachian ditches which, very likely, have been put up by the Bulgarian rulers as a natural protection for their frontier. These ditches went from the Danube (a few miles south of Braila in a southwesten line) to the middle part of the river Jiul; from this point the frontier descended along the river to unite itself across the Danube with that south of this river.
During the reign of Tervel (701—718), Asparuch's successor, the northern Thracia, equally according to the treaty of 716, was enclosed in Bulgaria. This district extended itself from the Sredna-Gora Mountains, in a southeastern line, and then northeast along the old Bulgarian ditches, known by the name of „Erkessija”, till it reached the old town Dewelt whose ruins are not far from the village Jakisli (west of Burgas). Under Tervel, the part of the Avarian country at the middle and lower river Timok, was conquered, so that the continuation of the Balkan Mountains became the western frontier, crossing the Timok near Zaitschar; from there it went parallel wiih the Zrna-Gora Mountains and Mount Garwan in a straight line north to the Danube, thence following its course in order to unite, south of the town Turnu-Severin, with the great walachian ditch, and to reach on this line the old frontier of Asparuch's time near the river Jiul. So the whole southern part of the present Walachia formed a part of the Bulgarian State under Tervel.
Bulgaria at the time of Krum and Omortag
796 - 831
After King Krum (802-814) had conquered the Avarians who, about 805, had been vanquished by the Franconians, he added to Bulgaria the territory lying east of the river Theiss (the present east Hungary and Transsilvania), by which the Bulgarians became immediate neighbours of the Franconians and Moravians. During Krum's reign were farthermore aggregated to Bulgaria the territories south of the middle Danube, the districts of Branitschewo and Belgrade. In the course of continuous wars waged against Byzanz Krum conquered the town Serdika (the Sofia of to day) with all its province and devastated the district of Adrianople as well as the surroundings of Constantinoples. These wars were ended by a treaty closed 814—815 after Krum's death by his son and successor Omortag (814-831).
By this treaty a small territory east of the river Tundja was adjudicated to Bulgaria. On this side the frontier lowered itself therefore from the middle of the ditch of Erkissija between the rivers Tundja and Tschoban Asmak to the Sakar Mountains from whence it ran west, and ended in a south-eastern direction at the present village Usundjowo; from there it drew along the slope of the Rhodope Mountains to the Rilo Mountains, then farther, past the towns Dubnitza and Radomir to the Sucha Mountain and to the middle part of the Morava, and from this river again north-west to the river Kolubara. Later on, but stil during the reign of Omortag, the Bulgarians succeeded by a convention with the Franconians to expand their dominion over the country between the lower courses of the Sava and the Danube — the Srem province — and to secure for themselves the possession of the old city of Singidunum at the outflow of the Sava, which henceafter was called Belgrad (Servia's present capital).
Bulgaria at the time of Pressiam and Boris
836 - 889
The rapid enlargement of the Bulgarian Empire began under Pressiam (836—853) who, profiting of the wars of the Byzantinic Emperor Theophiles against the Arabs, got very easily possession of the whole Macedonia of to-day as far as the Servian territory on the Ibar river and as far as Albania. To the south the Bulgarian frontier enclosed the regions of Kostur, Bitolia (Monastir), Moglen, Tikwesch and Strumitza up to the west Rhodopies. The union of all these territories to Bulgaria was officially recognised by the Byzantinic Government for the first time in the treaty of 864, concluded with the successor of Pressiam, Boris I (853—888) one year before the conversion of the Bulgarians to Christianity (865). This agreement determined more precisely the southern frontier of Bulgaria to which was also left the stretch of land along the middle and upper courses of the rivers Struma and Mesta.
Bulgaria at the time of Simeon The Great and Peter
893 - 927
Nearly all possessions on the other side of the Danube had already been severed from the Bulgarian Empire during the first years of reign of the renowned ruler of the Bulgarians, Simeon (893—027). The Magyars, having been asked for help against the Bulgarians by the Byzantinic emperor Leon VI, called the philosopher, had conquered them. The Magyars succeeded to settle down in the valley between Theiss and Danube, whilst the Petschenegs, who followed them, took possession of to-day's Walachia and of Bessarabia. In consequence of these great territorial losses Simeon turned his full attention to the south and south-west. After the Bulgaro-Phigonic peace-treaty (896) according to which the Byzantinic Empire agreed to pay a war-indemnity, and not to call again upon other nations for help against the Bulgarians, Simeon, taking advantage of the difficult state of things in the Byzantinic Empire, annexed in a peaceful way South-Albania and a part of North-Epirus; and, after the treaty of 904 Bulgaria got an access to the Adriatic sea and won a seaway to countries outside of the Balkan-Peninsula, free of Byzantinic control. During the continuus wars of Simeon against the Byzantinic Empire, he was enabled to conquer the largest part of the Byzantinic possessions on the Balkan-Peninsula. As his aim, however, was the conquest of Constantinople, he declined a durable peace wich Byzance; therefore the gained territories could not be aggregated. On the other hand Simeon meanwhile took the opportunity to settle accounts with the Servians because of their perfidious policy, and he subjected them in the year 924. It was not till after Simeons death (May 27.927) that the political and ecclesiastical boundaries were finally fixed with the treaty which his successor, Peter, closed with Byzanz on the 8th of October 927.
Bulgaria at the time of Samuel
980 - 1014
After the Byzantinic Emperor John Zimiskes had conquered the eastern part of the Bulgarian Empire in the year 972, the Bulgarians not only maintained their independence in the western part, but they even succeeded to deliver the eastern part they had lost (with the exception of the Bulgarian part of Thracia), and to seize Servia, nearly the whole of Albania, and a part of Thessaly. This happened under the warlike Czar Samuel (980—1014), who, during the whole of his reign fought against the Byzantinic Emperor Basilius II without interruption. The Bulgarian Empire in its greatest expansion (996) under Samuel, when he stood in the height of power, has been delineated on the map. But under the weak successors of Samuel the Bulgarians could not hold out the many-years wars against the mighty and energetical Emperor Basilius II, who at length succeeded in the year 1018 to subject the Bulgarians under his rule. By no means, however, this subjection bore the stamp of servitude, for it took place „by virtue of treaty”. This matter of fact Basilius II himself renders prominent in his edict, according to which the Bulgarians maintained their right of autonomous government, their ecclesiastical independence, and the name of their country. Want of space, unfortunately, does not permit the reproduction of the „Military and Administrative Regulation for Bulgaria” edicted by Basilius II at the time of its subjugation. According to it Bulgaria in spite of the division into 4 provinces, maintained its unity which found expression in the person of the „Stratigos of the Bulgarian Province”; he bore the title „Duke” or „Satrap of all Bulgaria”, was looked upon as Vice-Emperor and Skopie (Ueskub) was his residence. This unity of the Bulgarian territory had also been ensured through the acknowledgment of the Bulgarian National Church in such boundaries as it had during the time of the Bulgarian Czar Peter, — by means of the treaty of 927.
The Patriarchate of Ochrida
As mentioned, Emperor Basiiius II had acknowledged the full independence of the Bulgarian National Church inside its old boundaries by special edicts. The representativ of this church bore furthermore the adjective „Autocephal” and the title „Archbishop of all Bulgaria”, and had his seat at Ochrida. On this account the Archbishopric of Ochrida is recognised as a continuation of the former Patriarchate of Drister and of Preslaw (at the time of the Czars Simeon and Peter) which had been abolished in so arbitrary a manner by the Byzantinic Emperor John Zimiskes. After the subjection, Basilius II recognised the rights of the Bulgarian National Church in three edicts, directed to the first Archbishop of Ochrida, the Bulgarian monk Iwan; this one (who was born at Debr) was elected by the bishops and sanctioned by Basilius in the year 1020. According to the text of these edicts the following eparchates belonged to the Patriarchate of Ochrida:
1. Ochrida, 2. Kostur, 3. Glawinitza, 4. Moglen, 5. Pelagoni (Bitolia, Monastir), 6. Strumitza, 7. Morowisd (Bregalnitza), 8. Welbuschd (Küstendil), 9. Triaditza (Sofia), 10. Nisch, 11. Branitschewo, 12. Belgrad, 13. Trap (Srem), 14. Skopie (Ueskub), 15. Prisren, 16. Liplian, 17. Raschka, 18. Orey, 19. Bdin (Widin), 20. Kosil, 21. Tschernitza, 22. Drinopol (Argyrokastro), 23. Botruit, 24. Chimara, 25. Janina, 26. Staj, 27. Petrska, 28. Servia (Selfidsche), 29. Wereja (Karaferija), and 30. Dristar (under this, all eparchies of North-Bulgaria were known).
This numbering finds itself on the map too. The note of interrogation behind the several numbers means that the position of the eparchate concerned is not as yet, fixed accurately.
Bulgaria at the time of Assen I and Kalojan
1187 - 1196
The first heavy armed blow against the rulership of Byzanz was the revolution raised 1186 by the brothers Assen and Peter in north Bulgaria. After a two-years struggle, powerfully led against the Byzantinic yoke, they established 1187 the political and ecclesiastical independence of Bulgaria, and Assen's election to the throne laid the foundation of the second Bulgarian Empire, with Tirnowo as capital. During his nine-years reign (1187—1196), Assen I who also took up the fight against Byzanz, this time with the aim of delivering and uniting all Bulgarian territories, succeeded to deliver nearly the whole north Bulgaria, and the district of Sofia as well as all provinces south of the Balkan Mountains, and the Sredna Gora (the northern Thracia). At the end of his reign he directed the liberation - movement along the Struma valley, to Macedonia, but, falling victim to assassination, he could not confirm his power there.
His work, however, was taken up again by his brother and successor to the throne, Kalojan (1197—1207). This czar understood to benefit of the tragic events, happening to the Byzantinic Empire — the conquest of Constantinople by the crusaders, the fourth crusade, and the establishment of the Latin-Empire on the Balkan-Peninsula. The crusaders being still engaged in the siege of Constantinople, Kalojan in a short space of time, could annex nearly all the Bulgarian Balkan districts: the Morawaland in the West (the Branitschewo district and Belgrad), and Macedonia down to the Bistritza river in the south-west. The uninterrupted wars that soon after began against the Latins and the Greeks, enabled him also to occupy all south-Bulgarian territories, including the city of Ser (Serres). Kalojan, however, could not follow up his plan to reject the Latins from the Balkan-Peninsula and conquer Constantinople. Like his brother, he was assassinated 1207 during the siege of Salonica.
This map shows Bulgaria, delivered by czar Assen I, and enlarged by his brother Kalojan.
Bulgaria at the time of Assen II
1216 - 1240
The Bulgarian people gained its full political and national unity under the reign of Iwan Assen II (1216—1240), son of Assen I. Thanks to his foresight and political fitness, this czar prepared in a very apt manner the downfall of his rival, Theodore Angel Komnin, the despot of Epirus, who, at the time of the weak czar Boril, had subjected the Bulgarian territories in the south-west, and who even brought about the conquest of Salonica. Theodore proclaimed himself Emperor of Salonica 1223, and made preparations to rescue Constantinople from the rulership of the Latins in order to ascend the Byzantinic throne himself. But as Theodore Komnin first had to get rid of his rival, the Bulgarian czar, he, above all, resolved to make an end of Iwan Assen, so he maliciously declared war against him. This war ended 1230 with the celebrated battle of Klokotnitza (the present village Semidje, northeast of Haskowo) where Theodore and his followers were taken prisoners by the Bulgarian czar.
After this event all his territories, including Albania, were incorporated in the Bulgarian State. Thessaly and Salonica, and their districts, formed a „Despotia” under the protectorate of the Bulgarian czar; the administration was entrusted to Manuel, Theodore Komnin's brother, who was the son-in-law of Iwan Assen.
This map shows the enlargement of the Bulgarian State after the victory of Klokotnitza.
Bulgaria after 1355
After Iwan Assen's death the rapid downbreak of the Bulgarian State set in.
Torn by interior disputes and riots that often assumed the character of civil-war, and permanently attacked by foreign ennemies (Niceans, Tatars, and the Byzantinians after the restoration of the Byzantinic Empire), Bulgaria was not able to counteract the rapid growth of Servia, which became conspicuous at the end of the XIII. century. The Servian kings of that time succeeded to enlarge their state by winning Bulgarian territories in the Pomorava district and in Macedonia, so that Servia gained its greatest expansion at the time of Stefan Duschan (1331—1355). But after Duchan's death his extensive empire broke up into a number of smaller states, each of which hastened to proclaim its own independence. Thus two small independent states formed themselves out of the Bulgarian territory in Macedonia: the Kingdom of Prilep whose ruler was Volkaschin and, after his death, his son, Krai Marco, the latter being the wonderfully praised hero of the nationalpoetry of Bulgaria, and the Principality of Welbuschd which was reigned over by Iwan Dragasch and his mother, afterwards by his brother Constantine, a son-in-law of the Bulgarian czar Iwan Alexander.
Internal political reasons soon after forced the czar Iwan Alexander (1331—1371), in the year 1355, to discharge himself of the city of Bdin (Widin) and the whole surroundings, and to give them to his eldest son, Iwan Stratzimir, who ruled over this land as independent czar.
In a similar manner he also cut off the province of the east-coast (Dobrudja, Silistra, and Warna) which became half-independent principality (at first) under the administration of Balik, later under Dobrotitsch; this latter becoming independent ruler after Iwan Alexander's death.
Thus fell to pieces the old, great Empire of Iwan Assen II in the year 1355, hereafter forming several small states: the Kingdoms Tirnowo and Widin, nearly constantly in war with each other, the Kingdom Prilep, the Principality Welbuschd and the coast-district (Primorie). The Morawa district, however, remained in foreign hands. The Bulgarian Empire, cut down in such a manner, was not able to withstand the terrible pressure of the Turks, the new conquerors of the Balkan-Peninsula. It was easy for the latter to subject the small states one after the other, and by the end of the XIV. century they established their supremacy on the Balkan-Peninsula more and more.
This map shows the decay of the second Bulgarian Empire before the subjugation under the rule of the Turks.
Schafarik's Ethnological Map 1842
Paul Josef Schafarik, (1795—1861) of Bohemian nationality, is the first Slavic scientist who designed a map of the ethnographical frontiers of the Slavic nations. The map reproduced here in fac-simile has been taken from his ethnographical map „Slovansky Zemevid” published at Prague 1842. We print here only that part concerning the Balkan-Peninsula — exactly on the same scale as the original.
Schafarik has not travelled in the Balkan-Peninsula, but he was always in connection with the inhabitants of the Balkan-countries, he knew well the history, the language, the literature, and the antiquities of the Slavic peoples, and — which here is of the utmost importance — he knew thoroughly the Servian language and the boundaries of the Servian race, for he was professor at the Servian Lyceum of Nowi-Sad (Hungary) for a period of 14 years.
He left the Lyceum 1835 and settled down at Prague. There he devoted himself to the study of the Slavs and the slavic antiquities, which studies he had already commenced, according to his biographer, at the Lyceum. (La Grande Encyclopédie, vol. 29.)
Schafarik's map does not go into details; his merit, however, consists in his being the first who very exactly delimitated the Bulgarians from their neigbours — the Servians, Rumanians, Greeks, and Albanians. According to Schafarik nearly the whole of Macedonia, the region of Nisch, the whole of Dobrudja, and even a part of to-day's russian Bessarabia are territories inhabited by Bulgarians.
The Ethnological Map by Ami Boué
1847
1847
Ami Boué (1794—1881) of French descent, is the first duly prepared man for scientific research who explored the Balkan Peninsula from 1836—1838. His numerous works on European Turkey show evidently the careful way in which he investigated the countries visited by him. Among these books the first place is due to his two principal works: „La Turquie d'Europe”, Paris 1840 (four thick volumes) and „Recueil d'Itinéraires dans la Turquie d'Europe”, Vienna 1854 (two volumes). His map is of extraordinary importance because of the most fundamental studies made every-where. At first this map was added only to a few copies of the works; these were originals, coloured by Boue himself. Later on, the map appeared in the „Physical Atlas” by Berghaus; it is reproduced here on a somewhat smaller scale but in fac-simile-colours of the original. Especially exactly drawn are the western boundaries of the Bulgarian people just because Ami Boue had made very extensive studies in these boundary-districts.
P. N. Miljukoff, the first Minister of Foreign Affairs in revolutionised Russia, one of the best contemporary authorities on Balkan-Peninsula matters, utters himself in the following manner on the scientifical worth of this map:
„Ami Boué has travelled in the Turkish Provinces during the Third Decade of the XIX. Century. The ethnological map of the Balkan-Peninsula drawn by him, and printed by Berghaus, is of great interest because it is the first that appeared before the national tendency-quarrels about the possession of Macedonia had begun. For this reason the map shows only that which the author had seen and heard on the spot, without whatever interpretations. The Slavic inhabitants of Macedonia are considered by A. Boué as Bulgarians, because they call themselves „Bugari”. (see P. N. Miljukoff: „Five Ethnographical Maps of Macedonia with Text. St. Petersburgh 1900”).
According to Boué the whole of Macedonia (excluding the most southern part) with Czerni-Drin-River as western frontier, the whole southern Morava-Basin with the towns Nisch, Lesskowetz, Wranja, Prokupie, Pirot a. s. o., the whole. Dobrudja, and even a part of Russian-Bessarabia are districts inhabited principally by Bulgarians.
The Ethnological Map by Lejean
1861
Guillaume Lejean (1828—1871) was one of the most studious and pluckiest French explorers. Twice he travelled in European Turkey (1857—1858 and 1867—1869), the last time in the quality of French Vice-Consul. The purpose of his enterprise, undertaken by order of the French Government, was to prepare a map of European Turkey; Lejean's early death prevented the completion of this work; he succeeded, however, to publish very important geographical and ethnological essays, of which a respectable place is due to his work „Ethnographie de la Turquie d'Europe par G. Lejean. Gotha, Justus Perthes 1861”, publisched in German and French languages.
The map reproduced here has been taken from this work. It contains several mistakes, for instance: it shows too many Turks in East-Bulgaria and it mentions Servian settlements in the Ochrida-District, and Roumanian colonies in the Wratza-District that have never existed. On the other hand, Lejean frequently corrected certain mistakes made by his predecessors concerning the extent of the Bulgarian population in the districts of Nisch and in the Dobrudja.
According to Lejean nearly all Macedonia (with the exception of Salonica and a frontier-stretch in Southeast-Macedonia), the whole district of Nish, the coast-district of Dobrudja, and a part of Russian-Bessarabia are chiefly Bulgarian territories.
The Russian Ethnological Map
1867
In the year 1867 a „Slavic Exhibition” had been arranged at the instigation of the Russian Slavenofiles in the ancient Russian capital, Moscow, at which the most prominent Slavic workers of that time participated. For this celebrated exhibition, single of its kind up to this time, an ethnological map of all the Slavic races had been prepared which, at that time, made a great impression and which was approved by all delegates present. The map had such a success in its time, that up to 1877 it appeared in three editions. This map, become historical because of its importance, was drawn by M. F. Mirkowitsch, the Russian geographer and ethnographer, and it received the title „Ethnological Map of the Slavic Peoples”. — From a printed leaf relating to this map it appears that its author not only carefully consulted the ethnological literature of the Balkan-Peninsula, but that he also collected information concerning certain districts of the Balkan-Countries from the best authorities on these territories. We reproduce here in fac-simile, that part of this map which relates to the peninsula according to our method used thus far: dimensions and colours being the same as those of the original.
According to this Russian map nearly all Macedonia, the region of Nisch, even the townlet Kniajewatz (Grgussowatz) included, and the Dobrudja belonged to the dominion of the Bulgarian people.
The ethnological map by Mackensie and Irby
1867
The ethnological map by Mackensie and Irby
1867
Two courageous and enlightened British ladies, Mackensie and Irby, travelled through a large part of the Balkan peninsula in the years 1862 and 1863. They published their studies in 1867 in London in the book „The Turks, the Greeks and the Slavons. Travels in the Slavonic Provinces of Turkey-in-Europe. By G. Muir Mackenzie and A. P. Irby, London, 1867. With Maps etc.” The authors approached their subject very seriously. Everywhere they went they met the local people and collected information from them. The information was later checked with the consuls and missionaries. Their conscientiousness and objectivity was so high that when in Constantinople, they met with representatives of both the Greek Patriarchate and the Bulgarian people in order to verify once more the collected by them data. Simultaneously, they also investigated the ongoing at that time Greko-Bulgarian church dispute which ended with the creation of the Bulgarian Exarchate in 1870. How much their book was appreciated by the people versed in these matters is seen by the fact that it was translated into several languages and that a second edition appeared in 1877, with a foreword by the great Gladstone.
The book is supplemented with an ethnographical map which we reproduce in facsimile in the size of the original. As it can be seen from this map almost the whole of Macedonia (to the west reaching the river Cherni Drim and to the south-west – the mountain Gramos), the whole district of Nish, Dobrudzha and a part of southern Bessarabia are included in the boundaries of the Bulgarian people.
It is worth mentioning the interesting detail that this book was translated into Serbian by the well-known Serbian statesman and academician Cheda Mijatovich who also served several times as Serbian minister and who was for several years the Serbian ambassador in London until the brutal murder of the dynasty of Obretenovich in Serbia. Mr. Mijatovich presented this book to the Serbian people with one foreword, full with admiration, in which not only there is not a single word of objection that Macedonia and the district of Nish are shown as Bulgarian lands but he even praises Mackensie and Irby for their objective depiction of the Slavic peoples in Macedonia, Bosnia and Hertzegovina. And the Serbian readers of this book did not object either.
The Ethnological Map by Professor Erben
1868
1868
The Bohemian writer, Jaromir Erben (1811—1870), was a good authority on Slavic language, history and mythology. He has written valuable studies about Slavic mythology. His map „Мара Slovanskègo Svèta” is not original. As Erben himself remarks in the under-title it has been drawn by him according to ethnological informations given by several authors. The maps by Schafarik, Lejean and the Russian map by Mirkowitsch (1867) have been most frequently made use of. Erben's map appeared as appendix to a bohemian review for the purpose of acquainting the Bohemians with the expansion of the Slavs in Europe.
Just on account of its compilatorical character this map is publisched here, as it is impossible to reprint all maps used by Erben. Of course only the part relating to the Balkan-Peninsula, enlarged nearly to double the size, has been reproduced here, accuracy and colours beeing as in the original.
According to this map, all Macedonia, the region of Nisch, and the Dobrudja are territories whose Slavic inhabitants are denoted as Bulgarians.
The Ethnological Map by Elisée Reclus
1876
1876
The principal work of the renowned French geographer Elisée Reclus (1830—1905): „Nouvelle Géographie Universelle” which appeared in Paris from 1875 till 1894 in 18 large volumes, richly furnished with maps and pictures, has become a text-book for everybody interested in geographical matters. In France this work has been the first attempt to put geography on a scientific footing.
Like Erben's map, that by Reclus is also a compilation and as such reproduced here because an universally known geographer and well versed in the respective literatures has selected and compiled the sources (Lejean, Kanitz and de Czoernik) with truly scientific impartiality. The footnote by Reclus at the bottom of the map shows how far his impartialily went.
This fac-simile map is nearly the size of the original. Though the large towns, only, have been denoted, it is not difficult to find out that nearly all Macedonia and the whole Nisch-District are shown as territories in which the Bulgarians predominate.
The Ethnological Map by Kiepert
1876
The fame attached to the name of the renowned German geographer and designer of maps, Heinrich Kiepert (1818—1899), dates from the appearance of his distinguished „Atlas von Hellas” (1846); he afterwards published the excellent maps of Asia Minor and Palestine which he had worked out on the spot; these were followed by the wellknown „Bibel-Atlas”, of which three editions were issued in the course of eight years. The numerous maps drawn by Kiepert are all distinguished by scientific value and by previously unknown accuracy. For his rare merits as a map-designer he received the „Grand Prix” at the Paris International Exhibition of 1867.
Kiepert undertook the exploration of the Ottoman-Empire first in Asia Minor and then in Europe. During these scientific explorations he necessarily visited also the countries inhabited by the Bulgarians where he questioned the local inhabitants, and also many such living in Constantinople, about the expansion of their race, in the meantime diligently studying the ethnological literature of the Balkan-Peninsula. The result of these researches and explorations is the map reproduced here in facsimile, but somewhat smaller for want of space. Although it indicates more Turkish and Albanese dwelling-places as had in reality existed there, it corrects many mistakes of former ethnological maps. It will be seen at a glance that Kiepert too looks upon all Macedonia (in the west with Albanian, in the south with Greek patches), and the whole district of Nisch as districts chiefly inhabited by Bulgarians.
This map by Kiepert had the happy lot to gain a certain historical importance: it served to the European Conference, held 1876—1877 at Constantinople, as a foundation for drawing the frontiers of both Bulgarian provinces. At the Berlin Congress of 1878 the frontiers of the Balkan-Peninsula were also fixed according to this map. It is also well known, what high value Bismarck has attributed to it.
Bulgaria according to the Treaty of St. Stefano
1878
This map depicts the boundaries of the Bulgarian Principality according to the treaty closed between Turkey and Russia at St. Stefano on February 19. 1878 (a.s.) These boundaries do not by any means comprise the whole ethnological expansion of the Bulgarian people. Thus: the largest part of the Dobrudja was at that time ceded by Russia to her ally Roumania as territorial indemnification for Bessarabia that had been taken from Roumania, whereas the cities Nisch and Lesskovetz had been given with their country districts to Servia for the latter's participation in the war against Turkey. But all the same, to the dominion of the newly created Bulgarian Principality belonged nearly all North-Bulgaria and the largest part of Thracia and Macedonia, with a western frontier including the towns Pirot, Vranja, Katschanik, Debr, Struga, Ochrida, and Kortscha; in the south, to the new principality belonged the towns Kostur, Voden, Enidje-Vardar, ihe mouth of the river Vardar in the very port of Salonica, Seress, Drama, Kavala, Mustafa-Pascha, Losen-Grad (Kirklisse), and Liule-Burgas; the south-eastern boundary touched the sea immediatly above the townlet Midia.
It can be easily understood that the liberation of Bulgaria made all the Bulgarians of that time so grateful to Russia that nobody thought of uttering a protest against her for the cession of Bulgarian territories to Servia and Roumania, but an open wound remained in all Bulgarian hearts for this loss, which wound was only healed in the years 1915 and 1916.
We copy this map from the English Blue-Book, entitled: „Turkey № 23 (1878). Maps showing the New Boundaries under the Preliminary Treaty of Peace between Russia and Turkey, signed at San Stefano, 19th February — 3rd March 1878.” The Bulgarian territories ceded to Roumania and Servia are very easely to be distinguished on this map.
Bulgaria according to the Berlin Treaty
1878
This new map by Kiepert, the celebrated German map-designer, represents the Balkan Peninsula as fixed in her boundaries by the Berlin Congress of June and July 1878 and by the special technical commissions of the years 1879—80.
In accordance with the treaty, signed at this congress on the 13th of July of that year, the newly created Principality Bulgaria has been cut into 5 parts: the Dobrudja, as left to Roumania by the treaty of St. Stefano, became enlarged; the Bulgarian territory, given by the same treaty to Servia, was also expanded — the towns Pirot and Vranja with their districts being handed over to Servia; all Macedonia went back to Turkey; Thracia, being depriwed of any sea and, considerably mutilated south and east, was torn from the Principality Bulgaria and made an independent province under the name of „Eastern Rumelia”; and the Principality of Bulgaria, mutilated in such an unjust and unscrupulous manner, was allowed to exist, as a politically independent small state, only north of the Balkan Mts., and this under the everlasting fear of turkish garrisons which were to be located in the very Balkan mountains between the two Bulgarias.
The injustice done to the Bulgarian people was so flagrant that the representatives of the two Bulgarias, assembled at Tirnovo, had to protest against it; in the meantime the „Athletic batallions”, quickly called to life in East-Rumelia, decided to resist with arms to the settlement of Turkish garrisons on the Balkans. The Great-powers were soon convinced that the Balkan-Peninsula would be again visited by storms, and hurried to advise Turkey to abandon the dispatch of garrisons to the Balkans, and Turkey saw herself obliged to submit.
The Berlin treaty is the most convincing proof for the way in which international treaties should not be written. The wrong committed by it has endangered the peace of Europe, and doubtless led to the Balkan-wars which were the germ of the present Universal War.
The Union of the two Bulgarias
1885
The Union of the two Bulgarias
1885
The artificial division in North- and South-Bulgaria, accomplished at the Berlin Congress, like every unnatural, unjust and enforced work, lasted only seven years. This short space of time had been sufficient to strengthen the moral unity of the Bulgarian people on both sides of the Balkan and to develope such a strong movement in favour of the unity of both Bulgarias that no Bulgarian government could possibly stop it. And, when a secret committee of revolution, founded at Philippople in the month of July 1885 for the purpose of declaring the union of both Bulgarias, called upon the bulgarian officiers of the militia of East-Rumelia to take part with their troops in the national work, they at once put themselves at the disposal of the committee. Thus, easely and quickly, the blow of 6/18th September 1885 was prepared and struck, and liquidated the Eastern Rumelia in a few hours time. It was sufficient to arrest the Governor-General and to destroy the frontier-railwaybridge that joined Turkey to East-Rumelia, in order to proclaim the union which was greeted by the population of the two Bulgarias with an enthusiasm ready for every sacrifice necessary for its sanction.
Of all jealous neighbours of Bulgaria, who did not look upon the union of the two Bulgarias with pleased eyes, only Servia resolved to frustrate it by force. Without any previous declaration of war, Servia broke into Bulgaria in the night of the 1/13th November 1885 for the purpose of seizing Sofia and to enable Turkey to re-establish East-Rumelia or, if Turkey should not want that, to look after territorial indemnities for herself in Bulgaria. The Servians hoped to carry off an easy and quick victory, chiefly because Russian officers, who had been in charge of the high command in the Bulgarian army, had already left Bulgaria. But, outraged by the treacherous invasion of the neighbour, the Bulgarian people rose like a single man before his ennemy, and the Bulgarian army, under the high command of young Bulgarian officers threw itself against Servia in such assault that the Servian army, taken by surprise, was flung out of Bulgarian territory in 13 days, and the town Pirot was stormed and taken. The triumphal march of the Bulgarian army was checked by Austria, at that time the effective protector of Servia.
In this way the union of both Bulgarias was sanctioned and besides, brought an unexpectet benefit to the Bulgarian people: the recall of the Russian officers, who had kept the Bulgarian army at the disposal of Russia. As it happens with every extraordinary gain the union, too, was followed by mischief: — the vanquished Servia, unable to seize Bulgarian territory, cast her eyes upon Macedonia. Therefore the propagation of Servian ideas in Macedonia began in 1885.
This map shows Bulgaria after the union, and with her boundaries, as they remained up to the wars against Turkey, Servia, Montenegro, Greece, and Roumania in the years 1912/13.
The Balkan Map after the War against Turkey
1912 - 1913
1912 - 1913
This map shows the Balkan-Peninsula after the close of the war between Turkey and the four Balkan-States: Bulgaria, Greece, Servia, and Montenegro. As it is known, this war ended with the treaty concluded in London on the 30th of May 1913. This treaty fixed only the east-boundary of Bulgaria by a straight line running from the townlet Enos (on the Agean-Sea) to the townlet Midia (on the Black-Sea). The conference of the ambassadors, held later on at London, drew also the boundaries of Albania. — All the other territory, torn from Turkey in this war, formed a „Condominium” of Bulgaria, Greece, Servia, and Montenegro. The division of this territory common to all, had to take place between Bulgaria and Servia according to the treaty of alliance agreed upon; between Bulgaria and Greece — according to agreement. But Servia refused to comply with the treaty of alliance and demanded of Bulgaria new extraordinary compensations in Macedonia. Greece, who in the spring of 1913 had herself proposed to Bulgaria (through Venizelos, and Genadios then Greek Minister in London), in exchange only of Saloniki, a Greco-Bulgarian frontier „along the line of the Chalkidika-lakes” and conceded all the rest of Macedonia to Bulgaria, made an alliance with Servia when it became evident, that this country was preparing to rob Bulgaria, in order to partake at this robbery. Thus began the second Balkan-War between the four allies, which war ended, thanks to the interference of Roumania, with the peace of Bucarest of 28th July — 10th August 1913.
The whole territory of which. Turkey had been deprived and which formed a „Condominium” of the allies, has been marked white on the map.
Bulgaria after the Treaty of Bucharest
1913
This treaty sanctioned the second Balkan-War in which Servia, Montenegro, Greece, Roumania, and Turkey threw themselves on Bulgaria in order to take from her nearly all that she had conquered with her own blood in the war of 1912/13 against Turkey, and even a part of her own territory. In the history of international intercourse, there is scarcely an action more unworthy of the present age, and calling forth more indignation, than the treaty of Bucarest; one may add that politically this treaty was most shortsighted, for Bulgaria was robbed by this treaty in such an unscrupulous and merciless a manner, that an action of revenge for this robbery was soon to be expected. And, as all of us know, the reaction began sooner than the boldest intellect could have foreseen.
In connection with this treatv two memorable facts deserve to be made conspicuous; first: contrary to all rights the violation on the part of Russia of the military convention with Bulgaria of the 31th May 1902 (a. st.) in which, art. 3 obliged the Russian Empire „to defend with all her power the unity and the inviolability of the Bulgarian territory.” Instead of doing this, Russia not only did not prevent the Roumanian invasion of Bulgaria in the year 1913, but even encouraged Roumania to act as she did, and the Russian Czar, Nicholas II, went to Kiustendje after the conclusion of the Bucarest peace, to visit the victorious Roumanian King and accepted to be appointed chief of the very regiment that first stepped on Bulgarian ground.
The second fact is: Bulgaria would have gained the victory in this second Balkan-War, too, if she had had stronger nerves and had not listened to the deceitful counsels of Russia to withdraw the two armies that had forced their way into Servia.
The Ethnological Map by A. Boue
1840
The peoples in Macedonia according to A. Boue - a traveler and scholar who edited in 1840 his cornerstone piece "La Turquie d'Europe".