117 years since the proclamation of the Principality of Bulgaria as an independent kingdom

On September 22, 1908, in the old capital city of Tarnovo, in the Church of the Holy Forty Martyrs, built during the reign of Tsar Ivan Asen II, Prince Ferdinand read a Manifesto to the Bulgarian people, declaring Bulgaria an independent kingdom. The moment is solemn and exciting. The mood of the citizens of Tarnovo, the ministers, and the troops from the local garrison is elated.

According to the Treaty of Berlin of 1878, Bulgaria was an autonomous and vassal principality under the supreme authority of the Turkish sultan. The state was obliged to pay taxes and part of the debts of the Ottoman Empire. The capitulations regime—an unequal system of international treaties under which European countries received economic, judicial, and other privileges in the Empire—also applied to the Principality.

From Liberation until 1908, Bulgaria sought to circumvent and ignore the restrictive clauses of the Berlin Dictate, and this was the dominant trend throughout the entire period. Diplomatic missions were opened abroad, trade agreements were concluded, and legislative policies were implemented to promote local industry. The successes achieved in the socio-political, economic, and cultural development of Bulgaria predetermined the need to declare independence. This was done under the independent rule of the Democratic Party (1908-1911) with Prime Minister Alexander Malinov. Prince Ferdinand I, the government, and Bulgarian diplomats took advantage of the conflicting interests of the Great Powers and the political instability in the Ottoman Empire following the Young Turk Revolution carried out by the Committee of Union and Progress.

Our diplomatic representative in Constantinople, Ivan Stefanov Geshov, reacted immediately: “… My conclusion, therefore, is that in the final analysis, we as a state are losing out from the Turkish revolution, because it has shifted the Macedonian question and our position on it has weakened considerably… Since we are losing out with the Young Turk coup, we must seek some compensation. Nowadays, this can only be the complete independence of Bulgaria…” In July and August, Prince Ferdinand was absent from Bulgaria.

On August 23, Prime Minister Al. Malinov leaves for Hungary and at a meeting with the monarch, a decision is made to declare independence. The exact date has not yet been determined. The incident involving the Principality’s diplomatic agent, who was not invited to a formal dinner on the occasion of the Sultan’s accession to the new power in the Empire, and the strike by Eastern Railway employees, which broke out in early September, were used as a pretext for declaring independence.

In September 1908, the foreign ministers of Russia and Austria-Hungary agreed not to object if Bulgaria declared its independence. Austria-Hungary obtained Russia’s consent to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Russia obtained Vienna’s approval for the free movement of Russian ships through the straits. On September 10, Prince Ferdinand was received in Vienna by Emperor Franz Joseph with the honors of an independent ruler. The two monarchs agreed on joint action. On September 20, the prince arrived in Ruse and received Malinov and the government on the yacht Khan Krum, where the date and place of the historic event were set – September 22 in the old capital of the Bulgarian tsars, Tarnovo.
On the train to Tarnovo, Alexander Malinov drafted the Manifesto, which was approved by the prince with almost no changes.

With the proclamation of independence, the restrictive clauses of the Treaty of Berlin were abolished and independent Bulgaria became an equal partner of the other European states.

Text: Dr. Valentina Zadgorska