The coup d'état in Bulgaria of 1886 , also known as the coup d'etat on August 9 ( Bulgarian. Dvetoavgustovsky turn ) is an attempt to overthrow Prince Alexander Battenberg from the Bulgarian throne on August 9 ( 21 ), 1886 . Despite the fact that the attempt was unsuccessful and culminated in a counter-coup, it ultimately led to the abdication of Alexander Battenberg and a serious political crisis in the country [1] [2] .
Content
Background
After the Russo-Turkish War (1877-78), Bulgaria was liberated from Turkish rule . Power over the country was gained by Prince Alexander Battenberg, the nephew of the Russian Tsar Alexander II . After the assassination of Alexander II in 1881, he was succeeded by Alexander III , who was distinguished by conservative sentiments.
After the annexation of Eastern Rumelia (in the Bulgarian historiography of the unification of Bulgaria with Eastern Rumelia) in 1885, which was not approved by the Russian Empire , Russian-Bulgarian relations deteriorated. The dissatisfaction of the Russian court with the actions of the prince was reflected in Russian policy towards the Bulgarian principality [3] . This gave rise to violent attacks on Butterberg by pro-Russian political groups (the Progressive Liberal Party of Tsankov and the ), convinced that the patronage of Russia was necessary to maintain independent Bulgaria within the boundaries defined by the San Stefan Treaty [4] . Rumors of an impending new attack by Serbia also demanded an early settlement of relations with Russia: the Bulgarian army was weakened financially and financially after the war in 1885 , the personnel policy in the army also caused discontent [5] .
Coup Events
Preparation
The coup was organized by the head of the Military School Pyotr Gruev , generals Anastas Benderev , Radko Dimitriev and Georgy Vazov . The Russian military attaché in Bulgaria, Colonel Sakharov, also participated in the plot [6] .
In late July - early August, on the pretext of preparing for defense from the upcoming Serbian attack, Benderev began deploying troops near Sofia , while units loyal to the prince were sent out: two squads of the 1st Infantry Regiment went to build defenses near Slivnitsa , 1st Cavalry Regiment left for training in Samokov , the 2nd (Strumsky) infantry regiment was relocated to Pernik , and the 1st artillery regiment consecrated in Sofia remained [7] . Gruev was negotiating with Minister-Chairman Petko Karavelov and Minister of War Konstantin Nikiforov , who agreed to ask the prince for renunciation, but refused to participate in the plot [5] .
The overthrow of Battenberg and the formation of an interim government
On the night of August 8–9, 1886, parts of the Strumsky regiment and the cadets of the Military School entered Sofia, neutralized the troops remaining in the city, and surrounded the prince’s palace. Alexander Battenberg was arrested and forced to sign a decree on abdication [8] . That same morning he was taken to Oryakhovo and deported to Russia along the Danube [9] .
The conspirators did not have a clear plan of follow-up action. They hoped to form a government with the participation of all political parties, but faced opposition from Karavelov and other leading politicians. Towards evening, after consultations with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the composition of the interim government was announced, headed by Metropolitan Clement Tarnovsky [10] . On August 10, most of the military units swore allegiance to the new government. Many Bulgarian officers and politicians, however, did not support the coup, including the chairman of the national assembly, Stefan Stambolov , who was in Tarnovo at that time. Nikiforov refused to participate in the interim government, the Pleven regiment refused to swear, and a demonstration against the new government took place in Sevlievo . In the Varna regiment, the military refused to obey the commander who supported the coup [11] .
Counter-coup
In Plovdiv on August 10, the organization of a counter-coup began, led by Sava Mutkurov . He was supported by Dimitry Tonchev , other liberal politicians and the British Consulate [12] . Military units, which did not recognize the new government, from Pazardzhik , Haskovo and Stara Zagora began to be drawn to Plovdiv. On August 11, Stambolov issued a proclamation and appointed Mutkurov the commander in chief of the Bulgarian army. Mutkurov presented an interim government with an ultimatum demanding resignation at 24 o’clock on pain of death [13] . On the night of August 11-12, the 1st Infantry Regiment revolted in Slivnitsa. By August 12, supporters of the interim government were isolated in Sofia and Shumen . With the participation of the Russian Consulate General, a new government was formed, headed by Karavelov. Gruev and other conspirators fled from the capital [14] .
Battenberg Return
The Karavelov government secured the support of Russia, but was not supported by the organizers of the counter-coup in Tarnovo and Plovdiv [15] . Fearing a civil war and occupation, Karavelov wanted to postpone the decision to restore the princely throne until the convocation of the Great National Assembly, but Stambolov invited Battenberg to return to Bulgaria as soon as possible [16] . On August 16, Stambolov declared the governors of Petko Slaveykov , Georgy Stransky and himself. On August 17, Karavelov’s cabinet resigned, the Plovdiv military units bloodlessly occupied the capital [17] .
Alexander Battenberg returned to Sofia on August 17, but already nine days later, on August 26 ( September 7 ), 1886 , after another unsuccessful attempt to make peace with the Russian emperor, he signed the act of abdication and left Bulgaria forever [18] . Power passed to the Regency Council, led by Stambolov.
Consequences
On July 7, 1887, a new prince was elected in Bulgaria - Ferdinand I , representative of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty , nephew of the Austrian emperor and officer of the Austrian army. In the early years of his reign, the leading role in domestic politics belonged to the Liberal Party of Stefan Stambolov, in whose foreign policy a noticeable cooling of relations with Russia manifested itself. Officers - supporters of Russia emigrated to Romania and in February 1887 again tried to organize a coup in Bulgaria, but to no avail. Relations between Bulgaria and Russia were restored only in 1896 [19] .
Notes
- ↑ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911), " Bulgaria / History ", Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.), Cambridge University Press
- ↑ Anderson FM, Hershey M. Sh. The Bulgarian Revolution of 1885 // Handbook for the Diplomatic History of Europe, Asia, and Africa 1870-1914. - Washington: National Board for Historical Service, Government Printing Office, 1918. - P. 119-122.
- ↑ Statelova , p. 36, 59-60, 65, 89.
- ↑ Radev, vol. 1, 1990 , p. 716-722, 732-734.
- ↑ 1 2 Radev, vol. 1, 1990 , p. 740-742, 753-765.
- ↑ Radev, vol. 1, 1990 , p. 736-742.
- ↑ Radev, vol. 1, 1990 , p. 751-752.
- ↑ Radev, vol. 1, 1990 , p. 768-771.
- ↑ Radev, vol. 2, 1990 , p. 157-165.
- ↑ Radev, vol. 2, 1990 , p. 18-22.
- ↑ Radev, vol. 2, 1990 , p. 27-33.
- ↑ Radev, vol. 2, 1990 , p. 49-53.
- ↑ Radev, vol. 2, 1990 , p. 34-35, 77-78.
- ↑ Radev, vol. 2, 1990 , p. 111-113, 116-118, 124.
- ↑ Radev, vol. 2, 1990 , p. 126-129.
- ↑ Radev, vol. 2, 1990 , p. 134-135, 141-151, 154.
- ↑ Radev, vol. 2, 1990 , p. 156, 191-192.
- ↑ Radev, vol. 2, 1990 , p. 182-187, 195, 214-218, 230-236.
- ↑ Statelova , p. 93-97, 100-104, 141.
Literature
- Radev S. Build on modern Bulgaria . - Sofia: Bulgarian writer, 1990. - T. 1. - 840 p.
- Radev S. Build on modern Bulgaria . - Sofia: Bulgarian writer, 1990. - T. 2. - 696 p.
- Statelova E. et al. History on the New Bulgaria 1878-1944. - Sofia: Publishing House “Anubis”, 1999. - T. 3. - ISBN 954-426-206-7 .