The freedom-loving spirit of the Bulgarian people
The Bulgarian population started to organize self-defense
movements. First appeared the hajduti (outlaw rebels) who
protected the Orthodox Christian population. They united
in cheti (detachments), which later on grew into organized
movement for the liberation of Bulgaria. The New Bulgarian
National Revival began in the middle of the 18 th century.
The struggle for independent church and freedom of religious
belonging, the publishing of books, and later the Bulgarian
press release, the establishment of Bulgarian secular school
and the Bulgarian language and culture were some of the
steps taken towards the revival of the nation. The writing
of the History of the Bulgarian People by Father Paisii
of Hilendar marks an important moment in our history. In
1862 Georgi Sava Rakovski organized the First Bulgarian
Armed Legion in Belgrad. A key figure among the revolutionaries
was Vasil Levski. The Bulgarian people worship him and consider
him to be a saint. The April Uprising from 1876 was a turning
point in the movement for the national liberation.
The Bulgarian freedom
The Russian Emperor Alexander II declared war on Turkey
in 1877. After cruel battles, Turkey was forced to sign
the San Stefano peace treaty and Bulgaria gained back its
independence on March 3, 1878. In July of 1878 the Berlin
Congress revised the San Srefano peace treaty and the European
Powers divide the Bulgarian country into two parts. Macedonia
and the region of Odrin remained a Turkish possession, Northern
Dobrudja was given to Romania and the Moravian region to
Serbia.