Bulgaria 3415 226148136 2008-07-17T01:11:35Z Fullobeans 4627826 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 226139739 by [[Special:Contributions/98.14.4.228|98.14.4.228]] ([[User talk:98.14.4.228|talk]]) stat is 40%, not 45% {{otheruses}} {{Infobox Country |native_name = {{lang|bg|Република България}}<br/>{{lang|bg-Latn|''Republika Balgariya''}}&nbsp;<small><ref name="translit">This article uses the official Bulgarian transliteration system when romanizing Bulgarian [[Cyrillic]]. For details, see [[Romanization of Bulgarian]].</ref></small> |local_name = {{lang|bg-Latn|Balgariya}} |conventional_long_name = Republic of Bulgaria |common_name = Bulgaria |image_flag = Flag_of_Bulgaria.svg |image_coat = Coat of arms of Bulgaria.svg |image_map = EU_location_BUL.png |map_caption = {{map_caption |region=Europe |subregion=EU |legend=European location legend en.png}} |national_motto = {{lang|bg|Съединението прави силата}}{{spaces|2}}<small>([[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]])</small><br/>"{{transl|bg|''Saedinenieto pravi silata''}}"{{spaces|2}}<small>([[transliteration]])<br/>"Unity makes power"{{smallsup|1}}</small> |national_anthem = {{lang|bg|[[Mila Rodino|Мила Родино]]}}{{spaces|2}}<small>(Bulgarian)</small><br/>{{lang|bg-Latn|''Mila Rodino''}}{{spaces|2}}<small>(transliteration)<br/>''Dear Motherland''</small> |official_languages = [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]] |capital = [[Sofia]] |latd=42 |latm=41 |latNS=N |longd=23 |longm=19 |longEW=E |largest_city = capital |government_type = [[Parliamentary republic]] |leader_title1 = [[President of Bulgaria|President]] |leader_name1 = [[Georgi Parvanov]] |leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Bulgaria|Prime Minister]] |leader_name2 = [[Sergey Stanishev]] |sovereignty_type = [[Formation]] |sovereignty_note |established_event1 = Founded |established_date1 = 681<ref>[http://www.government.bg/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl?s=001&p=0159&n=000002&g= About Bulgaria<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |established_event2 = Last previously independent state<sup>2</sup> |established_date2 = <br/>1422 |established_event3 = Autonomy within the [[Ottoman Empire]] |established_date3 = <br/>1878 |established_event4 = Unification with Eastern Rumelia |established_date4 = 1885 |established_event5 = Officially recognized independence |established_date5 = 1908 |accessionEUdate = [[January 1]], [[2007]] |area_rank = 112th |area_magnitude = 1 E11 |area_km2 = 110910 |area_sq_mi = 42823 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |percent_water = 0.3 |population_estimate = 7,640,238 |population_estimate_year = 2008 |population_estimate_rank = 93rd |population_census = 7,932,984 |population_census_year = 2001 |population_density_km2 = 68.9 |population_density_sq_mi = 185 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]--> |population_density_rank = 124th |GDP_PPP_year = 2008 |GDP_PPP = $92.894 billion <!--Please adhere to this dot-comma convention--> |GDP_PPP_rank = 63rd |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $12,252<ref>[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2008&ey=2008&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=914%2C946%2C963%2C962%2C918%2C943%2C960%2C964%2C935%2C968%2C939%2C942%2C944%2C936%2C941%2C186&s=NGDPD%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a=&pr.x=23&pr.y=8 Report for selected countries]</ref> |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 65th |GDP_nominal = $49.686 billion |GDP_nominal_rank = 75th |GDP_nominal_year = 2008 |GDP_nominal_per_capita = $6,546 |GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 88th |Gini = 29.2 |Gini_year = 2003 |Gini_category = <font color="#009900">low</font> |HDI_year = 2007 |HDI = {{increase}} 0.824 |HDI_rank = 53rd |HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font> |currency = [[Bulgarian lev|Lev]]<sup>3</sup> |currency_code = BGN |country_code = bg |time_zone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]] |utc_offset = +2 |time_zone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]] |utc_offset_DST = +3 |demonym = [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]] |cctld = [[.bg]]<sup>4</sup> |calling_code = 359 |footnote1 = {{cite web |title=Bulgaria’s National Flag |publisher=[[Politics of Bulgaria|Bulgarian Government]] |date=[[3 October]] [[2005]] |url=http://www.government.bg/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl?s=001&p=0159&n=000006&g= |accessdate=2007-01-01}} |footnote2 = [[Vidin|Vidin Tsardom]]. |footnote3 = plural ''[[Bulgarian lev|Leva]]''. |footnote4 = Bulgarians, in common with citizens of other [[European Union]] member-states, also use the [[.eu]] domain. |footnote5 = Cell phone system GSM and NMT 450i |footnote6 = Domestic power supply {{nowrap|220 V}}/{{nowrap|50 Hz}}, [[Schuko|Schuko (CEE 7/4) sockets]] }} '''Bulgaria''' ({{lang-bg|България}}, transliterated: {{lang|bg-Latn|''Balgariya''}},<ref name="translit"/> pronounced {{IPA2|bəlˈgarija}}), officially the '''Republic of Bulgaria''' ({{lang|bg|Република България}}, {{lang|bg-Latn|''Republika Balgariya''}}, pronounced {{IPA2|rɛˈpubliˌka bəlˈgarija}}, a state in [[Balkans|Southeastern Europe]], borders on five other countries: [[Romania]] to the north (mostly along the [[River Danube]]), [[Serbia]] and the [[Republic of Macedonia]] to the west, and [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]] to the south. The [[Black Sea]] defines the extent of the country to the east. Bulgaria comprises the [[Ancient Rome| classical]] regions of [[Moesia]], [[Thrace]], and [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]]. [[Old European culture]] within the territory of [[as of 2008 | present-day]] Bulgaria started to produce [[Varna necropolis|golden artifacts]] by the fifth millennium BC.<ref> [http://www.digsys.bg/books/cultural_heritage/thracian/thracian-intro.html The Thracian tomb in Kazanluk<!-- Bot generated title -->] </ref> The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name, language, and alphabet) of the [[First Bulgarian Empire]] (632/681{{ndash}} 1018), which at times covered most of the [[Balkans]] and spread its alphabet, literature and culture among the [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] and other peoples of [[Eastern Europe]]. Centuries later, with the decline of the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]] (1185{{ndash}} 1396/1422), the country came under [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule for nearly five centuries. The [[Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) | Russo-Turkish War]] of 1877-1878 led to the re-establishment of a Bulgarian state as a [[constitutional monarchy]] in 1878, with the [[Treaty of San Stefano]] marking the birth of the [[History of Bulgaria (1878–1946)|Third Bulgarian Kingdom]]. After [[World War II]], Bulgaria became a [[communist state]] and part of the [[Eastern Bloc]]. In 1990, after the [[Revolutions of 1989]], the [[Bulgarian Communist Party|Communist party]] gave up its monopoly on power and Bulgaria transitioned to [[democracy]] and [[free-market capitalism]]. [[As of 2008| Currently]] Bulgaria functions as a [[parliament]]ary [[democracy]] under a [[unitary state|unitary]] [[constitutional republic]]. A member of the [[European Union]] since 2007 and of [[NATO]] since 2004, it has a population of approximately 7.7 million, with [[Sofia]] as its [[capital]] and largest city. == Geography == {{main|Geography of Bulgaria}} Geographically and in terms of climate, Bulgaria features notable diversity with the landscape ranging from the [[Alpine climate|Alpine]] snow-capped peaks in [[Rila]], [[Pirin]] and the [[Balkan Mountains]] to the mild and sunny Black Sea coast; from the typically [[continental climate| continental]] [[Danubian Plain (Bulgaria)|Danubian Plain]] (ancient [[Moesia]]) in the north to the strong [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean climatic influence]] in the valleys of [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] and in the lowlands in the southernmost parts of [[Thrace]]. [[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Bulgaria straddles the [[Illyria]]n and [[Euxinia]]n provinces of the [[Circumboreal Region | Circumboreal region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom | Boreal kingdom]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]] and to the [[European Environment Agency]]'s Digital Map of European Ecological Regions, the territory of Bulgaria subdivides into two main [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Balkan mixed forests]] and [[Rhodope montane mixed forests]]. However, small parts of four other ecoregions also occur on Bulgarian territory. === Relief === The [[Balkans|Balkan Peninsula]] derives its name from the ''Balkan'' or ''[[Stara Planina]]'' mountain-range, which runs through the centre of Bulgaria and extends into eastern [[Serbia]]. [[Image:Pogled kum ezerata ot biloto.JPG|thumb|200px|left|The [[Seven Rila Lakes]] in Bulgaria]] Bulgaria comprises portions of the regions known in [[Ancient Rome| classical times]] as [[Moesia]], [[Thrace]], and [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]]. The mountainous southwest of the country has two alpine ranges — [[Rila]] and [[Pirin]] — and further east stand the lower but more extensive [[Rhodope Mountains]]. The [[Rila]] range includes the highest peak of the Balkan Peninsula, [[Musala]], at 2,925&nbsp;meters (9,596&nbsp;ft); the long range of the [[Balkan mountains]] runs west-east through the middle of the country, north of the famous [[Rose Valley, Bulgaria|Rose Valley]]. Hilly country and plains lie in the southeast, along the [[Bulgarian Black Sea Coast|Black Sea]] coast in the east, and along Bulgaria's main river, the [[Danube]] in the north. === Mineral resources === The country possesses relatively rich mineral-resources, including vast reserves of [[lignite]] and [[anthracite]] [[coal]]; non-ferrous ores such as [[copper]], [[lead]], [[zinc]] and [[gold]]. It has large deposits of [[manganese]] ore in the north-east. Smaller deposits exist of [[iron]], [[silver]], [[chromite]], [[nickel]] and others. Bulgaria has abundant non-metalliferous minerals such as [[rock-salt]], [[gypsum]], [[kaolin]] and [[marble]]. === Hydrography === [[Image:Waterfall - Popovi ezera.JPG|thumb|right|200px|A waterfall in Pirin]] [[Image:Vucha PAN-HDR.jpg|thumb|200px|thumb|The [[Vacha Dam]] in the [[Rhodope Mountains]]]] Bulgaria has a dense network of about 540 rivers,<ref> {{cite book |last=Donchev |first=D. |title=Geography of Bulgaria |publisher=ciela |location=Sofia |pages=p. 68 |language=Bulgarian |isbn=954-649-717-7 |year=2004}} </ref> but with the notable exception of the Danube, most have short lengths and low water-level. Most rivers flow through mountainous areas; fewer in the Danubian Plain, [[Upper Thracian Plain]] and especially [[Dobrudzha]]. Two catchment basins exist: the [[Black Sea]] (57% of the territory and 42% of the rivers) and the [[Aegean Sea]] (43% of the territory and 58% of the rivers) basins. The longest river located solely in Bulgarian territory, the [[Iskar]], has a length of 368 km. Other major rivers include the [[Struma River|Struma]] and the [[Maritsa|Maritsa River]] in the south. Rila and Pirin feature around 260 glacial lakes; the country also has several large lakes on the Black Sea coast and more than 2,200 dam lakes. Many mineral springs exist, located mainly in the south-western and central parts of the country along the faults between the mountains. The Bulgarian word for [[spa]], ''баня'', transliterated as ''banya'', appears in some of the names of more than 50 [[spa town]]s and resorts including [[Sapareva Banya]], [[Hisarya, Bulgaria|Hisarya]], [[Sandanski]], [[Bankya]], [[Varshets]], [[Pavel Banya]], [[Devin]], [[Velingrad]] and many others. === Climate === Bulgaria has a [[temperate climate]], with cool and damp winters, very hot and dry summers, and [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] influence along the Black Sea coast. The barrier effect of the Balkan Mountains influences climate throughout the country: northern Bulgaria gets slightly cooler and receives more rain than the southern regions. [[Precipitation (meteorology)| Precipitation]] in Bulgaria averages about 630 millimetres per year. Drier areas include [[Dobrudzha]] and the northern coastal strip, while the higher parts of the Rila and Stara Planina Mountains receive the highest levels of precipitation. In summer, temperatures in the south of Bulgaria often exceed 40 degrees Celsius, but remain cooler by the coast. A site near [[Plovdiv]] has recorded the highest known temperature: 46.7 degrees Celsius. === Urban geography === [[Image:PrirodaBG.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Landscapes from Bulgaria. Clockwise from top left: a cloudy forest; Todorka Peak in Pirin; [[Belogradchik Rocks]]; Lake Shabla on the Black Sea coast.]] Bulgaria's larger cities include: {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Place ! align="left" | City ! Population ! Place ! align="left" | City ! Population |- | align="right" | 1. [[Image:BG Sofia coa.svg|20px]] | [[Sofia]] | align="right" | {{nts|1380406}} | align="right" | 6. [[Image:Stara-Zagora-coat-of-arms.svg|20px]] | [[Stara Zagora]] | align="right" | {{nts|152619}} |- | align="right" | 2. [[Image:Plovdiv-coat-of-arms.svg|20px]] | [[Plovdiv]] | align="right" | {{nts|376918}} | align="right" | 7. [[Image:Pleven-coat-of-arms.svg|20px]] | [[Pleven]] | align="right" | {{nts|121700}} |- | align="right" | 3. [[Image:Varna-coat-of-arms.svg|20px]] | [[Varna]] | align="right" | {{nts|349031}} | align="right" | 8. [[Image:Sliven Bulgaria coat of arms.png|20px]] | [[Sliven]] | align="right" | {{nts|106434}} |- | align="right" | 4. [[Image:Burgas-coat-of-arms.svg|20px]] | [[Burgas]] | align="right" | {{nts|220985}} | align="right" | 9. [[Image:Dobrich-coat-of-arms.svg|20px]] | [[Dobrich]] | align="right" | {{nts|103309}} |- | align="right" | 5. [[Image:Rousse-coat-of-arms.svg|20px]] | [[Rousse]] | align="right" | {{nts|167715}} | align="right" | 10. [[Image:Shumen gerb.jpg|20px]] | [[Shumen]] | align="right" | {{nts|94888}} |} Bulgaria operates a scientific station, the [[St. Kliment Ohridski Base]], on [[Livingston Island]] in the [[South Shetland Islands]] off the coast of [[Antarctica]]. {{seealso|List of cities in Bulgaria|Rivers of Bulgaria|Reservoirs and dams in Bulgaria}} ==History == {{main|History of Bulgaria}} === Prehistory and Antiquity=== {{see|Neolithic Europe|Bronze Age Europe|Thrace}}} [[Image:Sveshtari Thracian tomb Bulgaria IFB.JPG|250|thumb|left|The [[Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari]], a 3rd century BC [[tomb]] listed as one of [[UNESCO]]'s [[World Heritage Site]]s]] Prehistoric cultures in the Bulgarian lands include the [[Neolithic]] [[Hamangia culture]] and [[Vinča culture]] (6th to 3rd millennia BC), the [[eneolithic]] [[Varna culture]] (5th millennium BC; see also [[Varna Necropolis]]), and the [[Bronze Age]] [[Ezero culture]]. The [[Karanovo chronology]] serves as a gauge for the prehistory of the wider Balkans region. The [[Thracian]]s, the earliest known identifiable people to inhabit the present-day territory of Bulgaria, have left traceable marks among all the Balkan region despite its tumultuous history of many conquests.<ref> http://www.links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0009-840X(193102)1%3A45%3A1%3C41%3ADADBUD%3E2.0.CO%3B2-H </ref><ref>http://www.legmed.ro/files/revista/2004-4/02-Cardos-%20MtDNA.pdf</ref> The [[Panagyuriste treasure]] ranks as one of the most splendid achievements of the Thracian culture. The Thracians lived divided into numerous separate tribes until King [[Teres]] united most of them around 500 BC in the [[Odrysian kingdom]], which peaked under the kings [[Sitalces]] and [[Cotys I]] (383-359 BC). In 188 BC the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] invaded [[Thrace]], and warfare continued until 45 AD when Rome finally conquered the region. The conquerors quickly [[Romanisation (cultural)|Romanised]] the population. By the time the [[Slavs]] arrived, the [[Thracians]] had already lost their indigenous identity and had dwindled in number following frequent invasions. === The Slavs and Old Great Bulgaria === {{main|Old Great Bulgaria}} The [[Slavs]] emerged from their original homeland (location not definitively established: see [[Slavic peoples]]) in the early [[6th century]] and spread to most of the eastern Central Europe, Eastern Europe and the Balkans, forming in the process three main branches — the West Slavs, the East Slavs and the South Slavs. The eastern South Slavs became part of the ancestors of the modern Bulgarians. They assimilated what remained of the Thracians{{fact|date=June 2008}}. Modern [[Bulgarians]] derive much of their culture, language and self-determination from these early immigrants. In 632, the [[Bulgars]], an ancient civilisation/nation that formed numerous kingdoms throughout [[Eurasia]] and stemmed from a largely enigmatic socio-cultural lineage (theorised as of either [[Aryan]] or [[Turkic]] descent), originally from [[Central Asia]], formed under the leadership of Khan [[Kubrat]] an independent state called [[Great Bulgaria]], situated between the lower course of the [[Danube]]{{Fact|date=February 2008}} to the west, the [[Black Sea]] and the [[Azov Sea]] to the south, the [[Kuban River]] to the east, and the [[Donets River]] to the north. Pressure from the [[Khazars]] led to the subjugation of Great Bulgaria in the second half of the [[7th century]]. Some of the Bulgars from that territory later migrated to the northeast to form a new state called [[Volga Bulgaria]] (around the confluence of the [[Volga River| Volga]] and [[Kama River]]s), which lasted until the [[13th century]]. === First Bulgarian Empire === {{main|First Bulgarian Empire}} [[Image:Skylitzes Simeon at Anchialos 917.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The [[Battle of Anchialos]], in which the Bulgarians defeated the Byzantines: one of the bloodiest battles of the [[Middle Ages]].<ref> Bojidar Dimitrov: ''Bulgaria Illustrated History''. BORIANA Publishing House 2002, ISBN 9545000449 </ref>]] [[Image:Samoil.death.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The wedding of the daughter of [[Tsar Samuil]]]] [[Image:Bulgaria Simeon I (893-927).svg|200px|left|thumb|The Bulgarian Empire c. 927]] [[Kubrat]]’s successor, Khan [[Asparukh of Bulgaria| Asparuh]], migrated with some of the Bulgar tribes to the lower courses of the rivers [[Danube]], [[Dniester]] and [[Dniepr]] (known as ''Ongal''), and conquered [[Moesia]] and [[Scythia Minor]] ([[Dobrudzha]]) from the [[Byzantine Empire]], expanding his new khanate further into the [[Balkan Peninsula]].<ref>Runciman, p. 26</ref> A peace treaty with Byzantium in 681 and the establishment of the Bulgar capital of [[Pliska]] south of the Danube mark the beginning of the [[First Bulgarian Empire]]. At the same time one of Asparuh's brothers, [[Kuber]], settled with another [[Bulgar]] group in [[as of 2007| present-day]] [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]]. During the siege of Constantinople in 717-718 the [[Bulgars]] honoured their treaty with the Byzantines by sending troops to help the populace of the imperial city. In the decisive battle the Bulgarians killed 30,000 to 60,000 [[Arabs]]<ref> [[Theophanes the Confessor]]: ''Chronicle'', [unspecified edition], page 397 </ref>[7]. Contemporaries across the continent called the Bulgarian Emperor Tervel the Saviour of Europe. The influence and territorial expansion of Bulgaria increased further during the rule of [[Krum of Bulgaria| Khan Krum]],<ref>Runciman, p. 52</ref> who in 811 won a decisive victory against the Byzantine army led by [[Nicephorus I]] in the [[Battle of Pliska]].<ref>Theophanes the Confessor, ''Chronicle'', [unspecified edition] , р. 492</ref> In 864, Bulgaria accepted [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox Christianity]].<ref> Georgius Monachus Continuatus, loc. cit. [work not previously referenced], Logomete </ref> Bulgaria became a major European power in the ninth and the tenth centuries, while fighting with the Byzantine Empire for the control of the Balkans. This happened under the rule (852–889) of [[Boris I of Bulgaria|Boris I]]. During his reign, the [[Cyrillic alphabet]] originated in [[Preslav]] and [[Ohrid]],<ref> Vita S. démentis </ref> adapted from the Glagolitic alphabet invented by the monks [[Saints Cyril and Methodius]].<ref> Barford, P. M. (2001). ''The Early Slavs''. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press </ref> The Cyrillic alphabet became the basis for further cultural development. Centuries later, this alphabet, along with the [[Old Bulgarian]] language, fostered the intellectual written language (''lingua franca'') for Eastern Europe, known as [[Church Slavonic language| Church Slavonic]]. The greatest territorial extension of the Bulgarian Empire — covering most of the Balkans — occurred under [[Simeon I of Bulgaria|Simeon I]], the first Bulgarian [[Tsar]] ([[Emperor]]), son of Boris I.<ref> Fine, ''The Early Medieval Balkans'', pp. 144-148. </ref> However, Simeon's greatest achievement consisted of Bulgaria developing a rich, unique Christian Slavonic culture, which became an example for the other Slavonic peoples in Eastern Europe and ensured the continued existence of the Bulgarian nation regardless of the centrifugal forces that threatened to tear it into pieces throughout its long and war-ridden history. Following a decline in the mid-tenth century (worn out by wars with [[Croatia]], by frequent Serbian rebellions sponsored by Byzantine gold, and by disastrous Magyar and [[Pecheneg]] invasions,<ref> Theophanes Continuatus, pp. 462—3, 480 </ref>) Bulgaria collapsed in the face of an assault of the ''[[Kievan Rus'|Rus']]'' in 969-971.<ref> Cedrenus: II, p. 383 </ref> The Byzantines then began campaigns to conquer Bulgaria. In 971, they seized the capital [[Preslav]] and captured Emperor [[Boris II]].<ref> Leo Diaconus, pp. 158-9 </ref> Resistance continued under [[Tsar Samuil]] in the western Bulgarian lands for nearly half a century. The country managed to recover and defeated the Byzantines in several major battles taking the control of the most of the Balkans and in 991 invaded the Serbian state.<ref> Шишић, p. 331 </ref> However, the [[Byzantines]] led by [[Basil II]] (Basil the Bulgar-Slayer) destroyed the Bulgarian state in 1018 after their victory at [[battle of Kleidion|Kleidion]].<ref> Skylitzes, p. 457 </ref> === Byzantine Bulgaria=== [[Image:Bulgarians nominate Peter Deljan as king of Bulgary from the Chronicle of John Skylitzes.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Bulgarians nominate [[Peter II Delyan]] as Emperor of Bulgaria. [[John Skylitzes]], Chronicle]] In the first decade after the establishment of Byzantine rule, no evidence remains of any major attempt at resistance or any uprising of the Bulgarian population or nobility. Given the existence of such irreconcilable opponents to Byzantium as [[Krakra of Pernik|Krakra]], [[Nikulitsa of Bulgaria| Nikulitsa]], Dragash and others, such apparent passivity seems difficult to explain. Some historians<ref name="Zlatarski">Zlatarski, vol. II, pp. 1-41</ref> explain this fact by concessions that [[Basil II]] granted the Bulgarian nobility in order to gain their obedience. In the first place, [[Basil II]] guaranteed the indivisibility of Bulgaria in its former geographic borders and did not abolish officially the local rule of the Bulgarian nobility that now became part of [[Byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy|Byzantine aristocracy]] as [[archon]]s or [[strategos|strategs]]. Second, special charters (royal decrees) of [[Basil II]] recognised the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Bulgarian Archbishopric of Ohrid]] and set up its boundaries, [[diocese]]s, property and other privileges. The people of Bulgaria challenged Byzantine rule several times in the 11th and then again later in the early 12th century. The biggest [[Bulgarian uprising against the Byzantine Empire (1040-1041)| uprising]] occurred under the leadership of [[Peter II Delyan]], (proclaimed Emperor of Bulgaria in [[Belgrade]] in 1040). In the mid to late 11th century, the Normans, fresh from their recent conquests in southern Italy and Sicily, landed in the Balkans and began advancing against the Byzantine Empire. It took the Byzantines until 1185 before the Normans were driven out but until then they posed a constant threat to Byzantine Bulgaria. In 1091 another invasion came in the form of the [[Pecheneg]]s. However, these too were crushed at [[Battle of Levounion|Levounion]] and again in '''c'''. 1120 by the Byzantine Empire. After that, the Hungarians made an attempt to increase their influence beyond the Danube river; John Comnenus' campaigns along the Danube eventually drove back the Hungarians as well by c.1140. It would be another 45 years before Bulgaria would attain independence. Until that time, Bulgarian nobles ruled the province in the name of the Byzantine Empire until a rebellion by [[Ivan Asen I]] and [[Peter IV of Bulgaria]] led to the establishment of the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]]. ===Second Bulgarian Empire === {{main|Second Bulgarian Empire}} [[Image:Kalojan desislava.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The ktitors of the [[Boyana Church]] ''sevastokrator'' Kaloyan and his wife Desislava.]] From 1185, the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]] once again established Bulgaria as an important [[Power in international relations| power]] in [[the Balkans]] for two more centuries. With its capital based in [[Veliko Turnovo]] and under the [[Asen dynasty]], this empire fought for dominance in the region against the Byzantine Empire, the [[Latin Empire]] and [[Hungary]], reaching its zenith under [[Ivan Asen II]] (1218–1241). As a result of the [[Tatar invasions]] (beginning in the later 13th century), of internal conflicts and of the constant attacks from the Byzantines and the Hungarians, the power of the country declined until the end of the 13th century. From 1300, under Emperor [[Theodore Svetoslav of Bulgaria|Theodore Svetoslav]] Bulgaria regained its strength, but by the end of the fourteenth century the country had disintegrated into several feudal principalities, which the [[Ottoman Empire]] eventually conquered. A [[Poland|Polish]]-[[Hungary|Hungarian]] crusade under the rule of [[Władysław III of Poland]] to free the Balkans was crushed in 1444 in the [[battle of Varna]]. During the 13th and 14th centuries, Bulgarian culture flourished. The [[architecture of the Tarnovo Artistic School]] and the [[painting of the Tarnovo Artistic School]] produced some splendid achievements. Emperor [[Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria|Ivan Alexander]] won a reputation as a great [[maecenas]] and patron of culture. === Ottoman rule=== In the mid 13th century, the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]] dominated the [[Balkan Peninsula]]. By the end of the following century factional divisions between Bulgarian feudal landlords (''[[boyars]]'') had gravely weakened the cohesion of the Empire which therefore collapsed before the invading [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] armies in the 1390s. The Bulgarians, most of whom lived in the quadrilateral contained by the lower [[Danube]], the [[Aegean]] coast of [[Thrace]], the [[Black Sea]] and the valley of the [[Vardar]] in the west, now entered upon five hundred years of Ottoman domination. During the second half of the 14th century Bulgaria became an Ottoman vassalage. Ottoman Sultan [[Bayezid I]] annexed Bulgaria following his victory against a [[crusade]] at the [[Battle of Nicopolis]] in 1396.<ref> [[Lord Kinross]], ''The Ottoman Centuries'', Morrow QuillPaperback Edition, 1979 </ref><ref name = "xixcnf"> R.J. Crampton, A Concise History of Bulgaria, 1997, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-567-19-X </ref><ref name = "xouksi"> D. Hupchick, The Balkans, 2002 </ref> According to some historians the five centuries of Ottoman rule featured violence and oppression. The Ottomans decimated the Bulgarian population, which lost most of its cultural relics. Turkish authorities destroyed most of the medieval Bulgarian fortresses in order to prevent rebellions. Large towns and the areas where Ottoman power predominated remained severely depopulated until the nineteenth century.<ref> ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', 11th edition, volume 4, pp. 780-781 </ref><ref> ''Bulgaria Illustrated History'', Bojidar Dimitrov, PhD., Author, BORIANA Publishing House 2002, ISBN 9545000449 </ref> The new authorities dismantled Bulgarian institutions at anything above the village or communal level, and merged the separate [[Bulgarian Church]] into the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople|Orthodox Patriarchate in Constantinople]] ([[Istanbul]]), although a small, semi-independent Bulgarian Church did survive until 1767. The conquerors also assumed virtual ownership of the land, though they vested legal ownership in [[Allah|Allah’s]] representative on earth, the [[Ottoman Dynasty| Sultan]]. The new system of land-tenure imposed by the [[Ottoman Empire|Turks]] functioned to provide the Ottoman army with cavalry troops: the ''[[sipahi]]'' or landlord had to provide a number of men proportionate to the amount of land he held, while maintained economically by his tenants, or ''rayahs''. For the Bulgarian peasant the new system offered greater security than the old Bulgarian Empire had provided and exceptional privileges accrued to peasants living on ''[[vakif]]'' land — land with its income permanently entailed for the upkeep of a religious or charitable institution.<ref> "Many local Christians appear to have been happy to pass under the rule of an expanding polity with relatively light taxes." C.V. Findley, ''The Turks in World History'', pp. 109, 2005, Oxford University Press </ref><ref> "Ottoman incursions into the Balkans were not unwelcome to local populations whom the new regime freed from the onerous obligations imposed by their feudal lords." C. Finkel, ''The History of the Ottoman Empire:Osman's Dream'', pp. 40, 2006, Basic Books </ref> All tenants, [[Christian]] or [[Muslim]], who lived on ''[[vakif]]'' land had the right to such privileges, but in general the Christian subjects of the Sultan had to endure a number of disabilities; they usually paid more taxes than [[Moslems]], they lacked legal equality with Moslems, they could not carry arms, their clothes could not rival those of Moslems in color, nor could their churches tower as high as [[mosque]]s. The new rulers made few attempts to enforce conversion to Islam and relatively few Bulgarians felt attracted to the new ruling faith by the legal privileges its adherents enjoyed. Those who did convert, the [[Pomaks]], retained their native language, dress and customs, and lived primarily in the [[Rhodope mountains]].<ref name = "xixcnf"/><ref name = "xouksi"/> The [[Ottoman System in the Balkans|Ottoman system]] at its height did much to protect the ''[[rayah]]'', but by the 17th century the system had started to decline, and at the end of the 18th had all but collapsed. Central government weakened over the decades, and this had allowed a number of local adventurers and [[freebooter]]s to establish personal ascendancy over separate regions. These local ''ayans'' employed armed retainers and having established their authority frequently imposed new and far more arduous tenancies on the peasantry under their control. During the last two decades of the 18th and first decades of the 19th centuries the Balkan Peninsula dissolved into virtual anarchy, a period known in Bulgarian as the ''kurdjaliistvo'' after the armed bands or ''kurdjalii'' who plagued the area at this time. In many regions thousands of peasants fled from the countryside either to local towns or more probably to the hills or forests; some even fled beyond the [[Danube]] to [[Moldova]], [[Wallachia]] or Southern [[Russia]].<ref name = "xixcnf"/><ref> Dennis P. Hupchick: ''The Balkans: from Constantinople to Communism'', 2002 </ref> [[Image:Shipka-monument-bg.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Shipka memorial (located near [[Kazanlak]]) — built in honor of the [[Battle of Shipka Pass]] one of the important symbols of Bulgarian liberation.]] In the 18th and especially during the 19th century, conditions improved in certain areas. Some towns such as [[Gabrovo]], [[Tryavna]], [[Karlovo]], [[Lovech]], [[Skopie]] prospered. The Bulgarian peasants actually possessed their land, although it officially belonged to the [[sultan]]. The nineteenth century also brought improved communications, transportation and trade. The first factory in the Bulgarian lands opened in [[Sliven]] in 1834, and the first railway system started running (between [[Rousse]] and [[Varna]]) in 1865. Throughout the five Ottoman centuries Bulgarian people organized many attempts to re-establish their own state. The [[National awakening of Bulgaria]] became one of the key factors in the struggle for [[Liberation of Bulgaria|liberation]]. In the 19th century, there came into existence the [[Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee]] and the [[Internal Revolutionary Organisation]] led by liberal revolutionaries such as [[Vasil Levski]], [[Hristo Botev]], [[Lyuben Karavelov]] and many others. In 1876, the [[April uprising]] broke out: the largest and best-organized Bulgarian rebellion against the Ottoman Empire. This rebellion, however, did not receive the expected support from the Bulgarian masses. === The Kingdom of Bulgaria=== [[Image:Bulgaria-SanStefano -(1878)-byTodorBozhinov.png| 250px|thumb|left|Bulgaria according to the [[Treaty of San Stefano]].]] Following the [[Russo-Turkish War, 1877-1878]] (when Russian soldiers together with a [[Romania]]n expeditionary force and volunteer Bulgarian troops defeated the Ottoman armies), the [[Treaty of San Stefano]] ([[3 March]] [[1878]]), set up an autonomous Bulgarian principality. The Western [[great power|Great Powers]] immediately rejected the treaty: they became aware that a large Slavic country in the [[Balkans]] might serve Russian interests. This led to the [[Treaty of Berlin, 1878|Treaty of Berlin (1878)]] which provided for an autonomous Bulgarian principality comprising [[Moesia]] and the region of [[Sofia]]. [[Alexander von Battenberg]] took the position of Bulgaria's first [[Prince of Bulgaria|Prince]]. Most of [[Thrace]] was included in the autonomous region of [[Eastern Rumelia]], whereas the rest of Thrace and all of [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] was returned under the sovereignty of the [[Ottomans]]. After the [[Serbo-Bulgarian War]] and [[Unification of Bulgaria|unification]] with [[Eastern Rumelia]] in 1885, the principality was proclaimed a fully independent kingdom on [[October 5]] ([[September 22]] [[Old Style|O.S.]]), 1908, during the reign of [[Ferdinand I of Bulgaria]]. Ferdinand, a prince from the ducal family of [[Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]], became the Bulgarian Prince after [[Alexander von Battenberg]] abdicated in 1886 following a ''coup d'état'' staged by pro-Russian army-officers. (Although the counter-''coup'' coordinated by [[Stefan Stambolov]] succeeded, Prince Alexander decided not to remain the Bulgarian ruler without the approval of [[Alexander III of Russia]].) The struggle for liberation of the Bulgarians in the [[Adrianople]], Vilayet and Macedonia continued throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries culminating with the [[Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising]] organised by the [[Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization]] in 1903. ==== The Balkan Wars and World War I ==== [[Image:Yaroslav Veshin - Na nozh.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Bulgarians overrun a Turkish position at bayonet-point during the First Balkan War.]] In 1912 and 1913, Bulgaria became involved in the [[Balkan Wars]], first entering into conflict alongside Greece, Serbia and Montenegro against the Ottoman Empire. The [[First Balkan War]] (1912-1913) proved a success for the Bulgarian army, but a conflict over the division of Macedonia arose amongst the victorious allies. The [[Second Balkan War]] (1913) pitted Bulgaria against Greece and Serbia, joined by Romania and Turkey. After its defeat in the Second Balkan War, Bulgaria lost considerable territory conquered in the first war, as well as [[Southern Dobrudzha]] and parts of the [[Macedonia (region)|region of Macedonia]]. During [[World War I]], Bulgaria found itself fighting on the losing side as a result of its alliance with the [[Central Powers]]. Defeat in 1918 led to new territorial losses (the [[Western Outlands]] to [[Serbia]], [[Western Thrace]] to [[Greece]] and the re-conquered [[Southern Dobrudzha]] to [[Romania]]). The Balkan Wars and World War I led to the influx of over 250,000 Bulgarian refugees from [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]], [[Eastern Thrace|Eastern]] and [[Western Thrace]] and [[Southern Dobrudzha]]. ==== The interwar years ==== [[Image:Ferdinand of Bulgaria.jpg|150px|thumb|right|[[Ferdinand I of Bulgaria|Prince Ferdinand]] proclaimed himself [[Tsar]] of Bulgaria in 1908. However, internationally his title equated to "King", not to "Emperor" (as the title ''Tsar'' might suggest).]] In September 1918, Tsar Ferdinand abdicated in favour of his son [[Boris III of Bulgaria|Boris III]] in order to head off revolutionary tendencies. Under the [[Treaty of Neuilly]] (November 1919), Bulgaria ceded its Aegean coastline to Greece, recognized the existence of [[Yugoslavia]], ceded nearly all of its Macedonian territory to that new state, and had to give Dobrudzha back to the Romanians. The country had to reduce its army to 20,000 men, and to pay reparations exceeding $400 million. Bulgarians generally refer to the results of the treaty as the "Second National Catastrophe". Elections in March 1920 gave the [[Bulgarian Agrarian National Union| Agrarians]] a large majority, and [[Aleksandar Stamboliyski]] formed Bulgaria's first peasant government. He faced huge social problems, but succeeded in carrying out many reforms, although opposition from the middle and upper classes, the landlords and the officers of the army remained powerful. In March 1923 Stamboliyski signed an agreement with the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]] recognising the new border and agreeing to suppress [[Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization]] (VMRO), which favoured a war to regain Macedonia from Bulgaria. This triggered a nationalist reaction, and the [[Bulgarian coup d'état of 1923| Bulgarian coup d'état]] of [[June 9]], [[1923]] eventually resulted in Stamboliykski's assassination. A right-wing government under [[Aleksandar Tsankov]] took power, backed by the army and the VMRO, which waged a [[White terror]] against the Agrarians and the Communists. In 1926 the Tsar persuaded Tsankov to resign, a more moderate government under [[Andrey Lyapchev]] took office and an amnesty was proclaimed<!--by whom?-->, although the Communists remained banned. A popular alliance including the re-organised Agrarians won elections in 1931 under the name Popular Bloc. In May 1934 [[Bulgarian coup d'état of 1934|another coup]] took place, removing the Popular Bloc from power and establishing an authoritarian military régime headed by [[Kimon Georgiev]]. A year later Tsar [[Boris III of Bulgaria| Boris]] managed to remove the military régime from power, restoring a form of parliamentary rule (without the re-establishment of the political parties) and under his own strict control. The Tsar's regime proclaimed neutrality, but gradually Bulgaria gravitated into alliance with [[Nazi Germany]] and [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Fascist Italy]]. ==== World War II ==== After regaining control over [[Southern Dobrudzha]] in 1940, Bulgaria became allied with the [[Axis Powers]], although no Bulgarian soldiers participated in the [[World War II| war]] against the [[Soviet Union|USSR]]. During World War II [[Nazi Germany]] allowed Bulgaria to occupy parts of [[Greece]] and of [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]. Bulgaria became one of only three countries (along with Finland and Denmark) that saved its entire Jewish population (around 50,000 people) from the [[Nazism|Nazi]] camps by refusing to comply with a [[31 August]] [[1943]] resolution. The Bulgarian authorities did however send Jews in territories newly-acquired (from Greece and Yugoslavia) to death-camps in response to a direct request from Germany. {{Fact|date=July 2008}} In September 1944, the Soviet army entered Bulgaria, enabling the Bulgarian Communists (the [[Bulgarian Communist Party| Bulgarian Workers Party]]) to seize power and establish a communist state. In 1944, Bulgaria's forces turned against the country's former ally, Germany. The 450,000-man army in 1944 dwindled to 130,000 by 1945. === The People's Republic of Bulgaria === {{main|History of Communist Bulgaria}} After World War II, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet [[sphere of influence]]. It became a [[People's Republic]] in 1946 and one of the [[USSR]]'s staunchest allies. In the late 1970s, it began normalizing relations with Greece. The People's Republic ended in 1989 as many [[Communist regime]]s in [[Eastern Europe]], as well as the Soviet Union itself, began to collapse. Opposition forces removed the Bulgarian Communist leader [[Todor Zhivkov]] and his right-hand man [[Milko Balev]] from power on [[10 November]] [[1989]]. === The Republic of Bulgaria === In February 1990, the Communist Party voluntarily gave up its monopoly on power, and in June 1990 the first free elections since 1931 took place, won by the moderate wing of the Communist Party (renamed the [[Bulgarian Socialist Party]] — BSP). In July 1991, the country adopted a [[Constitution of Bulgaria|new constitution]] which provided for a relatively weak elected President and for a Prime Minister accountable to the legislature. The anti-Communist [[Union of Democratic Forces (Bulgaria)|Union of Democratic Forces]] took office, and between 1992 and 1994 carried through the [[privatization]] of land and industry, but faced massive unemployment and economic difficulties. The reaction against economic reform allowed BSP to take office again in 1995, but by 1996 the BSP government had also encountered difficulties, and in the presidential elections of that year the UDF's [[Petar Stoyanov]] was elected. In 1997, the BSP government collapsed and the UDF came to power. Unemployment, however, remained high and the electorate became increasingly dissatisfied with both parties. Relations with Turkey began to normalise in the 1990s{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. On [[June 17]] [[2001]], [[Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha|Simeon II]], the son of Tsar Boris III and the former Head of state (as Tsar of Bulgaria from 1943 to 1946), won a narrow victory in democratic elections. The king's party — [[National Movement Simeon II]] ("NMSII") — won 120 out of 240 seats in Parliament and overturned the two pre-existing political parties. Simeon's popularity declined during his four-year rule as Prime Minister, and the BSP won the elections in 2005, but could not form a single-party government and had to seek a coalition. Since 1989, Bulgaria has held multi-party [[elections]] and privatized its [[Economy of Bulgaria|economy]], but economic difficulties and a tide of corruption have led over 800,000 Bulgarians, most of them qualified [[profession]]als, to emigrate in a "[[brain drain]]". Since a reform package introduced in 1997{{Fact|date=February 2008}}, the economy has returned to growth. Bulgaria became a member of [[NATO]] in 2004 and of the [[European Union]] in 2007. == Politics == {{main|Politics of Bulgaria}}<!--Please add new information to relevant articles of the series--> [[Image:Narsob3.jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[The Largo]], the home of the Presidency and of the Council of Ministers]] [[Image:Bulgarian-parliament-imagesfrombulgaria.JPG|thumb|200px|left|The Parliament Building]] <!--Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Ministry of Defence.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The Palace of Justice]]--> Bulgaria joined [[NATO]] on [[March 29]] [[2004]] and signed the [[European Union]] [[Treaty of Accession 2005|Treaty of Accession]] on [[25 April]] [[2005]]. It became a full member of the European Union on [[1 January]] [[2007]]. The country had joined the [[United Nations]] in 1955, and became a founding member of [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] in 1995. As a Consultative Party to the [[Antarctic Treaty]], Bulgaria takes part in the administration of the territories situated south of 60° south latitude.<ref> [http://www.scar.org/treaty/ The Antarctic Treaty system: An introduction]. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). </ref><ref> [http://www.scar.org/treaty/signatories.html Signatories to the Antarctic Treaty]. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). </ref> [[Georgi Parvanov]], the [[President of Bulgaria]] since [[22 January]] [[2002]], won re-election on [[29 October]] [[2006]] and began his second term in office in January 2007. (Bulgarian voters directly elect their presidents for a five-year term with the right to one re-election.) The president serves as the [[head of state]] and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He also chairs the Consultative Council for National Security. While unable to initiate [[legislation]] other than Constitutional amendments, the President can return a bill for further debate, although the parliament can override the President's veto by vote of a majority of all MPs. Since [[17 August]] [[2005]] [[Sergey Stanishev]] as Prime Minister has chaired the [[Council of Ministers of Bulgaria|Council of Ministers]], the principal body of the executive branch, which [[as of 2007| presently]] consists of 20 ministers. The Prime Minister — usually nominated by the largest parliamentary group — receives the mandate of the President to form a cabinet. The [[as of 2007| current]] governmental coalition comprises the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), [[National Movement Simeon II]] (NMSII) and the [[Movement for Rights and Freedoms]] (representing mainly the [[Turkish people|Turkish]] minority). The Bulgarian [[unicameral]] [[parliament]], the National Assembly or ''[[Narodno Sabranie]]'' (Народно събрание), consists of 240 deputies, each elected for four-year terms by popular vote. The votes go to parties or to coalition-lists of candidates for each of the 28 administrative divisions. A party or [[coalition]] must win a minimum of 4% of the vote in order to enter parliament. Parliament has the responsibility for enactment of laws, approval of the budget, scheduling of presidential elections, selection and dismissal of the [[Prime Minister of Bulgaria|Prime Minister]] and other ministers, declaration of war, deployment of troops outside of Bulgaria, and ratification of international treaties and agreements. The [[as of 2007| most recent]] elections took place in June 2005. The [[as of 2007| next]] scheduled elections should take place in summer 2009. The Bulgarian judicial system consists of regional, district and appeal courts, as well as a Supreme Court of Cassation. In addition, Bulgaria has a Supreme Administrative Court and a system of military courts. A qualified majority of two-thirds of the membership of the Supreme Judicial Council elects the Presidents of the Supreme Court of Cassation and of the Supreme Administrative Court, as well as the Prosecutor General, from among its members; the President of the Republic then appoints those elected. The Supreme Judicial Council has charge of the self-administration and organization of the Judiciary. The Constitutional Court supervises the review of the constitutionality of laws and statutes brought before it, as well as the compliance of these laws with international treaties that the Government has signed. Parliament elects the twelve members of the Constitutional Court by a two-thirds majority: the members serve for a nine-year term. The territory of the Republic of Bulgaria subdivides into provinces and municipalities. In all, Bulgaria has 28 provinces, each headed by a provincial governor appointed by the government. In addition, the country includes 263 municipalities. == Military == {{main|Military of Bulgaria|Medieval Bulgarian Army}} [[Image:Mig29 graf ignatievo.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A Bulgarian Air Force [[Mikoyan MiG-29|MiG-29]]]] [[Image:BNS F911 Westdiep.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A sister-ship of the Bulgarian frigate ''Drazki''; one which the Bulgarian Navy intends to purchase]] The [[military of Bulgaria]] consists of three services: the [[Bulgarian Land Forces]], the [[Bulgarian Navy]] and the [[Bulgarian Air Force]]. The armed forces have as their patron saint ''Sveti Georgi'' ([[St. George]]), and Bulgarians celebrate his feast day, [[6 May]] nationally as Valour and Army Day. Despite active participation in all major [[Europe]]an wars since the end of the nineteenth century, Bulgarian forces have never lost a flag.<ref>[http://www.motoroads.com/why_bul_history.html History of Bulgaria<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Bulgaria first became a major military power in Europe under [[Krum of Bulgaria|Khan Krum]] and [[Simeon I of Bulgaria|Tsar Simeon I]], in a series of wars with the [[Byzantine Empire]] for control of the [[Balkan Peninsula]], in the late ninth century. By the use of approximately 12,000 heavy [[cavalry]] in tactics resembling those of feudal [[knight]]s, Simeon I's forces reached as far as the Byzantine capital, [[Constantinople]], in AD 896&nbsp;. A formal peace treaty lasted until 912, when both sides became engaged in a war which ended with several major defeats of the Byzantines, including one of the bloodiest battles in the [[Middle Ages]] at [[Battle of Anchialus| Anchialus]] in AD 917. Bulgaria again became a significant military power under the rule of the [[Asen dynasty]] in the [[twelfth century|twelfth]] and [[thirteenth century|thirteenth centuries]]. During the rule of Tsar [[Kaloyan]] (1197-1207) Bulgaria became the first European country to defeat the [[Crusade]]r knights. Since gaining total independence from the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1878, Bulgaria has functioned as a minor European power, frequently included in plans and wars of the [[Great Powers]]. In 1912, the Bulgarian forces invented the world's first aircraft-dropped bombs and soon after became the first military in the world to utilize [[First air-dropped bomb| aviation bombardment]], in the siege of [[Edirne| Odrin]]. Thus the Bulgarian Air Force, inheritor of one of the oldest traditions of powered aircraft combat in the world, became an early innovator in aviation military technology and in air-to-surface attack strategies/tactics. Following a series of reductions beginning in 1989, the active troops of Bulgaria's army number as many as 68,450 [[as of 2008| today]]. Reserve forces include 303,000 soldiers and officers. "PLAN 2004", an effort to modernize Bulgaria's armed forces, aims to better meet the perceived military needs of [[NATO]] and the [[European Union]]. [[Image:S6301245 6 4.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A [[St George the Conqueror Chapel Mausoleum|mausoleum dedicated to St George]], the patron-saint of the Bulgarian Army.]] Bulgarian military personnel have participated in international missions in [[Cambodia]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Kosovo]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Iraq]]. Starting in 2008, Bulgaria will completely abolish compulsory military service. Bulgaria's naval and air forces became fully [[professional]] in 2006, with the land-forces scheduled to follow suit in 2008. Bulgaria's Special Forces have conducted missions with the [[Special Air Service|SAS]], [[Delta Force]], [[KSK]], and the [[Spetsnaz]] of Russia. In April 2006 Bulgaria and the [[United States of America]] signed a defence-cooperation agreement providing for the development of the Bulgarian air bases at [[Bezmer Air Base|Bezmer]] (near [[Yambol]]) and [[Graf Ignatievo]] (near [[Plovdiv]]), the [[Novo Selo Range|Novo Selo]] training-range (near [[Sliven]]), and a logistics centre in [[Aytos Logistics Center|Aytos]] as [[List of joint US-Bulgarian military bases|joint US-Bulgarian military facilities]]. Bulgaria's navy comprises mainly Soviet-era ships, and three submarines. With {{convert|354|km}} of coastline, Bulgaria does not regard assault by sea as a major risk. In the course of recent modernization efforts, Bulgaria purchased a new frigate from [[Belgium]], and the navy seems likely to acquire four Gowind corvettes from the French company [[DCN]]. Bulgaria's air forces also use a large amount of Soviet equipment. Plans to acquire transport and [[attack helicopter]]s are underway, in addition to a major overhaul on old Soviet weapon systems. Military spending accounts for nearly 2.6% of Bulgaria's [[GDP]].<ref>[http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/bulgaria/bulgaria_military.html Bulgaria Military 2007 - Flags, Maps, Economy, Geography, Climate, Natural Resources, Current Issues, International Agreements, Population, Social Statistics<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> == Provinces and municipalities == {{main|Provinces of Bulgaria|Municipalities of Bulgaria}} {{Bulgaria Provinces|float=right}} Between 1987 and 1999 Bulgaria consisted of nine provinces (''oblasti'', singular ''[[oblast]]''); since 1999, it has consisted of twenty-eight. All take their names from their respective capital cities: {| style="background:transparent;" | *[[Blagoevgrad Province|Blagoevgrad]] *[[Burgas Province|Burgas]] *[[Dobrich Province|Dobrich]] *[[Gabrovo Province|Gabrovo]] *[[Haskovo Province|Haskovo]] *[[Kardzhali Province|Kardzhali]] *[[Kyustendil Province|Kyustendil]] *[[Lovech Province|Lovech]] *[[Montana Province|Montana]] *[[Pazardzhik Province|Pazardzhik]] *[[Pernik Province|Pernik]] *[[Pleven Province|Pleven]] *[[Plovdiv Province|Plovdiv]] *[[Razgrad Province|Razgrad]] | *[[Ruse Province|Rousse]] *[[Shumen Province|Shumen]] *[[Silistra Province|Silistra]] *[[Sliven Province|Sliven]] *[[Smolyan Province|Smolyan]] *[[Sofia City]] *[[Sofia Province]] *[[Stara Zagora Province|Stara Zagora]] *[[Targovishte Province|Targovishte]] *[[Varna Province|Varna]] *[[Veliko Tarnovo Province|Veliko Tarnovo]] *[[Vidin Province|Vidin]] *[[Vratsa Province|Vratsa]] *[[Yambol Province|Yambol]] |} The provinces subdivide into 264 [[Municipalities of Bulgaria| municipalities]].<!--As of when? Compare the 263 municipalities mentioned above in the "Politics" section--> == Economy == {{main|Economy of Bulgaria}} Bulgaria became a member of the [[European Union]] in 2007; the [[World Bank]] classifies it as an "upper-middle-income economy" <ref> [http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20421402~pagePK:64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html#Upper_middle_income Data - Country Groups<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. Bulgaria has experienced rapid economic growth [[as of 2008| in recent years]]. The country continues to rank as the second poorest member state of the EU.<ref>http://www.photius.com/rankings/economy/gdp_per_capita_2008_0.html GDP per capita for 2008.</ref>, but standards of living have [[as of 2008 | start]]ed to rise. Due to alleged high-profile corruption, the European Union has partly frozen EU funds of about €450 million and may freeze more if Bulgarian authorities do not show solid progress in fighting corruption and in speeding up reforms.<ref> 'France 24'' website, [[March 28]], 2008). [http://www.france24.com/en/20080328-barroso-slams-bulgarias-rampant-corruption "Barroso slams Bulgaria's rampant corruption"]. AFP News Briefs List. Retrieved [[2008-06-24]]</ref> Bulgaria has tamed its inflation since the deep economic crisis in 1996-1997, but [[as of 2008| latest]] figures show an increase in the inflation-rate to 12.5% for 2007. Unemployment declined from more than 17% in the mid 1990s to nearly 10% in 2007, but the unemployment-rate in some rural areas continues in high double-digits. Bulgaria is experiencing soaring inflation and this means that Bulgaria's adoption of the Euro will likely to be delayed well until the year 2013-2014.<ref>http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/bulgaria-to-adopt-the-euro-in-2013-2014-unicredit-says/id_29264/catid_67</ref> [[Image:Sofia4.jpg|200px|left|thumb|A night view of [[Sofia]]]] [[Image:Plovdiv-view-gruev.JPG|left|thumb|200px|A view over [[Plovdiv]]]] Bulgaria's economy contracted dramatically after 1987 with the dissolution of the [[Council for Mutual Economic Assistance]] (COMECON), with which the Bulgarian economy had integrated closely. The standard-of-living fell by about 40%, but it regained pre-1990 levels in June 2004. [[United Nations]] sanctions against [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] and [[Iraq]] took a heavy toll on the Bulgarian economy. The first signs of recovery emerged in 1994 when the [[Gross Domestic Product|GDP]] grew and [[inflation]] fell. During the government of [[Zhan Videnov]]'s cabinet in 1996, the economy collapsed due to lack of international economic support and an unstable banking system. Since 1997, the country has been on the path to recovery, with GDP growing at a 4%&ndash;5% rate, increasing FDI, macroeconomic stability and [[European Union]] membership. The former NMSII government elected in 2001 pledged to maintain the fundamental economic policy-objectives adopted by its predecessor in 1997, specifically: retaining the Currency Board, implementing sound financial policies, accelerating [[privatisation]], and pursuing structural reforms. Economic forecasts for 2005 and 2006 predicted continued growth for the economy. Economists predicted annual year-on-year GDP growth for 2005 and 2006 of 5.3% and 6.0% respectively. Forecasters expected industrial output in 2005 to rise by 11.9% from the previous year, and by 15.2% in 2006. Unemployment for 2005 was projected at 11.5%, 9% for 2006 and 7.25% for 2007.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/19/business/EU-FIN-ECO-Bulgaria-Growth.php Bulgaria's economy grew by 6.2 percent on year in 1Q - International Herald Tribune<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> As of 2006 the GDP structure is: agriculture 8.0%; industry 26.1%; services 65.9%. === Agriculture === Agricultural output has decreased overall since 1989, but production has grown in [[as of 2007| recent years]], and together with related industries like [[food processing| food-processing]] it still plays a key role in the Bulgarian economy. Arable farming predominates over stock-breeding. The country has a lack of modern equipment. Alongside [[aeroplane]]s and other equipment, Bulgarian agriculture has over 150,000 [[tractor]]s and 10,000 [[combine harvester]]s. Production of the most important crops (according to the [[FAO]]) in 2006 (in '000 tons) amounted to: [[wheat]] 3301.9; [[sunflower]] 1196.6; [[maize]] 1587.8; [[grapes]] 266.2; [[tobacco]] 42.0; [[tomato]]es 213.0; [[barley]] 546.3; [[potato]]es 386.1; [[Capsicum|peppers]] 156.7; [[cucumber]]s 61.5; [[cherries]] 18.2; [[watermelon]]s 136.0; [[cabbage]] 72.7; [[apples]] 26.1; [[plums]] 18.0; [[strawberries]] 8.8. ===Industry === [[Image:KozloduyNPP.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A view of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant]] Industry plays a key role in the Bulgarian economy. Although Bulgaria lacks large reserves of oil and gas, it produces significant quantities of electricity. Bulgaria formerly ranked as the most important exporter of electricity in the region due to the [[Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant]], which has a total capacity of {{nowrap|2,000 MW}}, but after the closure of its first 4 blocks, exports of electricity declined and the country lost its leading position as an energy-supplier for the Balkans. However, the two most modern blocks of the power plant, 5 and 6, were left running and are still a sufficient power source. Construction has [[as of 2007| started]] on a second plant, the [[Belene Nuclear Power Plant]] with a projected capacity of {{nowrap|2,000 MW}}. Plans exist for a $1.4bn project for construction of an additional {{nowrap|670 MW}} for the {{nowrap|500 MW}} [[Maritsa Iztok Complex|Maritza Iztok 1]] Thermal Power Plant<ref>[http://www.alstom.cz/boilers/en/enovinky.html#3 :Alstom.CZ - Power Environment Sector:<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> (see [[Energy in Bulgaria]]). Ferrous [[metallurgy]] has major importance. Much of the production of [[steel]] and [[pig iron]] takes place in [[Kremikovtsi]] and [[Pernik]], with a third metallurgical base in [[Debelt]]. In production of steel and steel products per capita the country heads the [[Balkans]]. Recently the fate of Kremikovtsi steel factories has come under debate, because of serious pollution of the capital, Sofia. The largest refineries for [[lead]] and [[zinc]] operate in [[Plovdiv]] (the biggest refinery between Italy and the Ural mountains), [[Kardzhali]] and [[Novi Iskar]]; for [[copper]] in [[Pirdop]] and [[Eliseina]]; for [[aluminium]] in [[Shumen]]. In production of many metals ''per capita'', Bulgaria ranks first in [[South Eastern Europe]]. About 14% of the total industrial production relates to [[machine-building]], and 24%{{Fact|date=May 2008}} of the people work in this field. Its importance has decreased since 1989. [[Electronics]] and electric equipment-production have developed to a high degree. The largest centres include [[Sofia]], [[Plovdiv]] and the surrounding area, [[Botevgrad]], [[Stara Zagora]], [[Varna]], [[Pravets]] and many other cities. These plants produce [[household appliance]]s, [[computer]]s, [[CD]]s, [[telephone]]s, [[medical equipment|medical]] and scientific equipment. Many factories producing [[transportation]] equipment [[as of 2008| currently]] do not operate at full capacity. Plants produce [[train]]s ([[Burgas]], [[Dryanovo]]), [[tram]]s ([[Sofia]]), [[tram|trolley]]s ([[Dupnitsa]]), [[bus]]es ([[Botevgrad]]), [[truck]]s ([[Shumen]]), [[motor truck]]s (Plovdiv, [[Lom]], Sofia, Lovech). Lovech has an automotive assembly plant. [[Rousse]] serves as the main centre for agricultural machinery. Most Bulgarian shipbuilding takes place in [[Varna]], [[Burgas]] and [[Rousse]]. Bulgarian arms production mainly operates in central Bulgaria ([[Kazanlak]], [[Sopot]], [[Karlovo]]). Foreigners seeking additional homes have [[as of 2007| recently]] boosted the [[Bulgarian properties]] market. Buyers come from across Europe, but mostly from the [[United Kingdom]], encouraged by relatively cheap property-prices and the country's easy accessibility via air-travel.<ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/6172095.stm BBC NEWS | Programmes | Working Lunch | A very Bulgarian building boom<!-- Bot generated title -->] </ref> == Science, technology and telecommunications == Some multinational companies have set up regional offices and headquarters in Bulgaria, most notably [[Hewlett-Packard]], which built its Global Service Centre for [[Europe, the Middle East and Africa]] (EMEA) in Sofia.<!-- when? --> [[Telecommunications]] has become one of the growing industries in the country. Three [[GSM]] mobile-telephone operators — [[Globul]], [[Mobiltel]] and [[Vivatel]] — provide almost 100% coverage each. They have a network of service-centers throughout the country. Bulgarians made use of some 10 million [[cellular phone]]s<ref> [http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/bulgaria/bulgaria_communications.html Bulgaria Communications 2007 - Flags, Maps, Economy, Geography, Climate, Natural Resources, Current Issues, International Agreements, Population, Social Statistics<!-- Bot generated title -->] </ref> [[as of 2006]]. Mobikom provides the only [[NMT 450]] mobile-phone service. Bulgarians in towns can access the Internet, and [[as of 2008|recently]] most villages have acquired fast connectivity and [[VoIP]]; [[BTK]] offers [[DSL]] connection in larger cities. Bulgaria had about 298,781<ref> http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/bulgaria/bulgaria_communications.html Statistics of Bulgarian communications </ref> Internet hosts [[as of 2007]]. Bulgaria supplied many scientific and research instruments for the [[Soviet space program| Soviet space-program]], and also sent two men into space: [[Georgi Ivanov]] on [[Soyuz 33]] (1979) and [[Alexander Alexandrov]] on [[Soyuz TM-5]] (1985). Bulgaria became one of the first European countries to develop serial production of [[personal computer]]s ([[Pravetz series 8]]) in the beginning of the 1980s, and has experience in pharmaceutical research and development. [[Asen Yordanov]] (1896-1967), the founder of [[aeronautical engineering]] in Bulgaria, worked as an aviator, engineer and inventor; he also contributed to the development of [[aviation]] in the [[United States]]. He played a significant role in U.S. aircraft development and took part in many other [[project]]s. The [[Bulgarian-American]] inventor and scientist [[Peter Petroff]] became best known for his work in [[NASA]]. Petroff also invented the first [[digital watch]] (1970).<ref> [http://www.allbusiness.com/services/museums-art-galleries-botanical-zoological/4359168-1.html www.allbusiness.com - "Peter Petroff, Digital Watch Inventor, Dies at Age 83". Compare the [http://www.engology.com/eng5nakamatsu.htm claim] of [[Yoshiro Nakamatsu]] to have invented a digital watch in 1953. </ref> U.S. chemist [[Carl Djerassi]], who developed the first oral contraceptive pill (OCP), has Bulgarian ancestry. The [[Bulgarian Academy of Sciences]], the leading scientific institution in the country, employs most of Bulgaria's researchers working in its numerous branches. Bulgaria hosts two major [[astronomical observatory|astronomical observatories]]: the [[Rozhen Observatory]], the largest in [[Southeastern Europe]], and the [[Belogradchik Observatory]] with three [[telescope]]s; as well as several "public astronomical observatories" with [[planetarium|planetaria]], focused on [[education]]nal and [[outreach]] activities. == Transport == {{main|Transport in Bulgaria}} [[Image:E79.jpg|200px|thumb|right|[[European route E79]] near [[Blagoevgrad]]]] Bulgaria occupies a unique and strategically important geographic location. Since ancient times, the country has served as a major crossroads between [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[Africa]]. Five of the ten [[Pan-European corridors| Trans-European corridors]] run through its territory. <!-- As of when? -->Bulgaria's roads have a total length of {{convert|102016|km|abbr=on}}, {{convert|93855|km|abbr=on}} of them paved and {{convert|441|km|abbr=on}} of them motorways. Several motorways are planned, under construction or partially built: [[Trakiya motorway]], [[Hemus motorway]], [[Cherno More motorway]], [[Struma motorway]], [[Maritza motorway]] and [[Lyulin motorway]]. Other planned motorways await finalisation of their routes. They include a link between the capital [[Sofia]] and [[Vidin]], a link between the Struma and Trakiya motorways south of [[Rila Mountain]], a link between [[Rousse]] and [[Veliko Tarnovo]], and the [[Sofia ringroad]]. Many roads have [[as of 2008| recently]] undergone reconstruction. Bulgaria has {{convert|6500|km|abbr=on}} of railway track, more than 60% electrified. A €360,000,000 project exists for the modernisation and electrification of the [[Plovdiv]]-[[Kapitan Andreevo]] railway. Air transportation has developed relatively comprehensively. Bulgaria has five official international airports — at [[Sofia]], [[Burgas]], [[Varna]], [[Plovdiv]] and [[Gorna Oryahovitsa]]. Massive investment plans exist for the first three. Important domestic airports include those of [[Vidin]], [[Pleven]], [[Silistra]], [[Targovishte]], [[Stara Zagora]], [[Kardzhali]], [[Haskovo]] and [[Sliven]]. After the fall of communism in 1989, most of them are not used as the importance of domestic flights declined. There are many military airports and agricultural airfields. 128 of the 213 [[airports]] in Bulgaria are paved. The ports of [[Varna]] and [[Burgas]] are by far the most important and have the largest turnover. Other than Burgas, [[Sozopol]], [[Nesebar]] and [[Pomorie]] are big fishing ports. The largest ports on the Danube River are [[Rousse]] and [[Lom, Bulgaria|Lom]] which serves the capital. The cities and many smaller towns have well-organised public transport systems, using buses, trolleys (in about 20 cities) and trams (in Sofia). The [[Sofia Metro]] in the capital has three planned lines with total length of about {{convert|48|km|abbr=on}} and 52 stations, but much [[as of 2008| currently]] remains uncompleted. == Demographics== {{main|Demographics of Bulgaria}} According to the 2001 [[census]],<ref> [http://www.nsi.bg/Census/Ethnos.htm National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria], retrieved [[July 31]], [[2006]] </ref> Bulgaria's population consists mainly of [[Bulgarians|ethnic Bulgarian]] (83.9%), with two sizable minorities, [[Turkish people|Turks]] (9.4%) and [[Roma in Bulgaria|Roma]] (4.7%). Of the remaining 2.0%, 0.9% comprises some 40 smaller minorities, most prominently in numbers the [[Russians]], [[Armenians in Bulgaria|Armenians]], [[Vlachs]], [[Bulgarian Jewry|Jews]], [[Crimean Tatars in Bulgaria|Crimean Tatars]] and [[Sarakatsani]] (historically known also as Karakachans). 1.1% of the population did not declare their ethnicity in the latest census in 2001. [[Image:Bulgarien 0907.JPG|200px|thumb|right|The [[Rila Monastery]].]] 96.3% of the population speak [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]] as their [[mother tongue]]. Bulgarian, a member of the [[Slavic languages| Slavic language group]], remains the only official language, but numbers of speakers of other languages (such as [[Turkish language|Turkish]] and [[Romani language|Romany]]) correspond closely to ethnic proportions. The country has a [[Romani people|Roma]] population estimated at between 200,000 and 450,000.<ref>[http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=308 Migration Information Source - The Roma of Eastern Europe: Still Searching for Inclusion<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Most Bulgarians (82.6%) belong, at least nominally, to the [[Bulgarian Orthodox Church]], the national [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]. Other religious denominations include [[Islam]] (12.2%), various [[Protestant]] denominations (0.8%) and [[Roman Catholicism]] (0.5%); with other denominations, atheists and undeclared totalling approximately 4.1%. In [[as of 2008 | recent]] years Bulgaria has had one of the slowest population growth-rates in the world. Negative population growth has occurred since the early 1990s,<ref>[http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2287183,00.html Will EU Entry Shrink Bulgaria's Population Even More? | Europe | Deutsche Welle | 26.12.2006<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> due to economic collapse and high emigration. In 1989 the population comprised 9,009,018 people, in 2001 7,950,000 and in 2008 7,640,000.<ref>[http://www.nsi.bg/ZActual_e/PopByAge07.htm Population information source - NSI population table as of 21.12.2007]</ref> [[As of 2008 | Now]] Bulgaria faces a severe demographic crisis: the population has a fertility-rate of 1.4 children per woman as of 2007, with a predicted rate of 1.7 by the end of 2050. The fertility-rate will need to reach 2.2 to restore natural growth in population. == Culture == {{main|Culture of Bulgaria}} [[Image:Plovdiv Theater.jpg|left|200px|The Roman Theatre in Plovdiv]] [[Image:VarnaRoman.JPG|left|200px|Remains of [[Ancient Rome|ancient Roman]] [[Varna|Odessus]]]] {{seealso|List of famous Bulgarians|Bulgarian customs|Music of Bulgaria|Bulgarian artists|Bulgarian dances|Bulgarian cuisine}} A country often described as lying at the crossroads linking the [[Eastern world|East]] and [[Western culture|West]], Bulgaria functioned as the hub of [[Slavic Europe]] during much of the Middle Ages, exerting considerable literary and cultural influence over the Eastern Orthodox Slavic world by means of the [[Preslav Literary School|Preslav]] and [[Ohrid Literary School]]s. Bulgaria also gave the world the [[Cyrillic alphabet]], the second most-widely used [[alphabet]] in the world, which originated in these two schools in the tenth century AD. [[Image:Anna-Maria Ravnopolska-Dean.JPG|thumb|200px|Anna-Maria Ravnopolska-Dean]] A number of ancient civilizations, most notably the [[Thracians]], [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]], [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], [[Slavs]], and [[Bulgars]], have left their mark on the culture, history and heritage of Bulgaria. The country has nine [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]]s: * The early medieval large rock relief [[Madara Rider]]. * two Thracian tombs (one in [[Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari|Sveshtari]] and one in [[Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak|Kazanlak]]) * three monuments of medieval Bulgarian culture (the [[Boyana Church]], the [[Rila Monastery]] and the [[Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo]]) * two examples of natural beauty: the [[Pirin National Park]] and the [[Srebarna Nature Reserve]] * the ancient city of [[Nesebar]], a unique combination of European cultural interaction, as well as, historically, one of the most important centres of sea-borne trade in the Black Sea Note also the [[Varna Necropolis]], a 3500-3200&nbsp;BC burial-site, purportedly containing the oldest examples of worked gold in the world. Bulgaria's contribution to humanity continued throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with individuals such as [[John Atanasoff]] — a United States citizen of Bulgarian descent, regarded as the father of the [[digital computer]]. A number of noted opera-singers ([[Nicolai Ghiaurov]], [[Boris Christoff]], [[Raina Kabaivanska]], [[Ghena Dimitrova]]), [[Anna Veleva]], the world-famous harpist [[Anna-Maria Ravnopolska-Dean]] and successful artists ([[Christo and Jeanne-Claude|Christo Yavashev]], [[Pascin]], [[Vladimir Dimitrov — Maistora|Vladimir Dimitrov]]) popularized the culture of Bulgaria abroad. One of the best internationally-known artists, [[Valya Balkanska]] sang the song ''Izlel e Delyu Haydutin'', part of the [[Voyager Golden Record]] selection of music included in the two Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977. The [[Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir]] also known as ''Mystery of Bulgarian voices'' has also attained a considerable degree of fame. A unique{{Fact|date=April 2008}} custom called ''[[nestinarstvo]]'' distinguishes the [[Strandzha| Strandja]] region. Customs include dancing into fire or over live embers. == Tourism == {{main|Tourism in Bulgaria}} [[Image:Nessebar St Jean-Baptiste.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Church of St John the Baptist (11th century) in [[Nessebar]]]] In the northern-hemisphere winter, [[Samokov]], [[Borovets]], [[Bansko]] and [[Pamporovo]] become well-attended ski-resorts. Summer resorts exist on the Black Sea at [[Sozopol]], [[Nessebur]], [[Golden Sands]], [[Sunny Beach]], [[Sveti Vlas]], [[Albena]], [[Saints Constantine and Helena, Bulgaria| Saints Constantine and Helena]] and many others. [[Spa resort]]s such as [[Bankya]], [[Hisarya]], [[Sandanski]], [[Velingrad]], [[Varshets]] and many others attract visitors throughout the year. Bulgaria has started to become an attractive tourist destination because of the quality of the resorts and prices below those found in Western Europe. Bulgaria has enjoyed a substantial growth in income from international tourism over the [[as of 2007|past decade]]. Beach-resorts attract tourists from [[Germany]], [[Russia]], [[Scandinavia]], the [[Netherlands]] and the [[United Kingdom]]. The ski-resorts are a favourite destination for [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] tourists. Bulgaria [[as of 2007|now]] attracts close to 7 million visitors yearly. Tourism in Bulgaria makes a major contribution towards the country's annual economic growth of 6% to 6.5%.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} == Sports== {{main|Sport in Bulgaria}} [[Image:PFC Levski Sofia vs Chelsea FC, UEFA Champions League 2006-07, Sofia, Bulgaria.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A football game in the [[Vasil Levski National Stadium]]]] [[Association football|Football]] has become by far the most popular sport in Bulgaria. Many Bulgarian fans closely follow the top Bulgarian league, the [[Bulgarian "A" Professional Football Group]]; as well as the leagues of other European countries. The [[Bulgaria national football team]] achieved its greatest success with a fourth-place finish at the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] in the [[United States]]. [[Dimitar Berbatov]] [[as of 2008|currently]] ranks as the most popular{{Fact|date=January 2008}} Bulgarian footballer. [[Hristo Stoichkov]] has arguably become the best-known Bulgarian footballer of all time. His career peaked between 1992 and 1995, while he played for [[FC Barcelona]], winning the [[European Footballer of the Year|Ballon d'Or]] in 1994. Additionally, he featured in the [[FIFA 100]] rankings. Two Bulgarians have won the European top scorers' [[Golden Boot]] award: Stoichkov and [[Petar Jekov]]. [[Georgi Asparuhov|Georgi Asparuhov-Gundi]] (1943-1971), also became extremely popular at home and abroad, having had offers from clubs in Italy and Portugal, and having won the Bulgarian football player №1 award for the twentieth century.<ref name="capital_bg"> [http://www.capital.bg/show.php?storyid=249589 "Gundi pips Stoichkov to Top Footballer of the century"] (article in Bulgarian) </ref> [[PFC CSKA Sofia]] (champion of Bulgaria 30 times, National cup holder 23 times, European Cup semi-finalist 2 times, Cup Winners' Cup semi-finalist), [[PFC Levski Sofia]] (25 times champion of Bulgaria and (as of 2007) 26 times National Cup holder), [[PFC Slavia Sofia]] (officially the oldest football- and sports-club in Bulgaria, 8 times football champion of Bulgaria and 12 times holder of the National Cup, Cup Winners' Cup semi-finalist) have become the most successful Bulgarian football-clubs. Other popular clubs include [[PFC Lokomotiv Sofia]], [[PFC Litex Lovech]], [[PFC Cherno More Varna]] and [[PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv]]. PFC Levski Sofia became the first Bulgarian team to participate in the modern [[UEFA Champions League]] group stage, having achieved this by qualifying for the [[UEFA Champions League 2006-07|2006/2007 competition]]. Apart from football, Bulgaria boasts great achievements in a great variety of other sports. [[Maria Gigova]] and [[Maria Petrova (rhythmic gymnast)|Maria Petrova]] have each held a record of three world-titles in [[rhythmic gymnastics]]. Other famous gymnasts include [[Simona Peycheva]] and [[Neshka Robeva]] (a highly successful coach as well). [[Yordan Yovtchev]] ranks as the most famous Bulgarian competitor in [[Artistic Gymnastics]]. Bulgarians also dominate in [[weightlifting]], with around 1,000 gold medals in different competitions, although cases of [[Doping (sport)|doping]] have occurred among Bulgarian weightlifters, which led to the expulsion of the entire Bulgarian team from the [[2000 Summer Olympics]], and their voluntary withdrawal from the [[1988 Summer Olympics]].<ref>Jere Longman: [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F06E0D81E3BF930A1575AC0A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink SYDNEY 2000: WEIGHT LIFTING; Drug Scandal Goes On: Bulgarian Team Is Ousted From Games] ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[September 23]], [[2000]] </ref> [[Stefan Botev]], [[Nickolai Peshalov]], [[Demir Demirev]] and [[Yoto Yotov]] figure among the most distinguished weightlifters. In [[wrestling]], [[Boyan Radev]], [[Serafim Barzakov]], [[Armen Nazarian]], [[Plamen Slavov]], [[Kiril Sirakov]] and [[Sergey Moreyko]] rank as world-class wrestlers. [[Dan Kolov]] became a wrestling legend in the early 20th century after leaving for United States. Bulgarians have made many significant achievements in athletics. [[Stefka Kostadinova]], who still holds the women's [[high jump]] world record, jumped 209 centimetres at the [[1987 World Championships in Athletics]] in Rome to clinch the coveted title. [[as of 2008| Presently]], Bulgaria takes pride in its sprinters, especially [[Ivet Lalova]] and [[Tezdzhan Naimova]]. [[Volleyball]] [[as of 2008| recently]] experienced a big resurgence. The [[Bulgaria men's national volleyball team|Bulgarian national volleyball team]], one of the strongest teams in Europe, [[as of 2008| currently]] ranks fourth in the [[FIVB]] ranklist.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} At the [[2006 Volleyball World Championship]] this team won the bronze medal. [[Chess]] has achieved great popularity. One of the top chess-masters and a former world champion, [[Veselin Topalov]], plays for Bulgaria. At the end of 2005, both men's and women's world chess-champions came from Bulgaria, as well as the junior world champion. [[Albena Denkova]] and [[Maxim Staviski]] have won the ISU world figure skating championships twice in a row (2006 and 2007) for ice-dance. Bulgaria also has strengths in [[shooting sports]]. [[Maria Grozdeva]] and [[Tanyu Kiriakov]] have won Olympic gold medals, and [[Ekaterina Dafovska]] won the Olympic gold in [[biathlon]] in the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. [[Petar Stoychev]] set a new swimming world record for crossing the [[English Channel]] in 2007. The country has strong traditions in [[amateur boxing]] and in [[martial arts| martial-arts]] competitions. Bulgaria has achieved major success with its [[judo]] and [[karate]] teams in European and World championships. Kaloyan Stefanov Mahlyanov, best known as [[Kotoōshū Katsunori]], has become well-known worldwide for his [[sumo]] prowess. ==Religion== {{main|Religion in Bulgaria}} [[Image:AlexanderNevskiCathedral.jpg|thumb|200px|The [[Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia|Alexander Nevsky Cathedral]] in Sofia, one of the largest Orthodox cathedrals in Europe]] [[Image:Nessebar Pantocrator.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Church of Christ Pantocrator]], [[Nesebar]]]] [[Image:Saint Joseph.jpg|left|thumb|200px|[[Cathedral of St Joseph, Sofia|Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph]], [[Sofia]]]] Most citizens of Bulgaria have associations — at least nominally — with the [[Bulgarian Orthodox Church]]. Founded in 870&nbsp;AD under the [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]] (from which it obtained its first [[Primate (religion)|primate]], its clergy and theological texts), the Bulgarian Orthodox Church has had [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] status since 927. The Orthodox Church re-established the [[Bulgarian Patriarchate]] in Sofia in the 1950s after the promulgation of the [[Bulgarian Exarchate]] in 1870. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church, as the independent national church of Bulgaria (like the other national branches of [[Eastern Orthodoxy]] in their respective countries) plays a role as an inseparable element of Bulgarian national consciousness. The Church became subordinate within the [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]], twice during the periods of Byzantine (1018 – 1185) and Ottoman (1396 – 1878) domination but has been revived every time as a symbol of Bulgarian statehood without breaking away from the Orthodox dogma. In 2001, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church had 6,552,000 members in Bulgaria (82.6% of the population). However, many people raised during the 45 years of [[communist]] rule are not religious, even though they may formally be members of the Church. Despite the dominant position of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Bulgarian cultural life, a number of Bulgarian citizens belong to other religious denominations, most notably [[Islam in Bulgaria|Islam]], [[Roman Catholicism in Bulgaria|Roman Catholicism]] and [[Protestantism in Bulgaria|Protestantism]]. [[Islam in Bulgaria|Islam]] came to Bulgaria at the end of the fourteenth century after the conquest of the country by the [[Ottomans]]. It gradually gained ground throughout the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries through the introduction of [[Turkic peoples|Turkish]] colonists and the conversion of native Bulgarians. In the sixteenth and the seventeenth centuries, missionaries from Rome converted Bulgarian [[Paulicians]] in the districts of [[Plovdiv]] and [[Svishtov]] to [[Roman Catholicism]]. [[as of 2007| Today]] their descendants form the bulk of Bulgarian Catholics, whose number stood at 44,000 in 2001. Missionaries from the [[United States]] introduced [[Protestantism]] into Bulgarian territory in 1857. Missionary work continued throughout the second half of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century. In 2001 Bulgaria had some 42,000 [[Protestants]]. According to the most recent Eurostat "Eurobarometer" poll, in 2005,<ref> {{cite web |title=Social values, science and technology |work=[[Eurobarometer]] |publisher=[[European Commission]] |date=June 2005 |url=http://europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf |format=pdf |accessdate=2007-01-01}} </ref> 40% of Bulgarian citizens responded that "they believe there is a God", whereas 40% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force", 13% that "they do not believe there is a God, spirit, nor life force", and 6% did not answer. {{seealso|Bulgarian Orthodox Church|Islam in Bulgaria|Roman Catholicism in Bulgaria|Protestantism in Bulgaria}} == See also == * [[List of Bulgarian monarchs]] * [[History of Communist Bulgaria]] * [[Bulgarian resistance movement during World War II]] == Notes == <!-- Beware: long URLs get mangled in multi-column format --> {{reflist}} {{portal|Bulgaria|Flag of Bulgaria.svg}} == Further reading == * Crampton, R. J. ''A Concise History of Bulgaria'' (2005) Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge University Press ISBN 9780521616379 * Detrez, Raymond ''Historical Dictionary of Bulgaria'' (2006) Second Edition lxiv + 638 pp. Maps, bibliography, appendix, chronology ISBN 978-0-8108-4901-3 * Lampe, John R., and Marvin R. Jackson ''Balkan Economic History, 1550-1950: From Imperial Borderlands to Developing Nations'' (1982) * Lampe, John R. ''The Bulgarian Economy in the Twentieth Century'' (1986) London: Croom Helm ISBN 0709916442 ===Pre 1939 === * Hall, Richard C. ''Bulgaria's Road to the First World War'' (1996) New York: Columbia University Press ISBN 088033357X * MacDermott, Mercia ''A History of Bulgaria, 1393-1885'' (1962) * Perry, Duncan M. ''Stefan Stambolov and the Emergence of Modern Bulgaria, 1870-1895'' (1993) Durham: Duke University Press ISBN 0822313138 * {{cite book | last = Runciman | first = Steven | authorlink = Steven Runciman | title = A History of the First Bulgarian Empire | publisher = G. Bell & Sons, London | year = 1930 | language = English | url = http://www.questia.com/library/book/a-history-of-the-first-bulgarian-empire-by-steven-runciman.jsp | }} * {{cite web | last = Zlatarski | first = Vasil N. | title = Prof. Dr. | work = Medieval History of the Bulgarian State | publisher = Royal Printing House, Sofia |date=1934 | language = Russian | url = http://www.kroraina.com/knigi/vz2/index.html | accessdate = 2007-08-05}} (Васил Н. Златарски, История на българската държава през средните векове, Част II, II изд., Наука и изкуство, София 1970) ===World War II === * [[Michael Bar-Zohar|Bar-Zohar, Michael]] ''Beyond Hitler's Grasp: The Heroic Rescue of Bulgaria's Jews'' * [[Stephane Groueff|Groueff, Stephane]] ''Crown of Thorns: The Reign of King Boris III of Bulgaria, 1918–1943'' * [[Tzvetan Todorov|Todorov, Tzvetan]] ''The fragility of goodness: why Bulgaria’s Jews survived the Holocaust: a collection of texts with commentary'' (2001) Princeton: Princeton University Press ISBN 0691088322 === Communist era=== * Todorov, Tzvetan ''Voices from the Gulag: Life and Death in Communist Bulgaria'' * Dimitrova, Alexenia ''The Iron Fist - Inside the Bulgarian secret archives'' ===[[as of 2007| Contemporary]] === * Bell, John D., ed. ''Bulgaria in Transition: Politics, Economics, Society, and Culture after Communism''. Westview. (1998) ISBN 978-0813390109 === Guide-books === * Paul Greenway ''Lonely Planet World Guide: Bulgaria'' * Pettifer, James ''Blue Guide: Bulgaria'' * Timothy Rice ''Music of Bulgaria'' * Jonathan Bousfield ''The Rough Guide To Bulgaria'' == External links== {{sisterlinks|Bulgaria}} <!--===========================({{NoMoreLinks}})=============================== | PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS IN ADDING MORE LINKS TO THIS ARTICLE. WIKIPEDIA IS | | NOT A COLLECTION OF LINKS. | | | | Excessive or inappropriate links WILL BE DELETED. | | See [[Wikipedia:External links]] and [[Wikipedia:Spam]] for details. | | | | If there are already plentiful links, please propose additions or | | replacements on this article's discussion page. Or submit your link | | to the appropriate category at the Open Directory Project (www.dmoz.org)| | and link back to that category using the {{dmoz}} template. | ===========================({{NoMoreLinks}})===============================--> * {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Bulgaria|Bulgaria}} * [http://www.government.bg/ Official governmental site] * {{CIA World Factbook link|bu|Bulgaria}} * [http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/ All cities and villages] {{Bulgaria topics}} {{Template group |title = Geographic locale |list = {{Provinces of Bulgaria}} {{Countries bordering the Black Sea}} {{Countries of Europe}} }} {{Template group |title = International membership |list = {{Members of the European Union (EU)}} {{Council of Europe}} {{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}} {{Black Sea Naval Co-operation Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR)}} {{Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty}} {{La Francophonie|state=collapsed}} {{Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)}} {{Slavic-speaking nations}} }} <!--Categories--> [[Category:Bulgaria| ]] [[Category:Slavic countries]] [[Category:States and territories established in 1908]] [[Category:Liberal democracies]] {{link FA|af}} <!--Other languages--> [[af:Bulgarye]] [[als:Bulgarien]] [[am:ቡልጋሪያ]] [[ang:Bulgaria]] [[ar:بلغاريا]] [[an:Bulgaria]] [[arc:ܒܠܓܪܝܐ]] [[roa-rup:Vurgaria]] [[frp:Bulgarie]] [[ast:Bulgaria]] [[gn:Vugaria]] [[az:Bolqarıstan]] [[bn:বুলগেরিয়া]] [[zh-min-nan:Bulgariya]] [[be:Балгарыя]] [[be-x-old:Баўгарыя]] [[bar:Bulgarien]] [[bo:པུ་ར་ག་རི་ཡ]] [[bs:Bugarska]] [[br:Bulgaria]] [[bg:България]] [[ca:Bulgària]] [[cv:Болгари]] [[ceb:Bulgaria]] [[cs:Bulharsko]] [[co:Bulgaria]] [[cy:Bwlgaria]] [[da:Bulgarien]] [[de:Bulgarien]] [[dv:ބަލްގޭރިއާ]] [[dsb:Bulgarska]] [[et:Bulgaaria]] [[el:Βουλγαρία]] [[es:Bulgaria]] [[eo:Bulgario]] [[eu:Bulgaria]] [[fa:بلغارستان]] [[fo:Bulgaria]] [[fr:Bulgarie]] [[fy:Bulgarije]] [[fur:Bulgarie]] [[ga:An Bhulgáir]] [[gv:Yn Vulgeyr]] [[gd:Bulgàiria]] [[gl:Bulgaria - България]] [[hak:Pó-kâ-li-â]] [[ko:불가리아]] [[hy:Բուլղարիա]] [[hi:बुल्गारिया]] [[hsb:Bołharska]] [[hr:Bugarska]] [[io:Bulgaria]] [[ilo:Bulgaria]] [[bpy:বুলগেরিয়া]] [[id:Bulgaria]] [[ia:Bulgaria]] [[ie:Bulgaria]] [[os:Болгари]] [[is:Búlgaría]] [[it:Bulgaria]] [[he:בולגריה]] [[jv:Bulgaria]] [[pam:Bulgaria]] [[kn:ಬಲ್ಗೇರಿಯ]] [[ka:ბულგარეთი]] [[csb:Bùlgarskô]] [[kk:Бұлғарстан]] [[kw:Bulgari]] [[ky:Болгария]] [[sw:Bulgaria]] [[ht:Bilgari]] [[ku:Bulgaristan]] [[la:Bulgaria]] [[lv:Bulgārija]] [[lb:Bulgarien]] [[lt:Bulgarija]] [[lij:Bulgâia]] [[li:Bölgarieë]] [[ln:Bulgaria]] [[hu:Bulgária]] [[mk:Бугарија]] [[mt:Bulgarija]] [[ms:Bulgaria]] [[nah:Bulgaritlān]] [[na:Borgeriya]] [[nl:Bulgarije]] [[nds-nl:Bulgarije]] [[ne:बुल्गेरिया]] [[ja:ブルガリア]] [[ce:Болгаре]] [[no:Bulgaria]] [[nn:Bulgaria]] [[nrm:Bulgarie]] [[nov:Bulgaria]] [[oc:Bulgaria]] [[ug:بۇلغارىيە]] [[uz:Bolgariya]] [[ps:بلغاريه/بلغارستان]] [[pms:Bulgarìa]] [[nds:Bulgarien]] [[pl:Bułgaria]] [[pt:Bulgária]] [[crh:Bulğaristan]] [[ksh:Bulljaarije]] [[ro:Bulgaria]] [[rmy:Bulgariya]] [[qu:Bulgarya]] [[ru:Болгария]] [[se:Bulgária]] [[sa:बुल्गारिया]] [[sco:Bulgarie]] [[stq:Bulgarien]] [[sq:Bullgaria]] [[scn:Bulgarìa]] [[simple:Bulgaria]] [[sk:Bulharsko]] [[cu:Блъгарїꙗ]] [[sl:Bolgarija]] [[szl:Bůugaryjo]] [[sr:Бугарска]] [[sh:Bugarska]] [[fi:Bulgaria]] [[sv:Bulgarien]] [[tl:Bulgaria]] [[ta:பல்கேரியா]] [[tet:Bulgária]] [[th:ประเทศบัลแกเรีย]] [[vi:Bulgaria]] [[tg:Булғористон]] [[tpi:Balgeria]] [[tr:Bulgaristan]] [[udm:Болгария]] [[uk:Болгарія]] [[ur:بلغاریہ]] [[vec:Bulgaria]] [[vo:Bulgarän]] [[fiu-vro:Bulgaaria]] [[wa:Bulgåreye]] [[war:Bulgarya]] [[wo:Bulgaari]] [[wuu:部勒伽利亚]] [[yi:בולגאריע]] [[zh-yue:保加利亞]] [[diq:Bulğarıstan]] [[bat-smg:Bulgarėjė]] [[zh:保加利亚]]