Principality of Bulgaria: Map & History
The Principality of Bulgaria was a vassal state under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire.
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The Principality of Bulgaria was a vassal state under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire. It was established by the Treaty of Berlin in 1878.
Modern Countries Once Part of Principality of Bulgaria
At its mapped extent, Principality of Bulgaria covered territory in 5 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- North Macedonia1916–1944 CE · nearly all
- Bulgaria1880–1944 CE · most
- Greece1912–1944 CE · a small part
- Romania1917–1918 CE · a small part
- Turkey1912 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Principality of Bulgaria's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Principality of Bulgaria in Depth
Background
In 1396 the Bulgarian–Ottoman Wars ended with the fall of the Bulgarian Empire, due to the Ottoman invasion of the Balkans and its own internal divisions. Under Ottoman rule, the Bulgarian nobility was destroyed and the national consciousness suppressed. The Bulgarian National Revival, emerging in the late 18th century, revived Bulgarian identity and stoked the idea of creating a new Bulgarian state. Numerous revolutionary movements and uprisings against the Ottomans occurred alongside similar movements in the rest of the Balkans, culminating in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877 to 1878.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Principality of Bulgaria (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Principality of Bulgaria: Key Facts
| Capital | Sofia |
|---|---|
| Official language | Bulgarian |
| Religion | Bulgarian Orthodox Church |
| Form of government | principality |
| Currency | Bulgarian lev |
| Founded | 3 March 1878 |
| Dissolved | 22 September 1908 |
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q815731 (CC0).
Principality of Bulgaria Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Principality of Bulgaria appears, with the other states of the time.
Principality of Bulgaria Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 171,194 km² in 1917 CE.
Principality of Bulgaria: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Principality of Bulgaria exist?
Principality of Bulgaria is dated to 1880 CE – 1944 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of Principality of Bulgaria?
The capital of Principality of Bulgaria was Plovdiv, (1878) (Provisional Russian Administration in Bulgaria), Sofia, (1878–1908) (Provisional Russian Administration in Bulgaria until June 1879), Tarnovo, (1879) (Bulgarian Constituent Assembly election, 1879).
How large was Principality of Bulgaria at its peak?
At its peak in 1917 Principality of Bulgaria covered about 171,194 km².
How did the map of Principality of Bulgaria change over time?
Principality of Bulgaria appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1900 CE to 1914 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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