In this episode, we recap the years 1807 to 1862 as a series of wars and uprisings rapidly diminish Ottoman power and holdings in the Balkans. Meanwhile the Ottoman state is modernizing as Bulgaria goes though its National Revival, adding schools, factories, and new publications at an increasing pace.

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You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/138-bulgarian-awakening-part-1

After the San Stefano treaty provoked outrage in the capitals of Europe and a series of secret agreements for adjusting it were concluded, it was finally time for the Great Powers to meet in Berlin and lay out the final conclusion of the Russo-Turkish War. The results will finally create a semi-independent Bulgarian state but, more importantly, will lay the groundwork for the bloody first decades of the 20th century.

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It's already clear who's going to win the war. What remains to be seen is who will win the peace. As Russian and Bulgarian troops rapidly advance, the Ottomans, Balkan states, and Great Powers alike are all jockeying for position. As the Treaty of San Stefano is being penned, it's already clear that Bulgaria's fate is out of its hands.

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You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/136-the-russo-turkish-war-part-3

After crossing the Danube to invade Ottoman Bulgaria, the Russian army makes rapid gains before being bogged down in intense fighting at Pleven and the Shipka Pass. There, the outcome of the war is decided. Meanwhile, political forces are just as important as the Great Powers jockey to determine what the Balkans and Europe will look like after this great conflict. In the middle of it all, Bulgarian soldiers and civilians fight for victory and survival.

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For this special episode, I was invited to have a chat with the US Ambassador to Bulgaria about the long history of connections between the two countries as well as what that relationship looks like today.

You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/posts/us-bg-history-ambassador-mustafa

It's 1877 and the Ottomans are victorious against the Serbs, however the Great Powers have gathered to decide what should become of Ottoman authority in the Balkans. To get ahead of this, the Ottomans have passed a new constitution and are ready to resist foreign interference. Meanwhile Russia and Austria-Hungary have concluded agreements necessary for Russia to finally go to war against the Ottomans. Now, it's time for Bulgarians to stand up and fight the Ottomans for the second time in as many years.

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You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/134-the-russo-turkish-war-part-1

As the last fighters of the April Uprising meet their sad fates, news of its horrors spreads throughout the world and begins to shift the geopolitical scales of Europe. Meanwhile the Ottoman Empire itself experiences a rush of changes as the Great Powers meet to decide what should happen as the Serbs finally decide it's time for war.

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You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/133-aftermath

You can find Cornelia by Emil Tsenov here: www.tsenovbooks.com/en or on Amazon.

As the April Uprising draws to a close, Botev crosses the Danube to continue the fight. Meanwhile, we delve into the horrors of the massacre at Batak.

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Despite the failure of the Stara Zagora uprising, Bulgarian revolutionaries see an opportunity to finally throw off Ottoman rule in the Spring of 1876.

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As the Bosnia and Herzegovina break out into open revolt against the Ottomans, some BRCC members see their golden opportunity to free Bulgaria. Meanwhile, the Ottoman government must finally reckon with its past mistakes as the fight between reformers and hardliners continues.

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You can find images for this episode at: www.bghistorypodcast.com/post/130-prelude

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