Dragan Tsankov
Encyclopedia
Dragan Kiriakov Tsankov (9 November 1828 – 24 March 1911) was a Bulgaria
n politician and the first Liberal Party
Prime Minister of the country.
Born in Svishtov
Tsankov was initially a civil servant in the administration of the Ottoman Empire
, who in the 1850s gained a reputation as a supporter of the Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church
. His paper Bũlgaria appeared in Constantinople
in 1859 and espoused his religious positions. Funded by France
, the paper argued that a Uniat with Rome was the only solution to Bulgaria. Indeed Tsankov, who was educted by the Jesuits, helped to form the Uniat church in Bulgaria in 1861
Later he became closely associated with opposition to the Ottomans and the independence movement. Tsankov was initially opposed to the April Uprising
but he soon changed his opinion and began to be active in support of independence. He served as deputy to Nayden Gerov
in the Governorship of Svishtov during the brief period of Russia
n administration in Bulgaira.A leading figure in the drive towards independence, he became respected as the voice of moderate liberalism
, as he was prepared to work with the Conservatives after 1879.
After some failed attempts to form a Conservative-led administration, Tsankov was appointed as Prime Minister on 7 April 1880 with plans for a wide-ranging raft of reforms. His new reforms, which included the establishment of a militia, limited rights for Muslims and attempts to limit the power of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
alarmed Alexander of Bulgaria, who feared the possibility of a liberal revolution. A series of foreign policy errors involving relations with Austria-Hungary
followed (largely caused by the lack of communication between Tsankov and the Tsar) and his ministry was forced to resign before the year was out.
He initially kept an open mind about the military coup of 1881, although he eventually called on his supporters to oppose the new system by all legal means, resulting in him being placed under house arrest. However the failure of military rule forced Alexander to restore civilian government, with Tsankov returning as Premier on 19 September 1883 at the head of a coalition government. Tsankov's second rule was seen as largely transitional and it also saw the Liberal Party splitting, with Petko Karavelov
gaining a large groundswell of support. Eventually he was dismissed as Prime Minister and replaced by Karavelov in 1884.
After his removal from office, Tsankov split off to form his own party, the Progressive Liberals. Although the group did not see government until 1902 and the rule of Stoyan Danev
, Tsankov remained an important figure in Bulgarian politics and a constant voice in support of ever closer relations with Russia
until his death.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n politician and the first Liberal Party
Liberalism and radicalism in Bulgaria
This article gives an overview of liberalism and radicalism in Bulgaria. It is limited to liberal and radical parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
Prime Minister of the country.
Born in Svishtov
Svishtov
Svishtov is a town in northern Bulgaria, located in Veliko Tarnovo Province on the right bank of the Danube river opposite the Romanian town of Zimnicea. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Svishtov Municipality...
Tsankov was initially a civil servant in the administration of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, who in the 1850s gained a reputation as a supporter of the Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church
Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church
The Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church is a Byzantine Rite sui juris particular Church in full union with the Roman Catholic Church.-Middle Ages:...
. His paper Bũlgaria appeared in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
in 1859 and espoused his religious positions. Funded by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the paper argued that a Uniat with Rome was the only solution to Bulgaria. Indeed Tsankov, who was educted by the Jesuits, helped to form the Uniat church in Bulgaria in 1861
Later he became closely associated with opposition to the Ottomans and the independence movement. Tsankov was initially opposed to the April Uprising
April Uprising
The April Uprising was an insurrection organised by the Bulgarians in the Ottoman Empire from April to May 1876, which indirectly resulted in the re-establishment of Bulgaria as an autonomous nation in 1878...
but he soon changed his opinion and began to be active in support of independence. He served as deputy to Nayden Gerov
Nayden Gerov
Nayden Gerov , born Nayden Gerov Hadzhidobrevich February 23, 1823, Koprivshtitsa–October 9, 1900, Plovdiv) was a Bulgarian linguist, folklorist, writer and public figure during the Bulgarian National Revival....
in the Governorship of Svishtov during the brief period of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n administration in Bulgaira.A leading figure in the drive towards independence, he became respected as the voice of moderate liberalism
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
, as he was prepared to work with the Conservatives after 1879.
After some failed attempts to form a Conservative-led administration, Tsankov was appointed as Prime Minister on 7 April 1880 with plans for a wide-ranging raft of reforms. His new reforms, which included the establishment of a militia, limited rights for Muslims and attempts to limit the power of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
Bulgarian Orthodox Church
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church - Bulgarian Patriarchate is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church with some 6.5 million members in the Republic of Bulgaria and between 1.5 and 2.0 million members in a number of European countries, the Americas and Australia...
alarmed Alexander of Bulgaria, who feared the possibility of a liberal revolution. A series of foreign policy errors involving relations with Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
followed (largely caused by the lack of communication between Tsankov and the Tsar) and his ministry was forced to resign before the year was out.
He initially kept an open mind about the military coup of 1881, although he eventually called on his supporters to oppose the new system by all legal means, resulting in him being placed under house arrest. However the failure of military rule forced Alexander to restore civilian government, with Tsankov returning as Premier on 19 September 1883 at the head of a coalition government. Tsankov's second rule was seen as largely transitional and it also saw the Liberal Party splitting, with Petko Karavelov
Petko Karavelov
Petko Karavelov was a leading Bulgarian liberal politician who served as Prime Minister on four occasions....
gaining a large groundswell of support. Eventually he was dismissed as Prime Minister and replaced by Karavelov in 1884.
After his removal from office, Tsankov split off to form his own party, the Progressive Liberals. Although the group did not see government until 1902 and the rule of Stoyan Danev
Stoyan Danev
Stoyan Petrov Danev was a leading Bulgarian liberal politician and twice Prime Minister.A legal graduate of both the University of Heidelberg and the University of Paris, Danev served in a number of Ministerial roles, including Foreign Minister, and became known as a strong supporter of Imperial...
, Tsankov remained an important figure in Bulgarian politics and a constant voice in support of ever closer relations with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
until his death.