Patmos in the eighteenth century: fiscal threats and exemption promises

Author(s): Michael Ursinus / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Elena Grozdanova devoted a large part of her scholarly attention to the Ottoman poll-tax, its administration and the source-value of the cizye records for the study of historical demography of the Balkan territories under Ottoman rule, a subject comprehensively explored and summarized in her monumental study entitled Balgarska narodnost prez XVII vek. Demografsko izsledvane, published in Sofia in 1989. A copy of her work, with Elena's handwritten dedication dated 21 july 1989 in possession of the author, is a sad reminder of a lost reminder of a lost friend and a colleague whose fascination with Ottoman fiscal registers the present author shares. Yet while her book investigates, in a broad sweep and (in her own words) with a "complex approach", the situation during the seventeenth century up to about 1690 when a new system of levying the cizye was devised and progressively introduced, the present contribution merely intends to throw some light, at the micro-level of one small Aegean island, on a few but significant developments in this island fiscal regime during the eighteenth century.

Мека и Медина в българския османски архив

Author(s): Slavka Draganova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The paper presents in analytical way to Fund of the Ottoman documents about Mecca and Medina, kept in the collections of Oriental Department of the National Library "St St Cyril and Methodius". The documents are grouped in six main sections according to their content. The author presents in annotated form multiple documents of that fund. The paper includes an annex of the inventory of documents from fund Hijaz (Arabia).

Енорията на централните Балкани през османската епоха - поглед "отвътре": Православният свещеник и неговото паство през призмата на един свещенически текст от средата на XVII век

Author(s): Olga Todorova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

This article to challenge the notion of an entirely harmonious Christian-Orthodox parish that dominates the historiography of the Ottoman Balkans. The interrelations between Orthodox priests and their flocks are analyzed here in the light of the so-called Chronicle of Serres (ca. 1642), composed by Papa Synadinos, a Greek Orthodox priest and a member of the local Christian elite. It is claimed that two distinct images of the parish, quite opposite to each other, emerge from the text of the Chronicle. The first one is the image of the "ideal" parish, free of any conflicts between the priest and his parishioners. In the Chronicle it was exemplified with the parish of Papa Siderus, Synadinos' father, who has been portrayed as e perfect priest and a role-model for his time. This image, however, proves to be no more than a literary construct. Much more interesting is the second image representing the "real" parish led by Synadinos himself. It was depicted as a place where frictions between the "enlightened" priest and his flock were a common occurrence. The present study attempts to delineate the economic as well as the cultural (in the broadest sense of the word) cause which stood behind the constantly evolving tensions between laity and priests. It is argued that disagreements deepened even more due to options available to both sides to compete against each other by petitioning either to the Ottoman or the Church authorities.

Идеята за създаване на исляхханетата и тяхната мрежа през 60-тр - 70-те години на XIX век

Author(s): Margarita Dobreva / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Throughout the 15th-18th centuries the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims of the Ottoman Empire paid significant attention to the orphans' and poor children's relief. However, none of the Sultan's subjects set up an orphanage. The children in need were raised as fosterlings. Many extramartial infants were abandoned. If the abandoned children survived until 4 years of age, they entered the gangs. From 1839 onward the Ottoman officials considered the socialization of the orphans, pauper children and delinquents as an essential state affair. As early as 1860s they endeavored to set up industrial or reform schools. The paper of the author focuses on the very idea to establish such schools and casta light on their network in the Ottoman Empire. It summarizes the hypotheses for their origin; the available information about some West European models of social assistance for the children in need; the Ottoman initiative to train orphans, pauper children and delinquents; the role of Midhat Pasha; the origin of the term "islahhane"; the mutual rhetoric and rules of the Belgian and Ottoman reform schools. It advances the suggestion that the islahhanes or the industrial schools embodied the Ottoman attempt effecitvely to manage the periodically increasing number of the children in need. Perhaps the initiative combined the "domestic" model of the Catholic boarding schools, this one of the reform schools run by the Belgian government and the religious imperative for the orphans' and pauper children's socialization. While serving as a provincial governor, in 1863-1866 Midhat Pasha sought to carry out the actual state attempt. From 1867-1868 onward the project was developed by other provincial governors, as well.

Аптечното дело в България през втората половина на XIX век в документалното наследство на унгарския аптекар Георги Силаги

Author(s): Penka Peykova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Information on the 19th century history of pharmacy in Bulgaria is too scarce. Present publication includes documents for the development of pharmacy in Bulgaria from the documentary heritage of the Hungarian chemist Gyorgy Szilagyi, kept in the Bulgarian Historical Archive at the St. St. Cyril and Methodius National Library. Gyorgy Szilagyi's pharmacy existed for a period of eighty years, during which rich archival material accumulated. It is unique as a historical source for the development of pharmacy in Bulgaria, because it highlights the many-sided aspects of a foregn pharmacist's professional activities. Part of Gt. Szilagyi's archival fond are letters from his friends, acquaintances and colleagues that contain information on the fate of Hungarian and foreign pharmacists; they also reveal interesting facts about the relationship between Gy. Szilagui and his colleagues (local doctors and pharmacists) and clients as well. Another part of the fond is the documentation to the half-century-old activity of his pharmacy.

Непубликувани предмети на въоръжението, конското снаряжение и бита от с. Марково, Шуменско

Author(s): Stojan Vitljanov / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The paper presents part of a hoard containing items of armaments, horse trappings and everyday objects discovered accidentally on the land of the village of Markovo, Shumen region. While inspecting the site of the discovery on the surface the author came across an array of heavily decayed iron items from tools, cattle-breeding equipment, animal bones as well as some fragments of building ceramics and pots of engraved linear decoration and polished strips from the VIII-th - X-th c. The Old Bulgarian signs engraved on some of them refer to the same period and have numerous analogies from Pliska, Madara and Preslav. Then the author assumed that a medieval settlement probably existed in the site of the discovery or the objects fell there by obscure circumstances most probably from the nearby large but insufficiently studied Hambarluk fortress from late Antiquity and the Middle Ages which came into existence in the V-th - Vi-th centuries and continued existing until the XIV-th c. The published materials by analogies fall withing the chronological boundaries of the early Bulgarian Middle Ages and specifically in the mid-X-th - late XI-th centuries.

"Скорозрейно" и "нетрайно" ли е българското развитие?

Author(s): Hristo Matanov / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

This paper analyses the critically well-known thesis of Prof. Peter Moutafchiev about the raises and falls in Bulgaria's development. We know that, counting the studies of the Russian scholar Alexander Hilferding, Prof. Moutafchiev came to the conclusion that Bulgaria's development was erratic and did not have periods of "peace" - everything featured rapid progress and equally rapid decline and crises. The Bulgarian scholar cited Serbia as an example of slower for more regular progrss. The author attempts to question the general validity of this opinion. First of all, it was dedicated by the historical period in which Prof. Moutafchiev lived and worked. Then Bulgarian history itself was transmitted under the influence of the notion that it consisted of a series of successes and failures. Serbia could hardly be a comparison factor as the main sources about its development are the vitas of its rulers written by their sons and close relatives. Third, there are hardly societies and countries on a European or world scale that have not been subject to the "historical sine" of which Moutafchiev speaks. The author of the article appeals for abandoning the romantic approach in reconstructing the Bulgarian past, which demands rapid events with a fatal outcome. Instead, he offers a narration based on Fernand Braudel's idea of continuity and longue duree.

САЩ, 1865: Робството е мъртво! Да живее робството!

Author(s): Simeon Simeonov / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The study focuses on the problem of 'master-slave' relations in Modern Times. Analysing the ideology of slave ownership in the United States, the author puts forward the arguments about the continuity of the 'master' attitude in the conditions of the liberal democratic West.

Религиозен живот в Източна Румелия

Author(s): Stanislav Boyanov / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Eastern Roumelia received its fundamental law drafted by a specially European commission. It is quite a detailed document providing for all aspects of life of the Roumeli citizens. The Organic Statute of Eastern Roumelia defined the new political formation in the Balkans as a state of modern (for that time) bourgeois-liberal type. It had all the features of and independant state: its own government, a representative authority elected by the people and a national army. The sovereignty of the sultan was included in the Statute, but thanks to the efforts of Eastern Roumeli political figures, it soon became nominal, without any serious power in the region. Unlike the neighboring countries (the Ottoman Empire, the Principality of Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece and Romania) there was no legalized and preferred religion in Eastern Roumelia. All religious issues were placed in the hands of the religious communities and the state did not involve itself with them. The only condition was that they should not violate any of the laws valid to the region.

Идеята за славянско единство във възгледите и дейността на Стефан Савов Бобчев

Author(s): Dimitar Sazdov / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Stefan S. Dobchev was a noted Bulgarian public figure, scholar and statesman. Even in his early years he established contacts with the Russian Slavic societies. At the end of the 19-th century and the beginning of the 20-th century, when the blocks in the future world war were formed, he became an active participant in the movement for unity of Slav peoples. The idea was that they should not be placed in a confronting position in the world military conflict that that was forming. Stefan Bobchev was one of the active organizers of the Slavic associations of the intelligentsia and other such estates. Stefan Bobchev stood out as an active organizer and political figure in the field of the struggle for Slavic unity. Until the end of his life, he remained a firm believer in the unity of Slav peoples.

Две кратки редакции на чина на Свето Богоявление

Author(s): Hristina Toncheva / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The Old Bulgarian Blessing of the Waters on the Eve of Epiphany from X-XI centuries is the earliest Slavic copy of that work, giving an account of the very old routine of the Holy Sanctification of the Water, which is performed nowadays on the eve of Epiphany (January 6 - new stile). During the examination of the later Slavic copies of this Convention from the XV-XVII centuries, were discovered two unknown short redactions - one of them from the XVth c. - in Russia, Serbian, and Bulgarian Books of divine services and Prayer-books, and the other - from the year 1782 (in a Church Slavic prayer-book from Hilandar monastery, in Mount Athos). In the article, for the first time, is published the text of the short redaction of the Blessing of the Water on the Eve of Epiphany, from the above mentioned XVIIIth c. Preayer-book.

Надгробен надпис в чест на шейх

Author(s): Katerina Venedikova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The author makes a short review of publications of Arabic Ottoman inscription in honour of a sheikh. The paper provides a facsimile, a deciphered text transcribed in Latin, a translation in Bulgarian and coments on the monument. The inscription shows that there were members of the Qadiri tariqa (Sufi order) in the 18th century in Plovdiv and maybe that there was a tekke of this brotherhood.

BIBLIOGRAFIJA: DISKURSI RATA

Author(s): Obrad Savić / Language(s): Serbian Publication Year: 0

Левски: канонизацията

Author(s): Lyudmil Dimitrov / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The text attempts to reconstruct the beginning of the Bulgarian heroic epic. The author believes that the structure of the author‘s epic was invented by Hristo Botev and was later extended by Ivan Vazov. Vasil Levski‘s figure is met in both poets, but while Vazov writes the live of the Deacon like a saint, Botev carries out his literary canonization according to all ritual procedures and turns it into the Bulgarian Jesus.

Рапсодия vs. ода – „вносните“ модели за литературна иконизация

Author(s): Lyubka Lipcheva-Prandzheva / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The paper discusses the models of memory, which the cycle of odes “Epopee of the Forgotten” by the Bulgarian poet Ivan Vazov and the cycle “Rhapsodies of the Bulgarian Gusle-player” by the Slovenian poet Anton Ashkertz offer to the respective national audiences. The analysis bounces off the provocation of the mutual “dislike” of Ashkertz and Vazov so as to project through the textual juxtaposition of the shared by the two poets literary icon of “Vasil Levski” the different functionality of their means of expression

1898. 25 години от обесването на Левски: юбилей и преса

Author(s): Elena Getova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The year 1898 marked the first jubilee of Vasil Levski – 25 years since his hanging. The dynamics of political processes in liberated Bulgaria at the time present a rather interesting and particularly complex picture against the background of which this event unfolded. The stereotype of jubilee celebrations was yet to consolidate and this particular occasion – the anniversary since the death of the Apostle of freedom – makes visible the deep political contradictions inherited from previous historical realities. The manifestations of these contradictions can be seen in the press in 1898.

Държавническото иконизиране на Васил Левски в британската преса в периода 1867 – 1908 година

Author(s): Rumyana Zlatanova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The paper examines for the first time the initial reception of Vasil Levski’s image and significance in the British daily and weekly press in the period 1867 – 1908. Commencing with a curious case of the first appearance of his name in the British press, the paper focusses further on press contributions reporting on a series of Bulgarian state ceremonies and commemorative events that, on the one hand, function as rituals of state iconisation of the Bulgarian national hero Vasil Levski and, on the other hand, exploit his high status for political purposes. In its final part the paper presents the first critical voices in the British press against the political instrumentalisation of Vasil Levski’s image in Bulgaria.

Левски, клирът и християнството – възможният дискурс

Author(s): Goran Blagoev / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The essay attempts to juxtapose and analyze the divergent and often contradictory stories accompanying Vasil Kunchev’s path into and out of monasticism, his subsequent religiosity, and his Christian consciousness. It outlines the image of a man experiencing doubts and inner conflicts but preserving his faith. His letters and proclamations clearly reveal how the knowledge of Christianity he had received and his life of faith shaped his revolutionary philosophy.

Национализмът на Васил Левски

Author(s): Todor Radev / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

e need to segregate the true historic personality of Vasil Levski in his undisputed role and pivotal mission of Bulgarian national hero, from the mythical images created by the idiosyncratic viewpoints in different sociopolitical layers of time. The text duly justifies the need to rediscover the real personality of the Bulgarian Apostle of Freedom. The academic study follows the ideological transition of Vasil Levski from conservative nationalism, towards the liberating revolutionary nationalism of the Bulgarian Revival period. The study takes into consideration the indirect ideological impact of Giuseppe Mazzini over Vasil Levski, and follows up the unique application of the Mazzinist concepts of revolutionary nationalism in the specific Bulgarian conditions.

Символизации на образа на Васил Левски в самосъзнанието на бесарабските българи

Author(s): Elena Ratseeva / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The article at hand deals with projections of Vasil Levski’s image in the self-consciousness of Bessarabian Bulgarians. The resettlement to Bessarabia took place long before the formation of Bulgarian semiological system and significantly prior to the appearance of the Vasil Levski culturologem as its substantial construct. Even though historically the diaspora has come a long way full of assimilation threats with public education in Bulgarian only becoming possible by the end of 1980’s, and the cultural processes together with the interethnic environment being very different from those in the metropolis, still the ethnocultural coordinate system of the young generation of Bessarabian Bulgarians (revealed by means of a directed associative experiment) holds the image of Vasil Levski as a key culturologem for the Bulgarian segment of personosphere of the 10th generation of Bulgarian immigrants in Bessarabia.