page_title: Bulgarian unification
section_title: The act of Unification
hierarchical_section_title: Bulgarian unification / The act of Unification
caption_attribution_description: English: Telegram from the Provisional government in Plovdiv to Knyaz Alexander I proclaiming the Unification of Bulgaria Български: Телеграма от Временното правителство в Пловдив до княз Александър І за провъзгласяване на Съединението, 6 септември 1885 г
context_page_description: The Unification of Bulgaria was the act of unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and the province of Eastern Rumelia in the autumn of 1885. It was co-ordinated by the Bulgarian Secret Central Revolutionary Committee. Both had been parts of the Ottoman Empire, but the Principality had functioned de facto independently whilst the Rumelian province was autonomous and had an Ottoman presence. The Unification was accomplished after revolts in Eastern Rumelian towns, followed by a coup on 18 September [O.S. 6 September] 1885 supported by the Bulgarian Knyaz Alexander I. The BSCRC, formed by Zahari Stoyanov, began actively popularizing the idea of unification by means of the press and public demonstrations in the spring of 1885.
context_section_description: The Unification was initially scheduled for the middle of September, while the 
  Rumelian militia was mobilized for performing manoeuvres. The plan called for the Unification to be announced on  27 September [O.S. 15 September] 1885, but on 14 September [O.S. 2 September] 1885 a riot began in Panagyurishte (then in Eastern Rumelia) that was brought under control the same day by the police. The demonstration demanded Unification with Bulgaria. A little later this example was followed in the village of Goliamo Konare. An armed squad was formed there, under the leadership of Prodan Tishkov (mostly known as Chardafon) — the local leader of the BSCRC. BSCRC representatives were sent to different towns in the province, where they had to gather groups of rebels and send them to Plovdiv, the capital of Eastern Rumelia, where they were under the command of Major Danail Nikolaev.
  Meanwhile, military manoeuvres were being carried out in the outskirts of Plovdiv. Major Danail Nikolaev, who was in charge of the manoeuvres, was aware of and supported the unionists. On 18 September [O.S. 6 September] 1885, Rumelian militia (Eastern Rumelia's armed forces) and armed unionist groups entered Plovdiv and took over the Governor's residence. The Governor was Gavril Krastevich, a Bulgarian patriot who, naturally, did not resist the unionists.
  A temporary government was formed immediately, with Georgi Stranski at its head. Major Danail Nikolaev was appointed commander of armed forces. With help from Russian officers, he created the strategical plan for defence against the expected Ottoman intervention. Mobilization was declared in Eastern Rumelia.
  As soon as it took power on 14 September [O.S. 2 September] 1885, the temporary government sent a telegram, asking the knyaz to accept the Unification. On 20 September [O.S. 8 September] 1885 Alexander I answered with a special manifest. On the next day, accompanied by the prime minister Petko Karavelov and the head of Parliament Stefan Stambolov, Knyaz Alexander I entered the capital of the former Eastern Rumelia. This gesture confirmed the unionists' actions as a fait accompli. But the difficulties of the diplomatic and military defence of the Union lay ahead.
caption: Telegram from the provisional government in Plovdiv to Knyaz Alexander I proclaiming the Unification of Bulgaria
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