Principality of Bulgaria

Between the establishment of the Principality of Bulgaria in 1879 and the declaration of independence in 1908, Bulgaria underwent significant changes. The term “Principality of Bulgaria” is used to distinguish it from Eastern Rumelia, which was less independent and part of the Ottoman Empire. After the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation (1877–1878), a temporary Russian administration was established in the Bulgarian lands. During this period, the Bulgarian Constitution was drawn up, and on 17 April 1879 Prince Alexander of Battenberg was elected head of state. In 1886 he was deposed in an armed coup but was soon restored by a counter-coup. In 1887 Ferdinand I of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was elected the new prince. Ferdinand ruled until 1908, when he declared Bulgaria’s independence and became the country’s tsar.