The First Bulgarian Legion

The First Bulgarian Legion was formed in Belgrade in 1862 from Bulgarian volunteers organised by Georgi Rakovski. Its purpose was to support a Bulgarian liberation uprising in the Ottoman Empire. Although it fought for Belgrade Fortress, it never entered Ottoman territory. The legion was disbanded after three months under pressure from the Great Powers.

Numerous Bulgarian revolutionaries, including Vasil Levski, served in the First Bulgarian Legion. The plan for Bulgaria's liberation envisaged an uprising on both sides of the Balkan Mountains, with the legion taking part. The Serbian authorities, however, changed their policy and withdrew support for a Bulgarian uprising. The legion was disbanded after three months, and its Bulgarian members joined Hadzhi Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha's detachment or returned to Bulgaria to continue the struggle for liberation.

The First Bulgarian Legion, formed in Belgrade in 1862, did not achieve its principal aim of participating in a Bulgarian liberation uprising in the Ottoman Empire. Although it fought for Belgrade Fortress, it failed to enter Ottoman territory. The Serbian authorities, which had previously supported it, changed their policy and disbanded it under Great Power pressure in September 1862.

The dissolution resulted from several factors, including financial difficulties, unsuccessful efforts to raise funds from Bulgarian communities, theft of collected money and pressure from the Great Powers, England and Russia, which supported the Serbian government.

After its dissolution, the legion's members followed different paths. Some joined the detachments of Hadzhi Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha in Romania, while others returned to Bulgaria and continued the struggle for liberation from Ottoman rule.