The collection of poems Eternal and Sacred by the “First Lady” of Bulgarian poetry Elisaveta Bagryana was first published in 1927. At the time the book was seen as a provocation and signaled a new beginning for the way women in Bulgaria saw their role in life. Bagryana’s poetry has been translated into 30 languages. One of her poems has been included in the most prestigious anthology of The world’s 100 best poems, published in 1979 by renowned French poet and publisher Alain Bosquet - the only Bulgarian author featured in it.

Elisaveta Bagryana is one of the most influential Bulgarian women, included by Ass. Prof. Dr. Tsvetana Kyosseva in her book 50 most influential women in Bulgarian history, which features women from the time of the First and the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, from the National Revival period, from the Third Bulgarian Kingdom, down to modern times. What the author found most difficult was to select the influential women of our own day, because history is the most severe of arbiters and at least 50 years have to pass before history will have its say.

Tsvetana Kyosseva says what she found most difficult was not so much the selection of names, as the way to rank them. What were her criteria?

“The first and most important criterion was how this personality changed the life of Bulgarians, whether in a positive or a negative way, no matter,” Ass. Prof. Kyosseva says. “The second criterion – how long this influence had its effect. There are events that come and go, leaving no trace on the face of history. And the third criterion: how many followers the given lady had. Comparing the lives of all of these women, the way I ranked them came naturally to me.”

Top of Ass. Prof. Dr. Tsvetana Kyosseva’s list of the 50 most influential women in Bulgarian history is Ekaterina Karavelova (1860 - 1947). During the post-Liberation period (after 1878), she was the first lady in Bulgaria to have had the courage to blaze the trail for women in other walks of life, not just as mothers or wives. Ekaterina was the wife of Petko Karavelov – twice Prime Minister of Bulgaria, whose lifework was accomplished during his second term of office – the reunification of the Principality of Bulgaria with Eastern Rumelia.

“Ekaterina Karavelova was called “shadow stateswoman”, because it was said she ruled instead of her husband,” Dr. Tsvetana Kyosseva goes on to say. “She would accompany him everywhere he went and take notes of what people wanted. Then she would start issuing decrees - in reality power rested in Ekaterina’s hands. She was able to cope because of her good breeding, her knowledge in the sphere of history and culture, and the fact that she spoke several languages. On several occasions she defied the government and the palace. In 1943 she even took up a petition in defence of the Bulgarian Jews. For many years she chaired the Bulgarian Women’s Union.”

The list of the 50 most influential Bulgarian women includes queens, but also saints like St. Zlata of Muglen and St. Petka, alongside women, active during the country’s national-liberation struggles, and women athletes with exceptional sporting achievements like high jump record holder and Bulgarian Olympic Committee President Stefka Kostadinova, rhythmic gymnastics coach Neshka Robeva, known also for her outspokenness on social issues.

“When Rayna Kabaivanska steps onto the stage, everything else recedes into the background – stage set, choreography, music. She is opera itself.” These words belong to Maria Callas and they are perhaps the most succinct expression of appreciation of the woman, who conquered all world opera stages,” Dr. Kyosseva writes in her book. Her list also features names of women from the sphere of science, filmmaking and literature – role models and an inspiration to generations of Bulgarian women. And, of course, there are women politicians. From more modern times – Blaga Dimitrova, the first woman Vice President and Reneta Injova, the first woman Prime Minister, as well as the only woman at the helm of UNESCO, for a second term of office, Irina Bokova.

“I am particularly fond of Irina Bokova – a woman of dignity, a woman with a staunch and unrelenting position and with achievements at UNESCO. In my book I have tried to explain why this organization is so important to Bulgaria and to the world. It is one thing to be at the helm of a country, and quite another – to be able to govern the processes of world cultural heritage preservation. And this, knowing that Irina Bokova comes from a prominent communist background, a fact cited on numerous occasions at the time of both of her nominations to the post. This is in itself proof, that success is attainable, if one puts one’s mind to it, whatever the circumstances. Not to mention the fact that the government recently nominated her to the post of UN Secretary General for the period from 1, January, 2017 until 31, December, 2021.”

Ass. Prof. Dr. Tsvetana Kyosseva has dedicated 200 pages to these remarkable women. And she says she has a dream: “I hope that 50 years from now, another author will include, in another such book, more names of women from the 21^st century!”

Author: Iliana Raycheva

English version: Milena Daynova