Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

"Ten Great Friends of Bulgaria" tells about foreigners who left their mark on Bulgarian history

The book by journalist Milena Dimitrova to be presented in Sofia

Photo: „Книгомания“

The book "Ten Great Friends of Bulgaria" by journalist Milena Dimitrova will be presented this evening at 6pm at the Sts. Cyril and Methodius National Library in Sofia. The book recounts the lives of ten people of different nationalities and eras, whose selfless love for Bulgaria and its people changed their destinies and left its mark on Bulgarian history.

Among the protagonists of the book is Prince Alexander I Battenberg (1857-1893), born in Verona, who became the first monarch of the Third Bulgarian State. He is credited with the unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia, an important step towards national reunification after Bulgaria's liberation from Ottoman rule. 

Another notable figure was the Russian general Ivan Inzov (1768-1845), who headed the Trusteeship Committee for Foreign Immigrants of the Southern Territory of Russia in 1818 and played a key role in organising the Bulgarian colonies in Bessarabia. In 1821 he also founded Bolgrad, now the unofficial capital of the Bulgarians in Ukraine.
The book also draws attention to Emily Ann Strangford (1826-1887), an English noblewoman who came to Bulgaria after the violent suppression of the April Uprising in 1876. Strangford used the nearly £30,000 she raised to establish six hospitals in the worst affected areas, providing vital aid to the population.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Remains of Roman military facilities shed new light on life near Bulgaria's town of Lom on the Danube

Archaeological excavations in the Kaleto district of the Bulgarian town of Lom situated on the Danube River have revealed remains of Roman defensive facilities dating back to the 1st century AD .  Archaeologists prove that Lower Danube region..

published on 1/26/25 5:05 AM

The oldest Cyrillic manuscript preserved in Bulgaria exhibited at the National Library

Many citizens of Sofia took advantage of the opportunity to see the Enina Apostle and the Argirov triod manuscripts which were exhibited today for two hours at the National Library "St. Cyril and Methodius".  The event took place on the..

published on 1/20/25 2:03 PM

Partiarch Daniil celebrates St Athanasius the Great in the temple of the saint in Gorni Lozen

On the eve of St Athanasius' Day, one of the churches on the outskirts of Sofia is already preparing to welcome His Holiness the Metropolitan of Sofia and Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil , who this year will celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the church in the..

published on 1/17/25 5:34 PM