History of BulgariaHistory of Bulgaria
Cut-out detail; background removed. Carved keystone: the stone in the middle that closes the arch. Modern photograph; the stone’s date and the meaning of its decoration are not established.
Carved stone

Belogradchik Fortress · Revival

Peasants near Belogradchik, 1850

Why do peasants rebel in 1850?

9 scenes · 3 min · Sources · 12

StartListen

A Roman fort, Sratsimir’s walls and Ottoman gateways. In 1850, peasants surround Belogradchik.

Walls close gaps between the rocks. Modern photograph after rebuilding and restoration.

Part 1 · Revival

Walls between the rocks

Gaps break up the huge reddish rocks at Belogradchik. Builders close those gaps with walls. The rock itself becomes part of the barrier.

The local museum dates the first small fort to the first to third centuries CE. This was during the Roman Empire. It stands between two passes through the Balkan Mountains. A pass lets people cross a mountain range. The fort provided a lookout over the surrounding ground.

Archaeologists found foundations, pottery, iron weapon points and Roman coins. These are traces of early use.

Listen to scene · 1

Synthetic voice · 0:32
Sources · 2
  1. Исторически музей – Белоградчик Белоградчишка крепост
  2. Elena Chochkova File:Belogradchik Fortress E3.jpg Wikimedia Commons
Courtyard and rock barrier. Modern photograph, not a Roman-period view.

Part 2 · Revival

Sratsimir adds walls

In the fourteenth century, Ivan Sratsimir rules from Vidin. He enlarges and strengthens the old fortress. According to the museum, two barrier walls were built under him. Wooden bridges and stone stairs helped defenders move around.

Soldiers stationed to guard a fortress are called a garrison. The fort changes hands. At the end of the fourteenth century, the Ottomans capture it. They too station guards there.

Listen to scene · 2

Synthetic voice · 0:25
Sources · 2
  1. Исторически музей – Белоградчик Белоградчишка крепост
  2. Elena Chochkova File:Belogradchik Fortress E1.jpg Wikimedia Commons
Gateway, masonry and rocks. Modern photograph of a rebuilt and restored fortress.
Carved keystone: the stone in the middle that closes the arch. Modern photograph; the stone’s date and the meaning of its decoration are not established.

Part 3 · Revival

A gateway for new weapons

From 1805 to 1837, the Ottoman fortress undergoes major rebuilding. According to the museum, French engineers work at the start. Italian fortress builders join at the end. Three courtyards take shape, with gateways: large entrances. Iron bands reinforce the doors.

There are positions for cannon and openings through which they fire. Food and ammunition, meaning supplies for shooting, are stored underground.

The photograph shows a stone gateway beneath high rocks.

1 · Built gateway
The gateway is built from worked stone. This does not establish that the visible arch is Roman.
2 · Natural barrier
The high rock mass forms part of the barrier. Builders used the terrain.
3 · Rock and masonry
The masonry continues the barrier. The fortress was rebuilt in 1805–1837 and later restored.

Listen to scene · 3

Synthetic voice · 0:32
Sources · 4
  1. Исторически музей – Белоградчик Белоградчишка крепост
  2. Исторически музей – Белоградчик История на музея
  3. Yanko Malinov File:Belogradchik Fortress Entrance.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  4. Vassia Atanassova - Spiritia File:Belogradchik-fortress-keystone.jpg Wikimedia Commons

Part 4 · Revival

Activity: what does the masonry tell us?

How do the builders use the rocks?

  1. They close gaps with masonry.
  2. They carve the rocks from masonry blocks.
  3. They remove the rocks and build on a plain.
Why is that?

Natural rock masses and built sections together form a barrier.

Correct · They close gaps with masonry.

  1. Исторически музей – Белоградчик Белоградчишка крепост
  2. Yanko Malinov File:Belogradchik Fortress Entrance.jpg Wikimedia Commons

Listen to scene · 4

Synthetic voice · 0:02
Sources · 2
  1. Исторически музей – Белоградчик Белоградчишка крепост
  2. Yanko Malinov File:Belogradchik Fortress Entrance.jpg Wikimedia Commons
Geographic context, without historical bordersGeographic context, without historical borders12
Geographic context, without historical borders

Part 5 · Revival

The land beyond the walls

In 1850, the Belogradchik Uprising breaks out in the Ottoman Empire’s northwestern Bulgarian lands. The map connects Belogradchik with Vidin. Villages in the Lom district also join.

What do the peasants want? The land dispute is probably one cause. Gospodarlık is a system giving landlords income and labour from peasants. Christian farmers face barriers to owning the land they work. A labour obligation means compulsory work for the landlord.

Listen to scene · 5

Synthetic voice · 0:29
Sources · 2
  1. E. Attila Aytekin Peasant Protest in the Late Ottoman Empire: Moral Economy, Revolt, and the Tanzimat Reforms International Review of Social History · 2012 · 57 · 191–227
  2. Suzan Rufat БЕЛОГРАДЧИШКОТО ВЪСТАНИЕ ОТ 1850 Г. И ПРИЧИНИТЕ ЗА ИЗБУХВАНЕТО МУ ПРЕЗ ПРИЗМАТА НА ОБИЧАЙНОТО НИ ПРАВО Терени; Софийски университет „Св. Климент Охридски“ · 2024 · 3–8
Outer courtyard and wall. Modern photograph of surviving and restored construction.

Part 6 · Revival

Peasants surround the town

Thousands of peasants surround Belogradchik.

Local landlords organize irregular troops. These are armed men outside the regular army. They attack the rebels. Violence also reaches Christian townspeople of Belogradchik who did not take part in the revolt.

Orders from the capital call for avoiding excessive force. For the peasants, however, the result is a suppressed revolt.

Listen to scene · 6

Synthetic voice · 0:23
Sources · 3
  1. E. Attila Aytekin Peasant Protest in the Late Ottoman Empire: Moral Economy, Revolt, and the Tanzimat Reforms International Review of Social History · 2012 · 57 · 191–227
  2. Исторически музей – Белоградчик Белоградчишка крепост
  3. Ymblanter File:Belogradchik Fortress and Rocks.jpg Wikimedia Commons

Part 7 · Revival

Activity: put events in order

Put these in order, earliest first.

  1. Roman fort
  2. Expansion under Sratsimir
  3. Major rebuilding
  4. Peasant uprising
Why is that?

The Roman phase precedes Sratsimir in the fourteenth century. Rebuilding ends in 1837, before the uprising of 1850.

Correct order

  1. Roman fort
  2. Expansion under Sratsimir
  3. Major rebuilding
  4. Peasant uprising
  1. Исторически музей – Белоградчик Белоградчишка крепост
  2. E. Attila Aytekin Peasant Protest in the Late Ottoman Empire: Moral Economy, Revolt, and the Tanzimat Reforms International Review of Social History · 2012 · 57 · 191–227

Listen to scene · 7

Synthetic voice · 0:03
Sources · 2
  1. Исторически музей – Белоградчик Белоградчишка крепост
  2. E. Attila Aytekin Peasant Protest in the Late Ottoman Empire: Moral Economy, Revolt, and the Tanzimat Reforms International Review of Social History · 2012 · 57 · 191–227
Masonry wall in front of the rocks. Modern photograph; it does not date individual blocks.
Openings and small spaces beside the rocks. Modern photograph; their purpose and age are not established.

Part 8 · Revival

Peasants ask for land

Suppression does not settle the land dispute. Peasant representatives reach Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. After the violence, the governor of Vidin is removed. Proposals for change follow, but the dispute continues. A strong wall cannot decide who will own a field.

Listen to scene · 8

Synthetic voice · 0:17
Sources · 5
  1. E. Attila Aytekin Peasant Protest in the Late Ottoman Empire: Moral Economy, Revolt, and the Tanzimat Reforms International Review of Social History · 2012 · 57 · 191–227
  2. Исторически музей – Белоградчик История на музея
  3. Felix Philipp Kanitz Belogradchik Fortress Wikimedia Commons
  4. Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz File:Belogradchik Fortress kz09.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  5. Elena Chochkova File:Belogradchik Fortress E2.jpg Wikimedia Commons

Part 9 · Revival

Activity: match the terms

Match each term with its explanation.

  1. Garrison · Soldiers stationed to guard a fortress
  2. Labour obligation · Compulsory work for the landlord
  3. Irregular troops · Armed men outside the regular army
Why is that?

A garrison guards a fort. A labour obligation is compulsory work. Irregular troops are armed groups outside the regular army.

  1. Исторически музей – Белоградчик Белоградчишка крепост
  2. E. Attila Aytekin Peasant Protest in the Late Ottoman Empire: Moral Economy, Revolt, and the Tanzimat Reforms International Review of Social History · 2012 · 57 · 191–227

Listen to scene · 9

Synthetic voice · 0:02
Sources · 2
  1. Исторически музей – Белоградчик Белоградчишка крепост
  2. E. Attila Aytekin Peasant Protest in the Late Ottoman Empire: Moral Economy, Revolt, and the Tanzimat Reforms International Review of Social History · 2012 · 57 · 191–227

A new find for your collection

The land dispute continues after the revolt is suppressed.

Gabrovo school of 1835 · GabrovoHow a school changed a townSee how people lived and worked in another period.Georgi Ivanov · BaikonurInto orbit, without dockingMadara Rider · MadaraThe rider above the path

People in this story

Ivan SratsimirChristSeptimius Severus

Sources

  1. E. Attila Aytekin Peasant Protest in the Late Ottoman Empire: Moral Economy, Revolt, and the Tanzimat Reforms International Review of Social History · 2012 · 57 · 191–227
  2. Исторически музей – Белоградчик Белоградчишка крепост
  3. Исторически музей – Белоградчик История на музея
  4. Elena Chochkova File:Belogradchik Fortress E1.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  5. Elena Chochkova File:Belogradchik Fortress E3.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  6. Felix Philipp Kanitz Belogradchik Fortress Wikimedia Commons
  7. Vassia Atanassova - Spiritia File:Belogradchik-fortress-keystone.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  8. Ymblanter File:Belogradchik Fortress and Rocks.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  9. Yanko Malinov File:Belogradchik Fortress Entrance.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  10. Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz File:Belogradchik Fortress kz09.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  11. Elena Chochkova File:Belogradchik Fortress E2.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  12. Suzan Rufat БЕЛОГРАДЧИШКОТО ВЪСТАНИЕ ОТ 1850 Г. И ПРИЧИНИТЕ ЗА ИЗБУХВАНЕТО МУ ПРЕЗ ПРИЗМАТА НА ОБИЧАЙНОТО НИ ПРАВО Терени; Софийски университет „Св. Климент Охридски“ · 2024 · 3–8

Images

Vassia Atanassova - Spiritia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

Image: Vassia Atanassova - Spiritia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Carved keystone: the stone in the middle that closes the arch. Modern photograph; the stone’s date and the meaning of its decoration are not established. Cut-out detail; background removed.

Elena Chochkova · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

Image: Elena Chochkova, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Walls close gaps between the rocks. Modern photograph after rebuilding and restoration. Processed image.

Elena Chochkova · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

Image: Elena Chochkova, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Courtyard and rock barrier. Modern photograph, not a Roman-period view. Processed image.

Yanko Malinov · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

Image: Yanko Malinov, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Gateway, masonry and rocks. Modern photograph of a rebuilt and restored fortress. Processed image.

Vassia Atanassova - Spiritia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

Image: Vassia Atanassova - Spiritia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Carved keystone: the stone in the middle that closes the arch. Modern photograph; the stone’s date and the meaning of its decoration are not established. Processed image.

Ymblanter · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

Image: Ymblanter, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Outer courtyard and wall. Modern photograph of surviving and restored construction. Processed image.

Elena Chochkova · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

Image: Elena Chochkova, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Masonry wall in front of the rocks. Modern photograph; it does not date individual blocks. Processed image.

Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Open source

Full attribution

Image: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Openings and small spaces beside the rocks. Modern photograph; their purpose and age are not established. Processed image.

Geographic context, without historical borders

Tom Patterson · Nathaniel Vaughn Kelso · Public domain · Natural Earth

Open source

Full attribution

Tom Patterson · Nathaniel Vaughn Kelso