The Condition of Turkish Provinces

The description given earlier about the political and social life of the Ottoman provinces remained true even in the late nineteenth century. Many regions, and especially Macedonia, continued to show the same lack of modern administration, weak institutions, and simple rural life.

This was also the state in which the Russians found Bulgaria in 1877, during the Russo-Turkish War. The country had no proper system of administration, and most of the Ottoman structures that existed were inefficient and outdated.

The Arrival of the Russians in 1877

As soon as the Russian army crossed the Danube River, their leaders began to think about how to create a better system of administration for the Bulgarian lands. The Russians did not see their role only as liberators from Ottoman control but also as organisers of a new civil structure.

On this subject, there exists an important report prepared by the Russian Imperial Commissary in Bulgaria. This report was later read before the Constituent Assembly at Tărnovo, where the foundations of modern Bulgaria were discussed Istanbul Daily Tour.

A Special Administrative Commission

The reorganisation of Bulgaria was not left to chance. The task was entrusted to a special commission that accompanied the Russian troops. This commission was placed under the direct authority of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian armies.

As early as July 7, 1877, the Imperial Commissary presented to the Commander-in-Chief a scheme for the civil organisation of the Bulgarian provinces. The sandjaks (large districts) and kazas (smaller districts) were to be governed under this new plan. At the same time, the governors were instructed to keep in operation the few institutions that had survived from Ottoman rule.

Difficulties During the War

However, in the turmoil of war, this project of reform was often forgotten or delayed. The task of rebuilding and reorganising an entire country while battles were still being fought proved extremely difficult. The results achieved at first were limited and not very encouraging.

For this reason, it was impossible to speak of a complete administrative organisation before the Treaty of San Stefano in 1878.

The Treaty of San Stefano and Russian Role

According to one of the clauses of this treaty, Russia appointed a Commissary-General. His official mission was to create and supervise the civil government of Bulgaria. This marked the true beginning of Bulgaria’s modern administrative structure.

The Russian intervention in 1877–1878 was not only a military campaign but also the starting point for a new political and administrative order in Bulgaria. While the process was difficult during wartime, the Treaty of San Stefano gave Russia the authority to lay the foundations of a civil government, which later shaped the future Principality of Bulgaria.