Burgas

Short Biographies

For the period, during which Burgas was in the Ottoman Empire (until 1878) there is no complete and systematic data about the district and city governors. Only the names of some of governors are known. For example the name of Hamdi bey who in the 1860s was sent from the capital Istanbul to take the post Kaimakam in Burgas and to deal with increased crime around the city caused by Circassians who came here in 1864 from Caucasus^[1].

After the Russian-Turkish war from 1877–1878 and the Treaty of Berlin (1878) in Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia was established Russian occupation and during this period Burgas was governed by Russian officers lieutenant Skugarevski and staff-captain Nestor Karlovich Genka (from October 10, 1878 to November 11, 1878) [2].

For the first prefect of the Department of Burgas after the withdrawal of Russian troops on May 1, 1879 has been appointed Ivan Hadjipetrov, after whom the Department was governed successively by Todor Ikonomov, Dr. Georgi Yankulov, Ivan Tzankov and Petar Ivanov^[3].

Niko Popov was the first chairman of the City Council in Burgas after the Liberation (1878). He held this position from January 26, 1878 and from Mars 20 he was re-elected “president – mayor” of Burgas City Council. On August 2, 1879 Yasen Rusaliev was elected Mayor of Burgas. During the period of 7 years when Burgas was in Eastern Rumelia (1878–1885) the position of mayor of the city was hold successively by: Niko Popov, Yasen Rusaliev, Ivan Yovchev, Rufat efendi, and Dimitar Brakalov^[4].

Twenty two mayors governed Burgas successively during the period from the Unification of Eastern Rumelia and Principality of Bulgaria (1885) to the Balkan war in 1912. Among the longer run as mayor of the city must be mentioned: Ivan Tzenov (president-mayor from November 22, 1887 to April 20, 1890 and mayor from October 8, 1893 to July 12, 1894); Grigor Dyakov (a two-term mayor from Mars 10, 1904 to June 1, 1906 and from July 24, 1907 to Mars 4, 1908); Nikola Aleksandrov (a two-term mayor from January 13 to August 7, 1895 and from May 1, 1899 to January 18, 1901); Atanas Slavov (mayor from May 31, 1908 to April 4, 1912); Hristo Bogoev (mayor from April 12, 1901 to September 22, 1902), etc. In origin most of the first mayors of Burgas are not originally from the city – Ivan Tzenov was from Jeravna (District of Sliven), Grigor Dyakov was from Malko Tarnovo, etc.^[5]

A brief bibliographies of some of most popular mayors of Burgas during the period from 1878 to 1912:

Niko pop Nikolov Popov (1837–1905). He was born in Burgas on January 12, 1837 in a family moved to the port city from village Fakia. His son was a famous Bulgarian historian prof. Petar Nikov. Niko Popov was a first mayor of Burgas after the Liberation. Until then He was engaged in trade. Niko Popov held the position of mayor from January 1878 to August 1879. After that he moved to Varna and became a customs officer. Died in Varna on September 5, 1905.^[6]

Yasen Rusaliev (1852–1917) was a participant of the Bulgarian National Revival Movement, Deputy of Parliament of Eastern Rumelia, and mayor of Burgas. He was born in Burgas. Graduated Robert college in Istanbul. Yasen Rusaliev was a two-term mayor of Burgas. His second mayor-period (from August 3, 1890 to July 30, 1892) was characterized by intensive construction^[7].

Dimitar Brakalov (1840-1903) was an economic activist, politician, and mayor. He was born in Kalofer. Graduated the French catholic college in Bebek, quarter of Istanbul. He was a participant of the Bulgarian National Revival Movement and after the Liberation (1878) was a two-term mayor of Burgas: from Mars 28, 1884 to September 2, 1885 and from August 7, 1895 to June 30, 1899. In the last years of his life he was working as a lawyer. Died on December 18, 1903^[8].

Ivan Tzankov Dechev (1844–1925) was a Bulgarian revolutionary and politician after the Liberation (1878), district governor and mayor of Burgas. He was born in Jeravna (District of Sliven). Studied in his village and after that in Tulcha. After the Unification of Eastern Rumelia and Principality of Bulgaria (1885) he supported the government of Stefan Stambolov (1887–1894). Tzankov was a two-term mayor of Burgas: from November 22, 1887 to April 20, 1890 and from October 8, 1893 to July 12, 1894. Author of memoirs. Died in Burgas in 1925^[9]

[1] Карайотов, И., Ст. Райчевски, М. Иванов. История на Бургас. От древността до средата на XX в. Бургас, 2011, с. 113.

[2] Христов, Ат. Бургас. Юбилейна книга (1878–1938), Бургас, 1940, с. 177; Карайотов, И., Ст. Райчевски, М. Иванов. История на Бургас. От древността до средата на XX в. Бургас, 2011, с. 173.

[3] Карайотов, И., Ст. Райчевски, М. Иванов. История на Бургас. От древността до средата на XX в. Бургас, 2011, с. 175.

[4] Карайотов, И., Ст. Райчевски, М. Иванов. История на Бургас. От древността до средата на XX в. Бургас, 2011, с. 138, 201–202.

[5] Карайотов, И., Ст. Райчевски, М. Иванов. История на Бургас. От древността до средата на XX в. Бургас, 2011, с. 201–206.

[6] Карайотов, И., Ст. Райчевски, М. Иванов. История на Бургас. От древността до средата на XX в. Бургас, 2011, с. 282.

[7] Карайотов, И., Ст. Райчевски, М. Иванов. История на Бургас. От древността до средата на XX в. Бургас, 2011, с. 285.

[8] Карайотов, И., Ст. Райчевски, М. Иванов. История на Бургас. От древността до средата на XX в. Бургас, 2011, с. 259.

[9] Карайотов, И., Ст. Райчевски, М. Иванов. История на Бургас. От древността до средата на XX в. Бургас, 2011, с. 292.