Konstantin Velichkov

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Konstantin Velichkov
Bulgarian writer and politician
Born	1855 Pazardzhik, Bulgaria
Died	November 3, 1907 (aged 52) France

Konstantin Velichkov (full name Konstantin Velichkov Petkov; in Bulgarian: Констнтин Величков) was a Bulgarian writer and public figure. He was born in the town of Pazardzhik in 1855. Velichkov received his education in the Galatasaray Lisesi in Istanbul where he studied from 1868 to 1874. After returning to his hometown he became a teacher in geography, history, French and Bulgarian as well as chairman of the local Chitalishte (reading club). Pretty soon he became an active member of the local revolutionary committee aiming at liberating Bulgaria from Ottoman domination. Together with Todor Kableshkov he participated in the preparations for the April uprising. After the failure of the insurgents Velichkov was arrested and sentenced to death by the Ottoman authorities. Before the sentence could take place he was let free thanks to the committee sent by European powers to investigate the Turkish atrocities during the suppression of the rebellion. Subsequently Velichkov worked for the Bulgarian Exarchate until 1877.

Immediately after the end of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) that resulted in the creation of a new liberated Bulgarian state, Velichkov returned to Pazardzhik. Soon though it became obvious that the Great powers had other intentions. San-Stefano Bulgaria was partitioned into several parts, some of which gained independence, others were returned to the Empire. Velichkov's hometown became part of the newly formed state of Eastern Rumelia which remained a vassal of the Sultan. He started a political career and in 1894 he got to head the ministry of education. All this time Velichkov actively participated in the strive for unification between Eastern Rumelia and Principality of Bulgaria. All efforts were rewarded in 1885 when the actual unification took place. In the meanwhile Velichkov managed to study law in France (till 1881) and later during Stefan Stambolov's rule in Bulgaria - painting in Firenze, Italy. Later he taught in the Bulgarian Men's High School of Thessaloniki and lived for a few years in Istanbul. Velichkov continued his political career with the People's party (Bulgarian: Народната партия; not to be mismatched with any socialist or communist organization) and was minister on a number of times as well as ambassador in Serbia (1902-1904). He was an active member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Konstantin Velichkov died on the way to Grenoble on November 3, 1907. Two years later his remain were returned to Sofia.

[edit] References

Daskalov, Rumen (2004). The Making of a Nation in the Balkans: Historiography of the Bulgarian Revival. Central European University Press. ISBN 9639241830. 

Perry, Duncan M. (1993). Stefan Stambolov and the Emergence of Modern Bulgaria, 1870-1895. Duke University Press. ISBN 0822313138.