Opalchentsi

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Opalchentsi (опълченци) are Bulgarian voluntary army units, who took part in the Serbo-Turkish War of 1876 and the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). The people in these units were called opalchenets-pobornik (опълченец-поборник) meaning volunteer combatant.

The Bulgarian voluntary army units for the Russo-Turkish War were gathered after the manifesto of Alexander II of Russia, announcing the War. The meeting point of the Bulgarian volunteers in Russia was the town of Samara. The Bulgarian Opalchentsi were given the Samara flag bearing the images of the Holy Mother and Saints Cyril and Methodius (the flag is kept in the National Museum of Military History in Sofia). The Opalchentsi took part in the Second and Fourth Battle of Shipka Pass. The famous Shipka Opalchentsi ode of Ivan Vazov is dedicated to them.