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Dragan TsankovBulgarian politician
Country:
 Bulgaria |
Content:
Biography of Dragan Tsankov
Early Life and EducationDragan Tsankov (1828-1911) was a Bulgarian political figure. He studied in Odessa, Kiev, and Vienna. In 1857, he moved to Constantinople and worked as a teacher at a French school. During this time, he also established a Bulgarian printing press in a Catholic monastery, where he printed Bulgarian books and journals.
Political Activism
From 1859 to 1863, Tsankov published a weekly newspaper called "Bulgaria," which, despite censorship, aimed to awaken a sense of national identity among Bulgarians. He campaigned against the Greeks, particularly regarding the issue of Bulgarian church independence. Tsankov's involvement in this struggle, coupled with his lack of faith in Russia after the Crimean War, led him to promote Catholicism. However, he later converted back to Orthodoxy.
Career and Achievements
In 1863, Tsankov became a dragoman and director of passports in Svishtov. He was then invited by Midhat Pasha, who governed the Danube Vilayet, to Ruschuk, where he held various positions in the Turkish government. Tsankov also established and managed a Bulgarian printing press in Ruschuk. Throughout his career, he held different positions in various cities, including being a censor of Bulgarian books in Constantinople.
During the Russian occupation, Tsankov served as the vice-governor of Tarnovo. He was elected to the first National Assembly in Tarnovo in 1879 and joined the ranks of the liberals. After Alexander of Battenberg ascended the throne, Tsankov briefly served as a Bulgarian diplomatic agent in Constantinople. In March 1880, he was tasked with forming a cabinet, but it lacked the trust of Russia and faced opposition from the clergy, leading to its downfall in November 1880. Tsankov was considered a liberal at the time and had not yet become pro-Russian.
Later Years and Legacy
After the 1881 coup, Tsankov was arrested and interned in Vratsa. Following the restoration of the constitution in 1883, he formed a second cabinet, taking charge of internal affairs. This cabinet fought against radical opposition led by figures like Karavelov and Stambolov. Tsankov dissolved the National Assembly in early 1884, and elections were held with unprecedented freedom and legality. However, the majority went to Karavelov, and Tsankov immediately yielded his position. He then became known as a staunch Russophile.
In his later years, Tsankov lived in St. Petersburg on a pension from the Russian government. Although he was considered the leader of the "Tsankovists" party, he played a nominal role due to his advanced age and poor health. He continued to issue manifestos from time to time, emphasizing the importance of following Russia's guidance and rejecting Prince Ferdinand as an illegitimate ruler.
Tsankov returned to Sofia after Stambolov's downfall following an amnesty. He was received by the prince in an audience and quickly reconciled with him. He was elected to the National Assembly but played a minor role. The Tsankovist cabinet formed in 1902 excluded him. Tsankov, while lacking a formal education and struggling with foreign languages, was an adept diplomat who excelled at navigating between political parties and individuals to his advantage. In 1902, he formulated a bill on public education that stirred up strong animosity from elementary school teachers.
Tsankov authored several works on Bulgarian history, including "Five Years of Reign" (1884) and "Political Events in Bulgaria" (1896).
