The Little Tsar, BulgAARia

Thanks for the support! I hope to have another chapter out before this time next week, sorry for the delay!

CHAPTER 1-First Steps


Kuzman Apostolav-Asen was escorted into the palace by the two Russian Soldiers. As the reached the entrance they passed several Bulgarian Palace Guards wearing green jackets similar to the Russians. The soldiers stop as a decorated man walks out of the Palace Guard ranks.

"Greetings Tsar Kuzman, I am guard captain Radko Genadiev, I am in charge of palace security."

Captain Genadiev gave a fearful look to the Russian soldier on Kuzman's right, who returned the look with a stern and discrete nod.

Before Kuzman could think further into these strange actions he was nudged into the palace, where a tall slightly tanned man with a pot belly and a long salt-and-pepper beard sat at the end of a long table in a suit, with more Russian soldiers on either side of him. He had a harsh look in his eyes and wore a malicious smile. The many wrinkles on his face only making him look more menacing.

The man held a gloved hand in Kuzman's direction.

"Ah, Kuzman. Welcome to Sofia, I am Chancellor Vikenti Nazaretian. I had the pleasure of running this fine nation until our glorious Czar found someone with...blue blood, as the westerners say."

Kuzman cringed when Chancellor Nazaretian put emphasis on the word "pleasure," he was never a fan of sarcasm. "Why thank you Chancellor. I was most surprised to be taken away by soldiers only to be instated as a Tsar of a far away and unheard of country. I am honored however."

"Yes well you obviously aren't qualified to rule a farm, let alone Bulgaria. So the Czar ordered my friends," he would gesture to the soldiers behind him," and I to stay and make sure you...stay on the right track."

"If it was all the same with you Vikki, I would rather return to my usual barstool in Krasnodar."

Nazaretian became visibly angered at being called "Vikki" but he covered it with a snide remark. "I would prefer that too, Kuzzi, but the point of forming Bulgaria was to retain the worlds opinion of Russia, not destroy it. And reviving Bulgaria's dynasty was the only way to do that. No matter how low it has fallen, now please allow me to escort you to our office."

Kuzman snickered as the soldiers escorted the two to the palace office, where several papers containing economic, strategic, and social information on the current state of Bulgaria was neatly filed, Nazaretian really had his work cut out for him.

Nazaretian pulled out a report. "Bulgaria has been economically sound for the most part due to the generous funds Russia has put into her upon independence. Also her largely agrarian economy has done fine in exporting wool, lumber and wheat. So much so that I decided to order the construction of a naval base at Burgas.I have also had our universities look into Clipper Designs."


Nazaretian's report.

Kuzman rubbed the stubble on his chin. "I see, well you appear to have this whole Head-of-state thing covered Vikki, I'm going to go see what Sofia is all about." He then sauntered off with a mischievous grin before Nazaretian could protest.

"That fool, he left to go see the pubs! Whatever, wrestling authority from him won't be a problem."

* * * * *

It was a chilly February evening as Kuzman strolled down one of Sofia's many back alleys in his overcoat, he had been recently kicked out of a pub.

If only they knew I was the Tsar of this pathetic little country! THEN they would be scared!

As he drunkenly stumbled into another back alley he saw several dozen citizens protesting, calling out for a less powerful government. At the other end of the crowd Nazaretian stood with several Bulgarian[1] soldiers trying to calm the protestors down. Kuzman then inhaled to make his chest look large, and stumbled over to the podium where Nazaretian was speaking. He then bumped Nazaretian out of the way, leaned on the podium and spoke.

"I am the Tsar of Bulgaria! Tsar Kuzman! That's me! Any complaints should be taken up with the true ruler of this country! ME!!!" He then stuck his thumb at his chest and glared at the crowd. The crowd was awe-struck, a drunkard stumbled on the stage and shoved the chancellor off his podium, and then claimed to be the Tsar!

Nazaretian angrily glared at his soldiers, who looked amongst each other with confused looks.

The leader of the protest, who was much more competent then the sheep behind him, walked forward.

"Then surely your highness, you would prove that you were the Tsar by signing and enforcing this bill." He held out a piece of paper.

"Give me that!" Kuzman snatched the paper and signed it as fast as a drunkard could and without even reading the title. The leader of the protest smirked, bowed his head and retreated into the crowd. Nazaretian ordered his soldiers to grab Kuzman and head back to the palace, knowing full well they couldn't stifle news of what just happened, and couldn't go back on the document.

The next day it was all over the headlines.


Kuzman spent the next few weeks contemplating what he had done. He had foolishly signed a document without reading it. But this was his country after all. And he showed that he was the boss over Nazaretian. He remembered how he called Bulgaria pathetic in his thoughts. Well it is isn't it? Yes, but what could Bulgaria become? Why, with Russia's help she could surpass the Ottoman Empire in thirty years! So why not make it happen?

Kuzman stormed into the office and with a dismayed Nazaretian, took a more frontal approach to his country's government.

His first act came on July 29th 1838, when he made the Bulgarian Prison system more humane.



He then spent the rest of the uneventful year and next playing with the budget making sure it stayed in the green and ordering the research of these things called railroads to begin. Which it did.

He observed the census report with only mild interest.
Bulgarian, Turkish, Greek, what does it matter as long as they work?


The census of 1840.

He was also pleased to see the research on railroads completed later that year.


He then had a thought, seeing what alcohol did to him, why allow such a vile thing to flow in the veins of Bulgarians? He worked with a local temperance group and had the vile substance removed, besides his personal collection in the palace. He also decided to increase the size of his army, which would come to be known as the Tsar Armiya [2], to enforce his new laws.




Tsar Armiya.

He found himself invited to Serbia early 1842, much to his delight. He found himself enjoying the company of king Mihailo Obrenović III, and over the course of a few drinks an alliance was formed. It was a shame to hear that the King of Serbia was deposed for another ruler only six months later, and it was unknown if this new ruler would stand with the Bulgarian-Serbian alliance.



Kuzman went along with business as usual, balancing the budget, brushing off Nazaretian. He expanded the army to 12,000 men, adding a new division called Narodna Armiya[3]




Kuzman leaned back into his throne, Bulgaria was economically sound and growing daily. He was proud of where he brought her in just three years and couldn't wait to see where she would go.

And then on August 13 1842, early in the morning Nazaretian burst into the office.

"I received this telegram from Constantinople. The Ottoman Empire has declared war upon us!"

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[1] It should be noted these were merely Russian soldiers wearing the Bulgarian uniform.
[2] roughly translates to Tsar's Army.
[3] Roughly translates to People's Army.

I hope you enjoyed the update! Sorry if it was a tad lengthy, please post your thoughts!

CHAPTER 2 The End of an Era


"T-they wouldn't break the truce!" A scared and pale Kuzman stuttered.

Nazaretian gave Kuzman a look of contempt and disproval. "The truce ended two weeks ago you fool!"

Kuzman buried his face in his hands. What could they do? Bulgaria was growing but she didn't have the strength to fight the Ottomans! Bulgaria would be crushed. All hope was lost.

"Get Captain Genadiev in here. Now!"

Radko Genadiev was rushed into the Tsar's office. He had heard the news and was packing his things to attempt to flee to Austria, but his plans of salvation were interrupted.

"Radko, I want you to assemble every able-bodied male Bulgarian in Sofia by a weeks time."

"But your highness!" Radko looked to the exit. "We can't fight the Ottomans! Our standing army is only 12,000 strong!"

"Damnit Radko! Don't you think I know that? I--"

At that moment a frail looking soldier burst into the room carrying a stack of papers.

"Sir! I have reports on the enemy's movements!"

Kuzman took the stack and glanced over the paper, however it was in Bulgarian and Kuzman could not read Bulgarian.

"Radko, could you please read this to me?"

Radko took the paper and began to read aloud.

"20,000 Ottomans reported on the western border. 18,000 Ottomans reported on the eastern border, troop movement suspected behind them. 12,000 Wallachians crossing the border into Ruse as we speak. And the Un--"

Radko froze, his eyes looked as though they would fall out of his sockets, he became so pale that Kuzman thought he could see Radko's chilled blood pulse under his skin.

"Well spit it out."

"Sir, the United Kingdom has joined the war to aid the Ottomans."

Kuzman's eyebrows shot up. He began to think of the quickest routes to Austria, his pub back in Krasnodar, and what would be said at his funeral, if his body would even be retrieved.

After coming to his senses Kuzman cleared his throat. "Ahem, like I said. Gather all able-bodied males and assemble in Sofia."

Radko looked to the door, then to the two Russian guards glaring at him under their hats, and solemnly nodded. He went out to do just that.

I would rather die on my feet, then live on my knees.

Nazaretian interrupted Kuzman's thoughts.

"I do have some good news."

"And that is?"

"Russia is coming to our aid and is going to help us defend against the Ottomans. Serbia as well."

"I suppose that is good but Serbia is weak and Russia is too far away, Bulgaria will be destroyed by the time they get here."

"You never know, Kuzzy."

The first engagement of the war only soured the news, as 3,000 conscripts were raised in Vidin the 12,000 strong Wallachian army veered off course and slaughtered all 3,000 of them.



The Vidin Massacre angered many Bulgarians. The officer in charge of Narodna Armiya, Lt. Col. Niloa Petrov, took control of Tsar Armiya and the other 6,000 conscripts Captain Genadiev assembled and surrounded the Wallachians at Vidin. He then charged them on all sides "like wolves to a doe," an onlooker reported.


As the Wallachian line crumbled a soldier later turned artist saw Niloa Petrov pick up the rifle of a fallen soldier, shoot a Wallachian and then issued the final charge. As he did this he was reported to have yelled, "And now their graves are yours as well!" The above painting is said soldier's, upon returning from the war he became an artist and made many classics known by all Bulgarians at the time.

The victory at Vidin was huge in the eyes of Bulgarians, it was the first victory of the Bulgarian armed forces, and it left over 5,000 Wallachians dead. Lt. Col. Niloa Petrov received a hero's welcome in every village he passed through as he entered Wallachia to try and occupy Wallachia's southern provinces.


Unfortunately for Niloa Petrov's legacy, General Vasil Tenev of Tsar Armiya planted the flag at Vidin, causing history books to remember his name over Petrov's. But any Bulgarian knows it was Petrov who won the battle for Bulgaria.

As the year closed Tsar Kuzman was surprised to see Bulgaria still intact, he was even more surprised to learn that an Admiral-less fleet of one transport ship out maneuvered a fleet of 1 man-o'-war and 2 frigates, causing them to retreat to port. At this point he decided he must liberate the Bulgarians living under oppression in Dobrujia, and told the Ottoman correspondent that if they wanted peace the Ottomans would have to surrender Dobrujia to Bulgaria.



And by the start of next year the Russian Bear was finally coming out of hibernation.



The Ottomans were sufficiently distracted by Serbia's guerilla war in the North-West Balkans. However in mid July fleets of British ships were seen off of Bulgaria's coast. And Nazaretian brought in reports that all of Russian Alaska had fallen to the Lobsters, and that they were even planning an assault on Russia's Baltic coast.

As the year closed 30,000 British troops landed on the coast of Bulgaria and almost immediately occupied Varna.

As November came around the war had stabilized and Russia had finally subdued Moldovia and Wallachia, a Russian army entered Sofia and supplied Kuzman with an updated map.



The Ottomans had collapsed on the Balkan and Caucasian fronts. The Russians were rushing through Anatolia, burning farms and preparing to enter Ankara.


However the United Kingdom wouldn't allow the war to end just yet. They had landed on Russia's Baltic coast and were also rushing for St. Petersburg. They had also subdued Russian Alaska. In early June all of Russia's Baltic forces converged at the British holding at Varna. An intense battle ensued, the cannon shots could even be heard at night in Sofia. Eventually after launching human wave after human wave at the Brits they forced them to retreat into their ships and back to their islands, successfully liberating the Bulgarian coast.

At this point the Ottoman Empire was economically in shambles and the army was too demoralized to continue fighting. They approached Bulgaria and offered them a treaty. If signed the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria would drop out of the war and Bulgaria would acquire Dobrujia.

Kuzman was excited and was only stopped by Nazaretian.

"You can't sign this! You would be abandoning Russia to the British!"

Kuzman scowled at him. "Russia is powerful, they can handle themselves."

He then turned back to the document and signed it, effectively putting Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire in states of peace. All Nazaretian did was glare daggers into the back of Kuzman's head and think of the many ways he wished to see Kuzman dead.

Unfortunately for the Russians, the British did not stop their attacks and forced them to surrender Alaska to the United Kingdom.



Bulgaria was also put into debt, they owed over 6 million pounds to various banks across Europe, they didn't start to even dent into the loan until the year was almost over.




Throughout the year Kuzman managed to mend the broken alliance with Montenegro, even though the original alliance was formed under Nazaretian. In the excitement he also forgot to look at the census of 1845.



Kuzman had managed to keep his country together through 2 years and 2 days of fighting. Lt. Col. Niloa Petrov had also made quite the name for himself. I'll have to meet this man myself, Kuzman thought. Nazaretian was extremely bitter over Bulgaria taking land that Russia had won for her then pulling out of the war, but Kuzman wasn't concerned. He was concerned about the 6 million pounds of debt Bulgaria had accumulated and the bitter Ottomans that almost surrounded his country.

But the Era of Ottoman Imperialism over Bulgaria was over.

It was the end of an era.

But Kuzman's troubles were far from over.

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Another lengthy update, enjoy!