A round table dedicated to “150 years since the April Uprising of 1876 – a heroic epic in the history of the Bulgarian people” was held on April 22, 2026 at the Military Club in the city of Shumen.
The organizers of the initiative are the Regional Branch of the “Tradition” Society, together with the Shumen University “Bishop Konstantin Preslavski”, the Faculty of Artillery, Air Defense and CIS, together with the Regional Historical Museum – Shumen, the Regional Management Council of the Union of War Veterans in Bulgaria, the Slavic Society “Vasil Drumev” in Shumen.
The moderator of the event was Dr. Kamen Andonov. Four presentations were included in the forum. Prof. D.Sc. Biser Georgiev from Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen presented a study titled “The European Dimensions of the April Uprising of 1876”. Municipal councilor Nikolay Kalev delivered a report titled “Atanas Stoykov Kovachev – Chairman of the Shumen Revolutionary Committee – a Life Devoted to the Struggle”.
Prof. Rositsa Angelova PhD from the University of Shumen presented a study on the topic “The Unknown Heroines: Women in/for the April Uprising of 1876”. Senior Assistant Dr. Milena Georgieva from the University of Shumen, curator at the Panayot Volov House Museum, focused on the topic “Panayot Volov – an example of self-denial and heroism”.
The “Tradition” Club demonstrated clothing and weapons from the time of the uprising, and lecturers drew attention to the history associated with the rebellion and the repercussions after its suppression.
As part of a roundtable discussion dedicated to the historical significance of the April Uprising, Prof. Rositsa Angelova PhD, Head of the Department of “New and Recent History” at the Regional History Museum – Razgrad, presented an in-depth report on the topic “The Unknown Heroines: Women in / for the Uprising of 1876”. In her presentation, Prof. Angelova emphasized the key role of Bulgarian women in the preparation and course of the uprising – as couriers, organizers, medical assistants and even as direct participants in the fighting. Special attention was paid to emblematic figures such as Raina Knyaginya, who became a symbol of the struggle for freedom, as well as dozens of other women who remained outside the general public’s attention, but who contributed significantly to the national liberation movement.
The report also focused on the tragic fate of women in villages such as Batak and Perushtitsa, where during the Batak Massacre and the subsequent repressions they displayed exceptional strength of spirit, often choosing death over humiliation. A significant emphasis in the report was placed on the international repercussions of the events and the humanitarian work of Lady Emily Strangford. Prof. Angelova highlighted her crucial role in organizing aid for the affected population by building hospitals, providing medicines and mobilizing public support in Europe. It was emphasized that it was precisely such individuals who contributed to turning the Bulgarian question into a significant international problem. In conclusion, the thesis was put forward that women – both Bulgarian and foreign – are an integral part of the historical memory of the uprising. Their contribution broadens the understanding of the struggle for freedom, presenting it not only as a military, but also as a moral and humanitarian act.
The Shumen “Tradition” Club demonstrated clothing and weapons from the time of the uprising, and lecturers drew attention to the history associated with the rebellion and the repercussions after its suppression.
The round table brought together researchers, professors and students, united by the desire to more deeply understand the events of 1876 and their significance for the Bulgarian national identity.
