Chiprovtsi uprising

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Chiprovtsi uprising

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A major Bulgarian uprising against Ottoman rule in 1688, centered at Chiprovtsi.

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Origins & Early Life

The Chiprovtsi uprising (Bulgarian: Чипровско въстание, Chiprovsko vastanie) was an uprising against Ottoman rule organized in northwestern Bulgaria by Roman Catholic Bulgarians, but also involving many Eastern Orthodox Christians. It broke out after the capture of Belgrade by Austria on 6 September 1688 and ended unsuccessfully, with the centre of insurrectionary activity, Chiprovtsi, being completely destroyed by Ottoman forces. After the conquest of Bulgaria the Ottomans left a number of regions, towns and villages out of the Ottoman administrative system. These were usually key regions that were left to be governed by the old Bulgarian administration for practical reasons. Such towns were the ones guarding the Balkan passes, as well as important ore extraction areas like Chiprovtsi.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Although the status of the then-village in the period is not completely clear, it is generally considered that the Christian Bulgarian aristocracy retained most of its authority in Chiprovtsi. Sources from Dubrovnik mention the family of Soymirovich, whose members lived in Chiprovtsi as sovereign rulers until the end of the 14th century. After the Ottoman invasion the family (or at least most of it) moved to Dubrovnik, where they became part of the local aristocracy and possibly accepted Roman Catholicism without forgetting their old possessions. Other known families from the period are Peyachevich, Parchevich, Cherkich, Markanich and Knezhevich. During the next century Chiprovtsi was a has (a permanent possession) of the sultan's family and later a valide hanım (estate of the sultan's mother).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The rights of the Christian self-government possibly inherited from the Second Bulgarian Empire and adapted to the Ottoman military feudal system were significantly curtailed in the 16th and 17th century. Around the middle of the 17th century, the idea to restore the Bulgarian state with the aid of the Catholic Western Europe began emerging in the circle of the pro-Western Chiprovtsi nobility. A prominent figure in this strategy was Petar Parchevich, who visited the courts of the Austrian Empire, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Republic of Venice, the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia, and Pope Innocent X, to request backing for an anti-Ottoman campaign which would lead to the liberation of the Balkans, and "most of all, of the great Bulgarian Empire". Additional factors for the uprising were the events in the middle of the 17th century, in particular the blow that the mighty Ottoman Empire received with defeat at the Battle of Vienna in 1683. The introduction of heavy taxes intended to secure the costly yet ineffective European campaigns of the empire and the deprivation of the Bulgarian Catholics of some of their rights played an important role in the setup of the uprising.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1683: 1683 Milestone — Additional factors for the uprising were the events in the middle of the 17th century, in particular the blow that the mighty Ottoman Empire received with defeat at the Battle of Vienna in 1683.
2. 1688: 1688 Milestone — It broke out after the capture of Belgrade by Austria on 6 September 1688 and ended unsuccessfully, with the centre of insurrectionary activity, Chiprovtsi, being completely destroyed by Ottoman forces.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Chiprovtsi uprising

True or False: “The Chiprovtsi Uprising was primarily supported by the Eastern Orthodox Christian population of Bulgaria.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While many Eastern Orthodox Christians were involved, the uprising was specifically organized by Roman Catholic Bulgarians.

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