Late Bulgarian Middle Ages - between XV c. and XVII c.

The late Bulgarian Middle Ages coincide in time with the Osman yoke. It is a specific period in our progress. A foreign type of war and political system is set up. It destroys the Bulgarian government tradition and suppresses the independent progress of the nation; they are depraved even from a local church. In these centuries the protection of our nation was lead by the rebuilt after the war monasteries and mainly the “spiritual capital” of Bulgaria - The Rilski monastery; the reborn on a primitive basis school; the progressed in cultural and rural ways villages; the links with the European Christian and catholic centers; the renewal and democratization of Bulgarian books on the basis of distribution and penetration of the typed book and the Damaskin books.

The period XV - XVII c. shouldn’t be considered “dark ages” of spiritual and political lethargy of the Bulgarians. It has its accomplishments that must be assessed truly. In this period with their will for freedom and reincarnation of a government the Bulgarians prove that they are “children of a free woman, not of a slave woman ”. (Peter Parchevich XVII c.)

After conquering and liquidating the Bulgarian country in the end of XIV c., the Osmans came to live in our lands for long. There is no other nation, with the destiny of the Bulgarian one. A big part of it was killed, another settled in foreign lands, and third - abducted and sold in slavery. The Bulgarian higher class were either pushed away or made to accept the Islamic religion. Thus the blossom of the Bulgarian nation was constantly destroyed.

In the Osman Empire the nation was divided according to religions. The Bulgarians were thought as “Rum Millet” (Greek people). Depraved from a participation in the public life, they were forced to pay rents and honor every Muslim. Poverty, uncertainty, hard labor and sicknesses became their constant friends.

The Muslims were the surest support of power, but in our lands they were minority, and because of this the rulers began forcing the nation to accept Islam. They used every way to make it happen - from the privileges of the newcomers, to killing. Single and group conversions are known. Hundreds of protectors of faith, country and family preferred death to change of religion and the nation made them Saints.

After the invasions many churches and monasteries were destroyed or turned into mosques. It was forbidden to built new churches and for repairs of the old ones the permission of the Sultan was needed.

The Bulgarians never lived through with their slave’s position. They managed to save their language, tradition, mode of life, national clothes, and songs. Even at the least hope for freedom the nation rebelled. Its lonely and loyal protectors came - the haiduts. They revenged their relatives, dishonor and robberies. The Bulgarians rebelled much, but in the first years of the yoke they weren’t well organized and the Osmans fought them with a bestial devotion. In 18-19 century there were big changes in the Osman Empire. It lost its power and it gave a chance to a slave people to recover and fight for their freedom. The Bulgarians increased the battles with the Osmans. There were many great leaders like George S. Rakovski, Luben Karavelov, Vasil Levski, Hristo Botev and many others. They taught the nation why and with whom to fight. They created revolutionary organizations that prepared for the glorious and fatal days of the Liberation.

The peak of that battle is the burst in 1876 April rebel, that made the Russian intrusion faster and the war with the Osman empire in 1877-1878 a fact. The thankful Bulgarians called this war “Liberating”, because it lead to the destruction of the yoke and the freeing of most of the Bulgarian lands.