Gusev N.S. The Bulgarian mores and their  changes during the Balkan wars as  perceived by the Russians

Abstract: The Russian society focused a lot of its attention on the Balkan wars of 1912–1913, and on Bulgaria in particular. Correspondents of periodicals went to the peninsula. Many of them had never been to the Balkans and did not know the character of the population living there, thereby were free from the clichés concerning them and could evaluate the Bulgarian mores without bias. These correspondents described the Bulgarian character as peace-loving, hard-working and household-oriented, which was also noted by those visiting the country earlier. But in wartime this household-orientation sometimes took up rather unsympathetic forms. Along with this, witnesses saw a manifestation of bellicosity, the wish to fight their adversaries at all costs, and cruelty towards the enemy. Analysing these facts, reporters defined two sources for them. The first – to revenge the Turks for their century-old subjugation and oppression. The second – to attain the national ideal, the San Stefano Bulgaria. At the same time, it is impossible to affirm that these sentiments were not intensified by the government. The success of the official propaganda of historic myths confirms that in the minds of the Bulgarians the image of a San Stefano Bulgaria and Macedonia was deeply rooted. These were the symbols capable of exposing the Bulgarian society to changes and to dislodge it fr om its peaceful routine.

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