One patriot with good intentions - the dunovist Ivan Bagryanov

Specialists express conflicting opinions about the events of our recent past. Engaged in their disputes, we often miss out on paying tribute to truly decent Bulgarians. Those people, baptized and good-natured, tried to help their country peacefully and meekly. Because history is too busy with extremes, conflicts and enmities. To the people of compromise, reconciliation and understanding, mass interest is either absent or minimal.

В Deleted Paths of Bulgarka magazine we will tell you about the most well-intentioned and compassionate Bulgarian statesmen of the first half of the XX century. Because of his politics of restraint, balance, waiting and patience, he is unloved and misunderstood by most of his contemporaries. This worthy Bulgarian and patriot is called Ivan Bagryanov. Bagryanov seems too boring for the thirsty spectators of history buffs. Therefore, his name sinks into oblivion little by little, but now we will recall interesting facts from his life that all curious Bulgarians should know.

Ivan Ivanov Bagryanov was born in Razgrad on November 17 on November 1891 in the family of a rich manger. His father dies young and his mother remarries. The young man followed his uncle's example and continued his education at the Military School in Sofia in 1905. Bagryanov graduated as a champion in the graduation and entered the artillery regiment in Razgrad in the summer of 1912. During the Balkan War he was a platoon commander in the Third Army. , under the command of General Radko Dimitriev, and took part in the glamorous victory at Lozengrad. After the end of the 1913 War, Lieutenant-Colonel Bagryanov returned to his hometown artillery regiment. It seems military service will be his fate. Until a turning point changes his life fundamentally.

In January, 1915 visited Sofia to attend the traditional mask. Most of the guests are dominated by the capital's highlife and the military. At midnight, a great misfortune happens - a bomb explodes, which takes the life of a close friend of Bagryanov (Nikola Boyadzhiev, son of General-Staff of the Bulgarian Army General Kliment Boyadjiev). It is a political assassination that seeks to influence Bulgaria on whose side to join in the First World War - the Entente or the Central Powers. Lieutenant Bagryanov holds an extremely emotional and impactful speech in memory of his murdered friend. He boldly challenges King Ferdinand, who is present at the funeral, by addressing the slain: "You did not die for yourself, here at the ball, but again for the sake of others ..." All take the word for a hint that the king is responsible for the murder.

Bagryanov's friends are amazed. The anger of the capricious monarch is expected to pour on him. One even tells him, "You fall short when you don't know the measure of the mouth!" Ferdinand invites him to talk in his office. Instead of being angry, however, the Bulgarian king greets him in a good mood and looks with curiosity at the handsome young man he meets. His first question is: "Lieutenant, who taught you to speak as an MP?" There are two ways ahead of you - either to leave the army or to serve in the palace. "The astounded lieutenant said in one breath, 'It is a great honor for me!'" Thus, Bagryanov's enlistment in the ranks of the palace officers becomes unexpected. He was charged with the military training of the princes Boris and Cyril.

After Bulgaria's involvement in World War I, Bagryanov continued with his daring attitude towards Ferdinand. He gives the king an ultimatum, demanding that he be released from the palace at all costs so that he can engage in military activities at the front. Bagryanov participated in the battles on the Southern Front - against the Serbs at Kochani and against the French at Gevgel. He was wounded and then awarded the Bulgarian and German Cross for bravery. At the end of the war he was sent to the Western Front, where he was commander of a German battery. Made in rank of captain in July 1917. Cavalier has a total of seven orders of merit and bravery during the war. He retired with the rank of Major in the Bulgarian Army in 1919. After the end of the war, he is again in the palace, but on the civil service he is an adviser to the new king Boris III (Ferdinand abdicated in favor of Boris). Bagryanov is the young king's favorite. Only the ruler addresses him by a small name and tells him "you." Former military Bagrianov enrolls to study law. He is inseparable from the ruler on his tours of the countryside, and is often involved in writing royal speeches.

A new remarkable and little-anticipated event follows. While staying in the palace, between Bagryanov and Princess Evdokia, daughter of Ferdinand and sister of Boris, the spark of love flares up. They have a brief and violent love. Everywhere they present themselves as a couple in love. They make long walks, they like to visit the friendly family of Parvan Draganov, where they caress and bathe his little daughter. They tell how they want to have such a nice baby after a while. Boris does not take into account the connection between Bagryanov and Evdokia, but learned about it, the former monarch Ferdinand intervenes from abroad. He orders his daughter to immediately terminate an intimate relationship with this "tservulan", which is not of noble origin. So they both split, but the princess never forgives Bagryanov for not fighting harder for her love.

In the fall of 1922, Bagryanov went to study agronomy in Leipzig - agriculture and the fate of the peasants began to greatly excite him. However, he was quickly summoned to the palace in state affairs. The king asks him to return to Bulgaria to be near him, as "something dangerous" is stirring. On the night of 8 against June 9, Tsar Boris awakens his friend with the words: "Get up, a coup has taken place in Sofia!"

At the end of the 30s, Bagryanov returned to politics, summoned again by Tsar Boris. He became Minister of Agriculture in the governments of Georgi Kyoseivanov and later Bogdan Filov. On February 4, 1941 voluntarily resigned from Filov's cabinet and returned to his farm. It has been identified by some experts as Bulgaria's most successful agriculture minister since the First World War. From 1 June 1944 to 1 September 1944 Ivan Bagryanov is Prime Minister of Bulgaria, appointed to this post by the Regency Council, who governed the country after the death of Tsar Boris III (August 28 1943). As such, he manages to protect the interests of the Bulgarian people in a wonderful way.

Historians today appreciate Bagryanov's immense credit for leaving the Wehrmacht (German Armed Forces) as he entered - without casualties, destruction and military action. The crown of his government is the neutrality achieved by 26 on August 1944. Bagryanov keeps peace in Bulgaria at times when blood is spilled everywhere. He is very afraid that Bulgaria will not be defeated by the fate of Hungary, occupied by Hitlerites in March 1944, because it has openly opposed them. Bagryanov's course, headed by the country, aims at a "return to neutrality" diplomatic language from before March 1 to March 1941, before Bulgaria accedes to the Tripartite Pact. Thus Bagryanov followed the testament of his friend Tsar Boris: "Better black bread than black headscarves!"

Now, let me say a few words about this: Why is this distinguished statesman misjudged by his contemporaries and why do we know so little about him today?

Bagryanov does not get a higher education. By no means can he be called an erudite or intellectual, but along the Danube he develops a "messianic" self-esteem. Because of his great ambitions and "messianic" self-esteem, even his friend, the king, endows him with the ironic nicknames: Ivaylo and Bismarck. His extraordinary self-confidence acts frighteningly to the detractors. He is sure that his power is exercised because he has many important things to do here on Earth. To this end, it seeks to gain the approval of not only the king but also the working people of Bulgaria. It is for this people that all life is sacrificed for its welfare and ultimately dies. He sought to be, as he puts it, "neither with them nor with them" and "with all and with no one." A true politician - a balancer, sincere in his good intentions, devoted to his people and country. Bagryanov speaks as a preacher, his favorite topics being peace and love between people on earth. His words often surprise other politicians.

Here are excerpts from his speech on the adoption of the budget of the Ministry of Agriculture, which manages 1940.
"But where does this eternal path lead us to progress? One thing is certain for me, gentlemen, that every new step towards it brings us closer to the righteousness and perfection of the Most High. Progress, this is the path to God, this is the path to perfection.
And, gentlemen, do we Bulgarians, as a people and people, want more than righteousness? The answer is known all over the world: righteousness among nations, love between men. Let us tighten the lines in order to persevere in the struggle and to experience the new world - the world of justice. To tighten the lines to experience less suffering for this afflicted nation, the righteousness of which he remained faithful. "

For his outlook, Bagryanov is extremely influenced by Dunov's mystical ideas. His ambition is that by taking power, he will be able to satisfy everyone - that is his mission. His political opponents call him an "adventurer and fantasist." Bagrianov, however, succeeds in protecting Bulgaria from any military conflict against any of the Great Powers. He believes that "the Bulgarian people have never had the desire to interfere in the great conflict between the great nations" and is against anything that "contradicts the peaceful will of the people's will."

On September 9, the peaceful dwarf Bagryanov comes on the heels of death. It is widely said that the Communists will not only reward him for his kindness, but will punish him for some alleged wrongdoing. Although it is utterly clear to all of them, this peace-loving man who speaks and behaves as a preacher has done no harm to anyone. However, Bagryanov witnessed how people from his environment went abroad seeking salvation. His friend Stoil Stefanov proposes to flee to Istanbul together an hour soon. Then Peter Dunov intervenes. According to Master Danov, Ivan Bagryanov should stay in Bulgaria, as he is soon to head the future federation that will be formed between Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. Bagryanov listens to the advice.

But very soon he was prosecuted and sentenced to death by the People's Court. The verdict was executed on 1 February 1945. Ironically, Bagryanov shares the involvement of some of his longtime political opponents (eg Bogdan Filov). The life of the statesman, who wished "the Bulgarian people, without shedding excess human blood, to find their worthy place in the new world of justice and human solidarity, was taken away." Ivan Bagryanov will never be forgotten because he lived and died for the people and his homeland.