Vasil Radoslavov

Vasil Hristov Radoslavov (Bulgarian: Васил Христов Радославов) (27 July 1854 – 21 October 1929) was a leading Bulgarian liberal politician who twice served as Prime Minister. He was Premier of the country throughout most of World War I.

Vasil Radoslavov
Васил Радославов
7th Prime Minister of Bulgaria
In office
28 August 1886 – 10 July 1887
MonarchAlexander (28 August 1886 - 7 September 1886)
 Regency (7 September 1886 - 29 April 1887)
Ferdinand (29 April 1887 - 10 July 1887)
Preceded byPetko Karavelov
Succeeded byKonstantin Stoilov
In office
17 July 1913 – 21 June 1918
MonarchFerdinand
Preceded byStoyan Danev
Succeeded byAleksandar Malinov
Minister of Justice
In office
11 July 1884 – 24 July 1886
Prime MinisterPetko Karavelov
Preceded byKonstantin Pomyanov
Succeeded byGavril Oroshakov
In office
21 August 1886 – 24 August 1886
Prime MinisterKliment Turnovski
Preceded byGavril Oroshakov
Succeeded byGavril Oroshakov
In office
31 May 1894 – 29 September 1894
Prime MinisterKonstantin Stoilov
Preceded byKonstantin Pomyanov
Succeeded byPetar Peshev
Personal details
Born(1854-07-27)27 July 1854
Lovech, Ottoman Empire
Died21 October 1929(1929-10-21) (aged 75)
Berlin, Weimar Republic
Resting placeSofia, Bulgaria
NationalityBulgarian
Political partyLiberal Party (until 1887)
 Liberal Party (Radoslavists) (1887-1920)
Signature
Signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (February 9, 1918) by 1. Count Ottokar Czernin, 2. Richard von Kühlmann and 3. Vasil Radoslavov

Biography

Born in Lovech, Radoslavov studied law at Heidelberg[1] and became a supporter of Germany from then on. He became a political figure in 1884 when he was appointed Minister of Justice in the cabinet of Petko Karavelov, also holding the position under Archbishop Kliment Turnovski. He succeeded Karavelov as Prime Minister in 1886 and being aged 32 years, was the youngest person to have ever been Prime Minister of Bulgaria. Additionally he was the Minister of Finance.[2] His brief reign was marked by corruption and ultimately led to a split in the Liberal Party, with a Radoslav Liberal Party formed in 1887 as a grouping for right-wing liberals. Radoslavov was noted for his strong support for friendship with Austria-Hungary.[3]

He returned to government in 1899 as Minister for Internal Affairs in the government of Todor Ivanchov, although after this he remained out of office until 1913 when he returned as Prime Minister. His anti-Russian rhetoric impressed Ferdinand who worked closely with Radoslavov in shaping foreign policy. He secured a large loan from Germany and Austria-Hungary in July 1914 but also managed to delay Bulgarian entry into the War. His popularity fell after Bulgaria officially entered the War, however, with money and resources now directed fully to the war effort. As Prime Minister he oversaw the liberation of Southern Dobruja and the occupation of Northern Dobruja in 1916 with the aid of German General August von Mackensen, although the move lost him some support from the German government as they wanted some of the territory for themselves.[4] His government remained in office until June 1918, when the more moderate Aleksandar Malinov was recalled in the hope of brokering a favourable peace deal, with Radoslavov blamed for the failure of Bulgaria to gain full control of Northern Dobruja in the Treaty of Bucharest (the southern part of Northern Dobruja was ceded to Bulgaria, while the northern part of the region was placed under joint Bulgarian, Turkish, German and Austrian-Hungarian administration). By this point the Radoslavov government had become a by-word for corruption and subservience to Germany.[5]

Radoslavov fled Bulgaria after the war, going into exile in Germany. In 1922 the regime of Aleksandar Stamboliyski sentenced him to death in absentia for his part in the defeat. He was pardoned in 1929, the same year in which he died whilst still in exile[6] in Berlin, Weimar Republic, on 21 October. On 3 November, he was buried in Sofia.

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See also
Political offices
Preceded by
Petko Karavelov		 Prime Minister of Bulgaria
1886–1887		 Succeeded by
Konstantin Stoilov
Preceded by
Stoyan Danev		 Prime Minister of Bulgaria
1913–1918		 Succeeded by
Aleksandar Malinov
Preceded by
Konstantin Pomyanov		 Minister of Justice
1884–1886		 Succeeded by
Gavril Oroshakov
Preceded by
Gavril Oroshakov		 Minister of Justice
1886		 Succeeded by
Gavril Oroshakov
Preceded by
Konstantin Pomyanov		 Minister of Justice
1894		 Succeeded by
Petar Peshev

References
  1. http://www.minfin.bg/en/page/105
  2. "Ministry of Finance :: Ministers". www.minfin.bg.
  3. S.G. Evans, A Short History of Bulgaria, London, Lawrence and Wishart, 1960, p. 152
  4. S.G. Evans, A Short History of Bulgaria, London, Lawrence and Wishart, 1960, p. 156
  5. S.G. Evans, A Short History of Bulgaria, London, Lawrence and Wishart, 1960, p. 156
  6. http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/radoslavov.htm
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