The Second Tarnovo uprising (, ''Vtoro tarnovsko vastanie''), according to a unique Russian source published in 1847, is thought to be a Bulgarian uprising against Ottoman rule based in the former Bulgarian capital, Tarnovo, that broke out in 1686 and was severely crushed by the Ottoman authorities. In 1686

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and

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joined the Holy League against the

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. Rostislav Stratimirovic — a descendant of the medieval Shishman dynasty decided to exploit the international situation, established relations with the Russian Patriarch Joachim and visited

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in preparation for the uprising. In his absence the uprising burst prematurely and was doomed. He quickly returned to Tarnovo where he was proclaimed Prince of Bulgaria after the city was briefly liberated, with about 4,000 people gathering. However, the Ottoman authorities reacted immediately and quickly recaptured the city using regular army, brutally suppressing the uprising. Rostislav Stratimirovic fled the Ottoman territory and settled in Russia where he married the niece of the patriarch – Maria Dubrovska. The only source about the uprising (and the very existence of Rostislav Statimirovic) is the family chronicles of Rostislavich-Dubrovsky clan, now missing. Its legendary character makes many historians doubt its authenticity and consider it "a beautiful legend" which served the political interests in 19th-century Russia. The ostensible owner of the chronicles, the amateur Russian historian Nikolay Savelyev, who called himself Savelyev-Rostislavich (1815–1854), pretended to be a descendant of Rostislav of Bulgaria and the Patriarch's niece. However, no independent sources corroborating such a genealogy of his rather modest family exist, and the whole story is presumed to be concocted by him.''Шишманов И. Д.'' Априлов и Н. В. Савельев-Ростиславич // Сборникъ на БАН. Книга 21: Нови студии изъ областьта на българското възраждане: В. Е. Априлов, Неофит Рилски, Неофит Бозвели. София: Печатница и букволеярница П. Глушков, 1926. С. 5-32. However, the Ottoman archives do indeed speak of insurgent activities in Tarnovo region during this period, centred on Arbanasi village.

References and notes

Bulgarian rebellions History of Veliko Tarnovo Rebellions in the Ottoman Empire 17th century in Bulgaria 1686 in Europe Conflicts in 1686 17th-century rebellions 1686 in the Ottoman Empire Ottoman period in the history of Bulgaria Rebellions in Bulgaria {{Bulgaria-hist-stub

See also

References and notes