Heyday and decline Arbanasi (Veliko Tarnovo)

a 17th-century inscription in greek church of nativity of christ, arbanasi (the bulgarian orthodox population in ottoman empire until 1870 under spiritual authority of greek patriarchate of constantinople)

there considerably richer documentary material, such correspondence , chronicler s notes on religious books, preserved 17th , 18th century, evidences arbanasi reached economic blossoming between second half of 17th , end of 18th century. settlement had on 1,000 houses @ time, population consisting of eminent merchant families traded in transylvania (mostly sibiu , braşov), danubian principalities, russia , poland. handicrafts well-developed, copper- , goldsmithing, vine-growing , silk production playing important part. homes of rich merchants, 5 churches built in years of progress, bear record of economic upsurge , prosperity.

in 18th century, arbanasi regularly donated phanariote rulers of wallachia, , number of expelled wallachian nobles settled temporarily in village, e.g. manolachi brâncoveanu, ian (??) văcărescu. in 1790, there 17 wallachian nobles families in arbanași. day, of houses in arbanasi bear names of former wallachian owners (brâncoveanu, cantacuzino, filipescu).

as result of well-organized brigand raids in 1792, 1798 ad 1810, settlement pillaged , burnt down. plague , cholera epidemics further damaged town s well-being. richest merchants fled wallachia , russia. new settlement of bulgarians began after 1810, when people came down elena , teteven parts of balkan mountains, arbanasi never again reach former heyday. ottoman royal decree of 1839 deprived town of former privileges , development of handicraftsmanship after crimean war ceased.

arbanasi experienced strong greek cultural influence centuries. there greek school , divine services in greek (at time bulgarian orthodox church banned ottoman authorities , bulgarian orthodox population officially had served greek orthodox church). this, however, did not reflect local population s national self-consciousness, arbanasi residents took part in organized armed struggle of bulgarians led liberation of bulgaria ottoman rule consequence of russo-turkish war of 1877-78.