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c 2500 BC
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Thracian civilisation established in south east of Balkan peninsula.
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c 600 BC
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Thrace colonised by Greeks.
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c 100 BC
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Thrace becomes part of Roman Empire.
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15 AD
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Moesia (northern Bulgaria) becomes part of Roman Empire.
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c 500 AD
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Slavic tribes begin to settle Thrace and Moesia (modern Bulgaria).
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c 600 AD
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Nomadic Asiatic Bulgars invade and become ruling elite. They later absorb Slavic language and culture.
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680 AD
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First Bulgarian Empire under Khan Asparuhk stablished.
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864
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Christianity introduced.
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893
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Empire reaches its zenith under Tsar Simeon - controlling Macedonia & Serbia.
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969
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Russians invade Bulgaria.
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976
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Byzantine Empire drives Russians from Bulgaria.
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1018
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Bulgaria becomes part of Byzantine Empire.
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1185
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Successful revolt against Byzantine rulers. Second Bulgarian Empire established.
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1330
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Bulgaria defeated by Serbs - made a tributary.
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1389
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Ottoman Turks invade.
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1396
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Bulgaria becomes part of Ottoman Empire.
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1850s
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Revolutionary movement for national independence grows.
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1876
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Revolt against Ottoman rule - 15,000 killed by Turks in reprisals.
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1877
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Russia invades Balkans to protect Bulgarian Christians. Start of Russo-Turkish War.
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1878
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Russo-Turkish War ends after several Turkish defeats. Russia occupies large parts of Ottoman territory.
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3 March 1878
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Treaty of San Stefano - Turks agree to independence for Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, autonomy for Bulgaria and to cede territory to Russia.
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13 July 1878
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Treaty of Berlin - European powers re-write Treaty of San Stefano to reduce Russian gains.
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1878
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Autonomous principalities of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia established within the Ottoman Empire.
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6 September 1885
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Eastern Rumelia (South Bulgaria) incorporated into the autonomous Bulgarian principality.
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13 November 1885
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Serbo-Bulgarian War begins when Serbia tries to oppose annexation of Rumelia. War ends 13 March 1886 after Serbia defeated.
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5 October 1908
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Independent Kingdom of Bulgaria established.
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March 1912
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Alliance beween Serbia and Bulgaria agreed.
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June 1912
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Alliance between Greece and Bulgaria agreed.
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8 October 1912
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Montenegro declares war on Ottoman Empire - starting First Balkan War.
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18 October 1912
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Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece join the First Balkan War. [5 Oct, Julian calendar]
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16 December 1912
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Armistice in First Balkan War agreed by Ottoman Empire. [3 Dec, Julian calendar]
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3 February 1913
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First Balkan War resumes after change of government in the Ottoman Empire. [21 Jan, Julian calendar]
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26 March 1913
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Ottoman fortress of Adrianople falls to Bulgarian forces. [13 Mar, Julian calendar]
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19 April 1913
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Armistice agreed following victory over the Ottoman Empire.
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30 May 1913
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Peace Treaty signed following First Balkan War.
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1 July 1913
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Start of Second Balkan War - led by the country allies from the First Balkan War (Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria) with the aim of ruling Macedonia. [16 June, Julian calendar]
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30 July 1913
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Armistice ends Second Balkan War.
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10 August 1913
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Peace treaty signed in Bucharest - the territory of Macedonia was partitioned into three parts among Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece.
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24 August 1915
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Bulgaria signs a military pact with Germany and Austro-Hungary.
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14 October 1915
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Bulgaria declares war on Serbia, entering the First World War on the side of Germany. [1 Oct, Julian calendar]
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29 September 1918
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Bulgaria surrenders to the Allies.
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late 1918
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Peasant led 'Agrarian' government takes control.
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27 November 1919
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Bulgaria signs humiliating peace treaty in Neuilly.
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June 1923
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Bloody military coup deposes Agrarian government.
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1934
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Government of 'national regeneration' installed by military coup.
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1935
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Czar Boris establishes quasi-fascist royal dictatorship.
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15 September 1939
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Bulgaria declares neutrality in World War Two.
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7 September 1940
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Craiova Agreement - Romania cedes South Dobrudja to Bulgaria.
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21 September 1940
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Bulgarian Army enters South Dobrudja.
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1 March 1941
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Bulgaria signs Axis Tripartite Pact.
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6 April 1941
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German forces invade Greece and Yugoslavia from Bulgarian bases.
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24 April 1941
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Bulgaria declares war on Greece and Yugoslavia.
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late April 1941
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Bulgarian military forces occupy Macedonia and Aegean Thrace.
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13 December 1941
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Bulgaria declares war on Britain and the USA.
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26 August 1944
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Bulgaria declares itself neutral in WW2 - not recognised by Allies.
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30 August 1944
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German troops withdraw from Bulgaria.
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5 September 1944
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USSR declares war on Bulgaria.
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6 September 1944
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Bulgaria declares war on Germany.
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8 September 1944
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Soviet troops enter Bulgaria unopposed.
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9 September 1944
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Armistice signed with USSR.
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9 October 1944
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Anti-German offensive in Yugoslavia launched.
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28 October 1944
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Armistice with Britain, USA and USSR signed.
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2 December 1944
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Anti-German advance into Southern Serbia and Macedonia concluded.
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1945
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Control of Macedonia transferred to Yugoslavia, of Thrace to Greece and of South Dobruja to Romania
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October 1946
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Communists 'win' government elections and take control.
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15 September 1947
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Formal peace treaty with USSR signed
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1947
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People's Republic of Bulgaria established
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10 November 1989
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Communist Party leadership replaced by pro-democracy supporters.
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February 1991
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First non-Communist government elected in Bulgaria.
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14 February 1994
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Bulgaria joins the NATO Partnership for Peace programme.
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mid 2001
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Supporters of the former King Simeon of Bulgaria win government elections
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November 2002
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Bulgaria invited to join NATO.
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2 April 2004
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Bulgaria joins NATO
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