Stefan Stambolov

Stefan Nikolov Stambolov was a Bulgarian politician, journalist, revolutionary, and poet who served as Prime Minister and regent. He is considered one of the most important and popular "Founders of Modern Bulgaria", and is sometimes referred to as "the Bulgarian Bismarck". In 1875 and 1876 he took part in the preparation for the Stara Zagora uprising, as well as the April Uprising. Stambolov was, after Stanko Todorov, Boyko Borisov and Todor Zhivkov, one of the country's longest-serving prime ministers. Criticised for his dictatorial methods, he was among the initiators of economic and cultural progress in Bulgaria during the time of the Balkan Wars.

He was killed in the center of Sofia by a plot from the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, including Naum Tyufekchiev, for his support to the Ottoman Empire, his dictatorial methods and his repression of the IMRO.