Politics and economics in the history of the establishment of the Bulgarian Trading Steamship Company (late 19th – early 20th centuries)

The article explores the history of the establishment and development of the Bulgarian Commercial Steamship Company in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Due to a number of reasons and challenging political circumstances, Bulgaria became the last Balkan country to have its own national merchant fleet. The government of S. Stambolov, which came to power in 1887, considered it necessary to develop the state in a European manner, which implied carrying out significant socio-economic transformations needed for the modernization of the country. The issue of expanding trade opportunities also came to the forefront, especially as neighboring states with similar socio-economic development were establishing trade with leading European countries and striving to expand railway routes within their territories, as well as paying attention to river and maritime transport. This study employs a historical-descriptive method, allowing for the uncovering of the complex process of the formation and development of the Bulgarian merchant fleet, highlighting the main stages and emerging challenges. The scientific novelty of the work is connected with the inclusion of unpublished archival materials that demonstrate the keen interest and attention given to the activities of the Bulgarian Commercial Steamship Company by Russia. The Bulgarian Commercial Steamship Company was a small enterprise that arose from the private initiative of the trading circles in the city of Varna. Its role in the country's economic development was not particularly significant, but nonetheless, the history of its creation and development during the late 19th and early 20th centuries is an integral part of Bulgarian history and reflects certain traits of national character. As a result of the research, it has been convincingly shown that the development and support of the Bulgarian Commercial Steamship Company by the Bulgarian government was consistent and principled.