Konstantin Zhostov
Encyclopedia
Konstantin Andonov Zhostov (30 September 1867 – 30 August 1916) was a Bulgarian
General
and Chief of the Bulgarian Army Staff.
, at the time part of the Ottoman Empire
. He was the son of Andon Zhostov a teacher and a significant figure in the struggle for the autonomy of the Bulgarian Church. Konstantin was not the only child in the family as he had two bothers.
After the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) the family settled in Sofia
and Andon became a priest. During the Serbo-Bulgarian War
Konstantin was a student in Lom
and took part in the Battle of Pirot
between 14 and 15 November 1885 as a volunteer in the Student's Legion.
After the war he graduated from the High School and Lom
and continued his education in the Artillery Department of the Military School
in Sofia
. He received his first officer rank - lieutenant on 9 May 1887 and began his service in the artillery and in 1894 was promoted to captain.
In 1889 Zhostov went to Vienna
where he entered the Artillery School to study for a staff officer. In 1897 he graduated with excellent marks and returned to Bulgaria and was assigned to the administration of the Army's General Staff. Latter he was appointed commander of an artillery battery in the 3rd Artillery Regiment and was made head of the fortress artillery section in the Artillery Department of the War Ministry.
In 1902 he was promoted to major
and in 1905 was send as a military attaché
to Vienna
. In 1908 Zhostov was promoted to colonel
and took command of the 8th Tundzha Infantry Division. Then in 1906-1907 he was again a military attaché in Saint Petersburg
and Paris
. After his return to Bulgariahe became part of Tsar Ferdinand's retinue. In 19010 Konstantin was made commander of the 3rd Artillery Regiment and in 1912 became head of the Reserve Officer School.
was declared in September 1912 Konstantin Zhostov was appointed Chief of Staff of the 3rd Army and as such was at the heart of the Bulgarian victories at Lozengrad and Lule-Burgaz. Latter he was Chief of Staff of the united Bulgarian 1st and 3rd Armies. After the first armistice was concluded he was included in the Bulgarian delegation at the London peace talks. With the failure of the talks he returned to the front and assumed his previous post. After a few months of fighting the Ottoman Empire
was finally defeated and the London Peace Treaty was signed on 30 May 1913.
During the Second Balkan War
he was commander of the 1st Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division.
and in September appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Army. He had a leading role during the Serbian Campaign
and in the Macedonian Front. Still the general was not among the strong supporters of the Central Powers
. Following a tour of the Western Front
and the Italian Front
he even suggested to the prime minister
Radoslavov
that Bulgaria switch sides and join the Entente. Such views made Zhostov, in his own words, a "back cat" for tsar Ferdinand and the government.
Major General Konstantin Zhostov died on 30 August 1916 after suffering from complications of appendicitis
.
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and Chief of the Bulgarian Army Staff.
Biography
Konstantin Zhostov was born in the village of GaytaninovoGaytaninovo
Gaytaninovo is a village in the municipality of Hadzhidimovo, in Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria.-References:...
, at the time part of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. He was the son of Andon Zhostov a teacher and a significant figure in the struggle for the autonomy of the Bulgarian Church. Konstantin was not the only child in the family as he had two bothers.
After the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) the family settled in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
and Andon became a priest. During the Serbo-Bulgarian War
Serbo-Bulgarian War
The Serbo-Bulgarian War was a war between Serbia and Bulgaria that erupted on 14 November 1885 and lasted until 28 November the same year. Final peace was signed on 19 February 1886 in Bucharest...
Konstantin was a student in Lom
Lom
Lom as an ethnic group:* Lom people, a Gypsy group, mainly in the CaucasusLom as a placename:* Lom, Norway, a municipality in Norway** Lom prisoner of war camp, a Norwegian prisoner of war camp in the above-mentioned location....
and took part in the Battle of Pirot
Battle of Pirot
The Battle of Pirot was a battle between the Bulgarian Western Corps and the Serbian Nishava Army during the Serbo-Bulgarian War. The battle took place on 14 and 15 November 1885 and ended with a Bulgarian victory.-Prelude:...
between 14 and 15 November 1885 as a volunteer in the Student's Legion.
After the war he graduated from the High School and Lom
Lom
Lom as an ethnic group:* Lom people, a Gypsy group, mainly in the CaucasusLom as a placename:* Lom, Norway, a municipality in Norway** Lom prisoner of war camp, a Norwegian prisoner of war camp in the above-mentioned location....
and continued his education in the Artillery Department of the Military School
Vasil Levski National Military University
The Vasil Levski National Military University is Bulgaria's national military academy.Founded in 1878 as a military school in Plovdiv, it was moved to Sofia the same year. On 19 April 1924, it was promoted to university status and in 1945, it was named in honour of Bulgarian national hero Vasil...
in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
. He received his first officer rank - lieutenant on 9 May 1887 and began his service in the artillery and in 1894 was promoted to captain.
In 1889 Zhostov went to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
where he entered the Artillery School to study for a staff officer. In 1897 he graduated with excellent marks and returned to Bulgaria and was assigned to the administration of the Army's General Staff. Latter he was appointed commander of an artillery battery in the 3rd Artillery Regiment and was made head of the fortress artillery section in the Artillery Department of the War Ministry.
In 1902 he was promoted to major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and in 1905 was send as a military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. In 1908 Zhostov was promoted to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and took command of the 8th Tundzha Infantry Division. Then in 1906-1907 he was again a military attaché in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. After his return to Bulgariahe became part of Tsar Ferdinand's retinue. In 19010 Konstantin was made commander of the 3rd Artillery Regiment and in 1912 became head of the Reserve Officer School.
Balkan Wars
When the general mobilization prior the First Balkan WarFirst Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
was declared in September 1912 Konstantin Zhostov was appointed Chief of Staff of the 3rd Army and as such was at the heart of the Bulgarian victories at Lozengrad and Lule-Burgaz. Latter he was Chief of Staff of the united Bulgarian 1st and 3rd Armies. After the first armistice was concluded he was included in the Bulgarian delegation at the London peace talks. With the failure of the talks he returned to the front and assumed his previous post. After a few months of fighting the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
was finally defeated and the London Peace Treaty was signed on 30 May 1913.
During the Second Balkan War
Second Balkan War
The Second Balkan War was a conflict which broke out when Bulgaria, dissatisfied with its share of the spoils of the First Balkan War, attacked its former allies, Serbia and Greece, on 29 June 1913. Bulgaria had a prewar agreement about the division of region of Macedonia...
he was commander of the 1st Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division.
First World War
On the 15 August 1915 Zhostov was promoted to major generalMajor General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and in September appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Army. He had a leading role during the Serbian Campaign
Serbian Campaign (World War I)
The Serbian Campaign was fought from late July 1914, when Austria-Hungary invaded Serbia at the outset of the First World War, until late 1915, when the Macedonian Front was formed...
and in the Macedonian Front. Still the general was not among the strong supporters of the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
. Following a tour of the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
and the Italian Front
Italian Campaign (World War I)
The Italian campaign refers to a series of battles fought between the armies of Austria-Hungary and Italy, along with their allies, in northern Italy between 1915 and 1918. Italy hoped that by joining the countries of the Triple Entente against the Central Powers it would gain Cisalpine Tyrol , the...
he even suggested to the prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Radoslavov
Vasil Radoslavov
Vasil Radoslavov was a leading Bulgarian liberal politician who twice served as Prime Minister. He was Premier of the country throughout most of World War I....
that Bulgaria switch sides and join the Entente. Such views made Zhostov, in his own words, a "back cat" for tsar Ferdinand and the government.
Major General Konstantin Zhostov died on 30 August 1916 after suffering from complications of appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
.
Awards
- Order of BraveryOrder of BraveryThe Order of Bravery is a Bulgarian order during the Kingdom of Bulgaria and the Republic of Bulgaria. It is the most esteemed Bulgarian order and the second highest in the Kingdom of Bulgaria and forth highest in the Republic of Bulgaria...
, II grade and III grade,2 class - Order of St AlexanderOrder of St AlexanderThe Order of St Alexander was the second highest Bulgarian order during the Kingdom of Bulgaria. It was established by Knyaz Alexander I and named after his patron saint .-History:...
, II and III grade with swords - Order of Military MeritOrder of Military Merit (Bulgaria)The Order of Military Merit is a Bulgarian order during the Kingdom of Bulgaria and the Republic of Bulgaria. In is the third highest order in the Republic of Bulgaria along with the Order of Civil Merit and the Order of the Madara Rider.-History:...
, IV and V grade - German Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
- Austrian Order of the Iron CrownOrder of the Iron CrownThe Imperial Order of the Iron Crown was established June 5, 1805 by Napoleon Bonaparte . It took its name from the ancient Iron Crown of Lombardy, a medieval jewel with an iron ring, forged from what was supposed to be a nail from the True Cross as a band on the inside. This crown also gave its...
- Ottoman Liyakat Medal
Sources
- Richard Hall, Balkan Breakthrough: The Battle of Dobro Pole 1918, Indiana University Press, 2010, ISBN 9780253354525
- General Zhostov(in Bulgarian)