Leonid Sobolev
Encyclopedia
Leonid Nikolayevich Sobolev (9 June 1844 – 13 October 1913) was an Imperial Russian Army
general and politician.
A veteran of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, General Sobolev was the main proponent of the strand of Russian foreign and military policy that saw for the Russians a duty to expel the Ottoman Empire
from Europe
and to take the Bosphorus for Russia in order to ensure full access to the Mediterranean Sea
. Recognising that the United Kingdom
maintained a policy of preventing this Sobolev advocated mobilising forces near Afghanistan
and British India in order to distract British attention from the Ottomans and give a Russia a free hand in that region.
Sobolev was one of two young Russia
n generals appointed to the Bulgaria
n cabinet in April 1882 by Alexander. Sobolev was appointed both Prime Minister of Bulgaria and Minister of the Interior, with his fellow Russian general Aleksandr Kaulbars as Minister of War. Sobolev awarded the other cabinet posts to members of the Conservative Party
and won their favour by endorsing laws to reduce the size of the National Assembly of Bulgaria
and limit the franchise to educated property owners, measures that ensured the Liberals
were all but eliminated.
Sobolev however irked his Bulgarian allies when he dismissed the state as "just another Khanate
", comparing it to the Khanate of Bukhara
where he had been governor. He further annoyed the newly elected Conservative Assembly members with his aristocratic manner and his over-the-top attempts to bribe them, which even included leaving confectionery on each member's desk. Soon Sobolev was at loggerheads with the Assembly over the presence of a force of Russian Dragoons in Bulgaria and over ownership of the railways.
Eventually, with the aid of pro-Russian Orthodox leader Metropolitan Mileti of Sofia, Sobolev forced the resignation of his nemesis Konstantin Stoilov
, the Minister for Foreign and Religious Affairs, although Stoilov's departure prompted two other leading Conservatives to also quit the cabinet. With the government in ruins Sobolev turned to the Liberal leader Dragan Tsankov
for a new coalition but he had another agenda in mind. Tsankov won the support of both Alexander and the ssembly for a constitutional
restoration after convincing all parties that Russian influence had become too strong. Outmanoeuvred Sobolev resigned on 7 September along with Kaulbars leaving the premiership to Tsankov.
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
general and politician.
A veteran of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, General Sobolev was the main proponent of the strand of Russian foreign and military policy that saw for the Russians a duty to expel 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...
from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and to take the Bosphorus for Russia in order to ensure full access to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. Recognising that the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
maintained a policy of preventing this Sobolev advocated mobilising forces near Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and British India in order to distract British attention from the Ottomans and give a Russia a free hand in that region.
Sobolev was one of two young Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n generals appointed to the Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n cabinet in April 1882 by Alexander. Sobolev was appointed both Prime Minister of Bulgaria and Minister of the Interior, with his fellow Russian general Aleksandr Kaulbars as Minister of War. Sobolev awarded the other cabinet posts to members of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (Bulgaria)
The Conservative Party was a Bulgarian party which existed between 1879 and 1884. It was linked with the newspapers Vitosha, Balgarski Glas and Otechestvo....
and won their favour by endorsing laws to reduce the size of the National Assembly of Bulgaria
National Assembly of Bulgaria
The National Assembly of Bulgaria is the unicameral parliament and body of the legislative of the Republic of Bulgaria.The National Assembly of Bulgaria was established in 1879 with the Constitution of Bulgaria.-Ordinary National Assembly:...
and limit the franchise to educated property owners, measures that ensured the Liberals
Liberalism and radicalism in Bulgaria
This article gives an overview of liberalism and radicalism in Bulgaria. It is limited to liberal and radical parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
were all but eliminated.
Sobolev however irked his Bulgarian allies when he dismissed the state as "just another Khanate
Khanate
Khanate, or Chanat, is a Turco-Mongol-originated word used to describe a political entity ruled by a Khan. In modern Turkish, the word used is kağanlık, and in modern Azeri of the republic of Azerbaijan, xanlıq. In Mongolian the word khanlig is used, as in "Khereidiin Khanlig" meaning the Khanate...
", comparing it to the Khanate of Bukhara
Khanate of Bukhara
Khanate of Bukhara was a significant state in Central Asia from the second quarter of 16th century to the late–18th century. Bukhara became the capital of the short-lived Shaybanid empire during the reign of Ubaydallah Khan . The khanate reached its greatest extent and influence under its...
where he had been governor. He further annoyed the newly elected Conservative Assembly members with his aristocratic manner and his over-the-top attempts to bribe them, which even included leaving confectionery on each member's desk. Soon Sobolev was at loggerheads with the Assembly over the presence of a force of Russian Dragoons in Bulgaria and over ownership of the railways.
Eventually, with the aid of pro-Russian Orthodox leader Metropolitan Mileti of Sofia, Sobolev forced the resignation of his nemesis Konstantin Stoilov
Konstantin Stoilov
Konstantin Stoilov was a leading Bulgarian politician and twice Prime Minister. Simeon Radev described him as the most European-like of all Bulgarian politicians....
, the Minister for Foreign and Religious Affairs, although Stoilov's departure prompted two other leading Conservatives to also quit the cabinet. With the government in ruins Sobolev turned to the Liberal leader Dragan Tsankov
Dragan Tsankov
Dragan Kiriakov Tsankov was a Bulgarian politician and the first Liberal Party Prime Minister of the country....
for a new coalition but he had another agenda in mind. Tsankov won the support of both Alexander and the ssembly for a constitutional
Tarnovo Constitution
The Tarnovo Constitution was the first constitution of Bulgaria. It was adopted on 16 April 1879 by the Constituent National Assembly held in Veliko Tarnovo as part of the establishment of the Principality of Bulgaria...
restoration after convincing all parties that Russian influence had become too strong. Outmanoeuvred Sobolev resigned on 7 September along with Kaulbars leaving the premiership to Tsankov.