Monument to Alexander 2 in Sofia. Alexander II - Tsar Liberator of Bulgaria

Address: Tsar Liberator Street

In case you are wondering who is this man on horseback in front of the Bulgarian Parliament, then this is the Monument to the Tsar Liberator, dedicated to the Russian Tsar Alexander II. In Bulgaria he is simply known as the Tsar Liberator. He is known in Bulgaria for the beginning of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-78. In order to save the fraternal Christian peoples of the Balkan Peninsula, Russian troops, Bulgarian volunteers and Romanian units utterly defeated the Ottoman army. March 3, 1878 in San Stefano, the Turks were forced to sign the Treaty of San Stefano, according to which a number of peoples of the Balkans gained independence. If you stand with your back to the monument, then to the left of the Bulgarian parliament is the former building of the embassy of the Russian Empire. A little further the temple is the Alexander Nevsky monument, dedicated to the dead Russian soldiers. That is, the historical center is essentially studded with buildings one way or another connected with Russia.

Atlantis	Dyatlov Pass	Waverly Hills Sanitarium	Rome
London	Pompeii	Herculaneum	Nessebar
Hilt	Adrianov Val	Wall of Antonina	Scara Bray
Parthenon	Mycenae	Olympia	Karnak
The Pyramid of Cheops	Troy	tower of babel	Machu Picchu
Coliseum	Chichen Itza	Teotihuacan	the great Wall of China
Side	stonehenge	Jerusalem	Petra

The Monument to the Tsar Liberator is a 4.5-meter horse figurine of Alexander II, made of bronze, placed on a black polished granite pedestal. The total height is 12 meters. The middle part of the monument is decorated with figures and a massive Renaissance cornice, completed with a sculpture of the Russian Tsar. An annular, high bronze relief surrounding the middle of the pedestal depicts people led by the goddess of victory, Nike. The relief depicts the faces of more than 30 military leaders, statesmen and public figures, including General Mikhail Skobelev, General Iosif Gurko, Count Nikolai Ignatiev, and Prince Nikolai Nikolaevich Sr. Three other smaller bronze reliefs depict key events such as the Battle of Stara Zagora, the signing of the peace treaty at San Stefano, and the convening of the Constituent Assembly. The front part of the monument is crowned with a bronze laurel wreath, a gift from the Romanian king Carol I in memory of the dead Romanian soldiers and the inscription "To the Tsar the Liberator / Bulgaria is grateful."

For the first time, the idea of ​​recreating the monument to the Tsar Liberator was proposed in December 1892 at the II Congress of the Corps. A unanimous decision was made to create an initiative committee to raise funds necessary to erect a monument to Alexander II and build a house for veterans of the April uprising and the Russian-Turkish war. Stojan Zaimov was elected chairman of the Committee, and the honorary chairman was Prince Ferdinand, who made the first contribution of 50,000 leva. Donations of 300,000 leva were received by the deputies of the 10th National Assembly, while other funds were collected by various public organizations and bulk purchases of a specially issued postage stamp depicting Alexander II.

At the meetings of the committee from February 15 to 18, 1900, a competition program for the creation of a monument was created, which fixes its mandatory elements, materials for its construction and determines the final sales amount (300,000 francs) and the prize fund (5,000 francs for the first prize and 4,000 francs for the second to fifth awards). The terms of the competition have been sent to art academies around the world and are of great interest; 90 sculptors registered, 32 of them from 13 countries: nine from Paris, three from Florence, three from Sofia, two from Zurich, Berlin and Prague, one from Rome, Vienna, Budapest, Copenhagen, Lisbon, The Hague, Hanover, Turin, Bax , Tiflis and Smyrna.

From September 1st to 15th, 1900 models were presented in the royal arena for public viewing, and on September 20th, Prince Ferdinand officially opened the meeting of the jury members, composed of prof. Antonin Mercier from France, prof. Ettore Ferrari from Italy, prof. Robert Bach from Russia, Bulgarian artists Ivan Murvichka, Anton Mitov, Petko Klisurov, architects. Nikola Lazarov, engineer Stoymen Sarafov, Stoyan Zaimov and diplomats.

The competition was won by the Florentine sculptor Arnaldo Zochi. Second to fifth place, classified respectively by Germany Gerhard Eberlein, Frenchman Antonin Laroux and Gaston Male, Czech Frantisek Rous and Frenchman Eugen Boveri. Five other applicants were awarded with commendable reviews, including art school teachers, Zheko Spiridonova and Boris Schatz. The foundation stone was laid on April 23, 1901 (St. George's Day) in the presence of Prince Ferdinand I. The construction of the monument ends on September 15, 1903. The monument to the Tsar Liberator was officially opened on August 30, 1907 in the presence of Ferdinand I with his sons Boris and Kirill, Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, son of Alexander II, his wife Maria Pavlovna and their son Andrei, the gene minister of defense. General Kaulbars, General Stoletov, Commander of St. Petersburg, General Parensov, and Arnoldo Tsoki.

Apt for nicknames, the Russian people gave this emperor the nickname Peacemaker. For the fact that the main feature of his reign was the complete absence of any kind of war. We are talking about Emperor Alexander III. It is worth mentioning that under him very significant political and economic reforms were carried out: the abolition of the poll tax, the mandatory redemption of land, and the reduction of redemption payments. In addition, the people respected their autocrat for his deep religiosity and patriotism for the good of Russia. All this was the reason that immediately after the death of Emperor Alexander III, it was decided to erect a monument to him in Moscow.

Monument to Emperor Alexander III near the Cathedral of Christ the Savior

In the year of his death - 1894 - a nationwide subscription was announced to raise funds for the creation of a monument to Alexander III. Work on the monument lasted almost 18 years and ended in 1912, during which time 2 million 388 thousand 586 rubles were collected, exclusively from the people's money. Such is the deep respect of the Russian people for the emperor from the House of Romanov (which historians from the communist ideology diligently tried to disguise in Soviet times). The monument symbolized the unity of Orthodox Russia and the Russian Autocracy. " It was a statue depicting the Russian emperor as God's anointed", - wrote the American scientist Richard Wertman.

View of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the monument to Alexander III from the Moscow River

The author of the monument to Emperor Alexander III was the famous sculptor, full member of the Academy of Arts, A.M. Opekushin, known for the monument to A.S. Pushkin on Strastnoy Boulevard in Moscow. Also, in collaboration with him, the famous Moscow architect A.N. Pomerantsev and engineer-architect K.A. Greinert. The monument, made of bronze, depicted the Emperor sitting on a throne with all the royal regalia: with a scepter, orb, crown and mantle of the monarch. The mantle descended at one end onto a pedestal of red granite. The granite pedestal rested on the same granite pedestal. Four bronze double-headed eagles in crowns with outstretched wings were placed on the ledge of the basement. The inscription was carved on the pedestal:

To Our Most Pious, Most Autocratic Great Sovereign

Alexander Alexandrovich of All Russia

1881-1894

Initially, the monument was planned to be installed in the Kremlin, but then it was decided to change the place and the site was chosen in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior on Prechistenskaya embankment, facing the Moscow River, as more advantageous from the point of view of architectural perspective.

Imperial couple - Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna -

At the opening of the monument to the Tsar the Peacemaker

The opening of the monument took place on May 30, 1912. The ceremonial of celebrations was a modest copy of the ritual of consecrating the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. At 8 o'clock in the morning, five cannon shots from the Tainitskaya tower of the Kremlin announced the beginning of the celebration. Troops lined up around the monument. By 10 o'clock the imperial couple arrived at the monument: Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna. They were accompanied by a retinue represented by members of the State Council, the State Duma, senators, generals and admirals, maids of honor and state ladies, various provincial and district leaders. The procession from the Temple, headed by Metropolitan Vladimir and the reigning persons, was accompanied by the bell ringing of nearby churches. A thanksgiving prayer with kneeling took place at the monument. After 360 salutes and the performance of the Transfiguration March, the veil was removed from the monument, and Metropolitan Vladimir sprinkled the monument with holy water. In the evening the city and the monument were illuminated. For the Moscow monument to Alexander III, Emperor Nicholas II granted Alexander Mikhailovich the rank of real state councilor and a lifetime pension in the amount of three thousand rubles.

Demolition of the monument to Emperor Alexander III in the summer of 1918

The monument lasted only six years. In the summer of 1918, it was destroyed in pursuance of the decree "On the removal of monuments erected in honor of the tsars and their servants, and the development of projects for monuments to the Russian Socialist Revolution." In the first paragraph of this decree, in particular, the following was written: "Monuments erected in honor of the kings and their servants and not of interest either from a historical or artistic point of view, are subject to removal from squares and streets and partly transferred to warehouses, partly used for a utilitarian nature ." Thus, the Opekushinsky monument was recognized by a crowd of poorly educated people who seized power, of no interest and no artistic value. A little later, in the same way, they will "recognize and evaluate" the values ​​of the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, the Kremlin, and so on. repositories of art, as of no interest to Russia, and sell them right and left for next to nothing to connoisseurs of real art abroad...

Equestrian monument in the center, erected in honor of the Russian Emperor Alexander II, who in the 1870s. liberated from Ottoman oppression. This is one of the most famous and photographed monuments of the Bulgarian capital. It was erected at the beginning of the 20th century according to the design of the Italian sculptor A. Zocchi.

The grand opening of the monument took place in 1907 with the direct participation of one of the sons of Alexander II and the Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand I. Also present were eminent generals of those times, the Minister of War of Bulgaria, the commandant of St. Petersburg and other important government officials. Structurally, it is an equestrian sculpture on a basement pedestal.

At the base of the pedestal in memory of those who died in the liberation war is a bronze wreath. Under the very equestrian figure of the king, you can see a sculptural image of his valiant army, in which he fought for the Bulgarian lands during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. The features of the Renaissance are very clearly traced in the appearance of the monument. In general, it is considered that this is one of the best works of A. Zocchi.

During the Second World War, the monument was badly damaged and was under restoration for a long time. Geographically, it is located on the National Assembly Square in the very center of Sofia. The nearest metro station is "Sofia University named after St. Kliment Ohridski".

Attraction photo: Monument to the Tsar Liberator

Are there many capitals in the world where the Russian emperor is immortalized?

The monument to Alexander II stands in the very center of Sofia, opposite the parliament building. And the address at the monument is suitable: "Boulevard of the Tsar-Liberator". And this whole quarter is often called Russian by tourists. Opposite the monument to the emperor, the grandiose temple of St. Alexander Nevsky is the cathedral patriarchal cathedral of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (accommodating more than 5,000 people!), Erected in 1912 according to the project of the Russian architect A. Pomerantsev in honor of the victory in the war of 1877-1878. In the neighborhood - the church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (is the courtyard of the Russian Orthodox Church). A little further - an obelisk as a sign of the victory of Russian weapons. Yes, and the nearest street of the quarter is called Moscow ...

I worked as a correspondent in Bulgaria for many years. And I am not very pleased to ask this question: why is the memory of Emperor Alexander so unfair in modern Russia? One and only sculpture in Moscow, near the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the work of Alexander Rukavishnikov - why such stinginess to praise a man who has done immeasurably much for us Russians? I understand that communist ideologists have crossed out many glorious pages from the Russian chronicle. But today, who does not order to remember the Liberator and the Reformer and worthily perpetuate our memory of him not only in the capital?

The Florentine sculptor, the brilliant Arnaldo Zocchi, sculpted Alexander on a high (12 meters!) granite pedestal. The sovereign is depicted riding a horse - a tribute to the then European tradition - in a proud (royal, of course) pose. Alexander, according to the memoirists, was not a dashing rider, but in the theater of operations he often sat on the saddle. Like his brother, Grand Duke Nikolai, commander-in-chief of the Russian troops, like three sons who commanded detachments in that war ...

On the four sides of the pedestal are smaller sculptures depicting scenes from the War of Liberation. Generals Skobelev and Gurko, Count Ignatiev, the Battle of Staraya Zagora, the signing of the San Stefano peace treaty, the convening of the Constituent Assembly. Along the perimeter - a grateful population. And the inscription, which has not faded over the centuries: "To the Tsar-Liberator - Grateful Bulgaria."

In 1892, the Second Congress of the Advocate-Militia Corps came up with the idea of ​​creating a monument to the Russian Emperor. An international competition for the best project was announced, 31 applicants participated. The brainchild of the Italian winner Zocchi was built from April 1901 to September 1907. The funds for the construction were given by the municipality of Sofia, part of the money was allocated by the Bulgarian prince Ferdinand, the rest were collected by donations from the Bulgarian people...

The fate of the monument - like its prototype - cannot be called easy. During the Second World War, he was badly damaged during the absolutely senseless American bombing. Over time, restoration work was carried out, and in 2013 the monument acquired its original appearance. Financing was provided by the Russian charitable foundation "Generation", and Bulgarian experts participated in the work together with Russian restorers...

What captivates me in the tireless work of ordinary Bulgarians to preserve the memory of Alexander II and other heroes of the Russian-Turkish war is their prudence and balance. Recently, the Balkan Institute for Reconstruction and Development proposed, on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the Liberation of Bulgaria, to erect a monument to Emperor Alexander II by the Russian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli in the center of the small Danube town of Svishtov. The city council unanimously supported the idea, but the residents of the city decided not to rush.

No, they are not against the installation of the monument (80 percent of the townspeople voted "for"). But let's think, the reasonable Svishtovites said, where to put the monument. The fact is that the height of the sculpture is 8 meters! Agree, in the center of a small town built up with low houses, the monument will look like a giant. Meanwhile, there is a memorial complex "Pamyatnitsy" nearby, it was at this geographical point that the victorious march of Russian troops began, when soldiers under the leadership of General Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov crossed the river.

Before the start of the operation, the general turned to the soldiers: "The whole of Russia is watching us. There are no flanks for us, no rear. There is only the front! Either beyond the Danube or into the Danube!" After a successful operation, Svishtov became the first Bulgarian city liberated from the yoke. And isn't it more logical, the townspeople suggested, to erect a monument to the Liberator in this very place?

Habitual, like the sun, like the wind,
Like a star in the evening sky
As if over this city
This is how he always stood.

Konstantin Vanshenkin wrote these lines about a soldier from another liberation war. About the monument to Alyosha, which rises above Plovdiv. About all monuments. About our memory.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Monument
Monument to the Tsar Liberator Monument to the Tsar Liberator
A country	Bulgaria
City	Sofia
Coordinates	42°41′37″ N. sh. 23°19′56″ in. d. /  42.6937806° N. sh. 23.3324917° E d. / 42.6937806; 23.3324917(G) (I)
Project author	Arnoldo Zocchi
Construction	April 23 - September 15

Monument to the Tsar Liberator(Bulg. Monument to the Tsar Liberator listen)) is an equestrian monument in the center of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Erected in honor of the Russian Emperor Alexander II, who liberated Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878.

This monument is considered one of the best works of the Florentine sculptor Arnoldo Zocchi. The first stone was laid on April 23, 1901 (St. George's Day). The work was completed on September 15, 1903. The solemn consecration took place on August 30, 1907 in the presence of the Bulgarian prince Ferdinand I, son of Alexander II, Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, his wife Maria Pavlovna, their son Andrei Vladimirovich, the former military ministers of Bulgaria, Generals Kaulbars and Parensov, the former commander of the Bulgarian militia, General Stoletov and Arnoldo Zocchi .

The monument is built of polished granite. It consists of a plinth pedestal, a middle section with figures, and a massive Renaissance cornice. The monument is crowned with a sculpture of Alexander II sitting on a horse. The bronze wreath at the base of the pedestal is a gift from Romania, in memory of the Romanian soldiers and officers who died in the war for the liberation of Bulgaria.

In 2013, the monument was completely renovated.

Gallery

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Tsar Osvobotitel E1.jpg

Sources

• Encyclopedia on fine art in Bulgaria, volume 2, BAN Publishing House, Sofia, 1986 (Bulgarian)

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An excerpt characterizing the Monument to the Tsar Liberator

“No, my dear,” said a pleasant and seemingly familiar voice to Prince Andrei, “I say that if it were possible to know what would happen after death, then none of us would be afraid of death. So, dove.
Another, younger voice interrupted him:
“Yes, be afraid, don’t be afraid, it doesn’t matter, you won’t pass it.”
- You're still afraid! Eh, you learned people,” said a third courageous voice, interrupting both of them. - Then you, artillerymen, are very learned because you can bring everything with you, both vodka and snacks.
And the owner of the manly voice, apparently an infantry officer, laughed.
“But you’re still afraid,” continued the first familiar voice. You're afraid of the unknown, that's what. No matter how you say that the soul will go to heaven... after all, we know that there is no sky, but only one sphere.
Again the courageous voice interrupted the gunner.
“Well, treat yourself to your herbalist, Tushin,” he said.
“Ah, this is the same captain who stood at the sutler without boots,” thought Prince Andrei, recognizing with pleasure the pleasant philosophizing voice.
“You can get a herbalist,” said Tushin, “but still comprehend the future life ...
He did not agree. At this time, a whistle was heard in the air; closer, closer, faster and more audible, more audible and faster, and the core, as if not having finished everything that was needed, exploding spray with inhuman force, plopped into the ground not far from the booth. The earth seemed to gasp from a terrible blow.
At the same instant, little Tushin jumped out of the booth, first of all, with his pipe bitten on his side; his kind, intelligent face was somewhat pale. Behind him came the owner of a courageous voice, a dashing infantry officer, and ran to his company, buttoning up as he ran.

Prince Andrei stopped on horseback on the battery, looking at the smoke of the gun from which the cannonball flew out. His eyes darted across the vast expanse. He only saw that the hitherto motionless masses of the French were swaying, and that there really was a battery to the left. It hasn't blown smoke yet. Two French cavalry, probably adjutants, galloped up the mountain. Downhill, probably to strengthen the chain, a clearly visible small column of the enemy was moving. The smoke of the first shot had not yet dissipated, when another smoke and a shot appeared. The battle has begun. Prince Andrei turned his horse around and galloped back to Grunt to look for Prince Bagration. Behind him he heard the cannonade becoming more frequent and louder. Apparently, ours began to respond. Below, in the place where the parliamentarians were passing, rifle shots were heard.