The Russo-Ottoman Wars and the Bulgarian Revolution as an Obstacle and/or Opportunity for the Entrepreneurs from the Town of Svishtov during the 19th Century

The aim of the paper proposed is to present information concerning the impact of the wars between Russia and the Ottoman Empire on the activities of entrepreneurs in Svishtov during the 'long' 19th century. It sheds light on the demographic and economic consequences of the wars that took place in the time frame 1806–1812, 1828–1829, 1853–1856, and 1877–1878. On the other hand, emphasis is given to the economic outcomes of such revolutionary events as the 'Svishtov Conspiracy' of 1866–1867. In order to be accomplished this aim, commercial and private letters have been utilized. They are stored at the Bulgarian Historical Archive in the National Library, in the Scientific Archive at the Bulgarian Academy of Science, in the Central State Archive in Sofia. Older and contemporary studies dedicated to the merchants of Svishtov, as well as the history of the town of Svishtov, have been utilized. Wars and revolutionary events inevitably influenced the economic activity of the entrepreneurs of Svishtov during the 'long 19th century.' They had a somewhat negative impact on the economic life. Such events are always accompanied by demographic shocks, the most noticeable of which is that of September 1810. After 1810 and after the subsequent political upheavals, Svishtov recovered thanks to its central location (on an important trade route linking Central Europe and Asia Minor) and the opportunities it offered for developing entrepreneurial practice. The settlement attracted settlers from different localities in the Bulgarian lands, who were open-minded persons with entrepreneurial acumen and progressive thinking. They managed to restore and/or to establish contacts with relatives, acquaintances, and compatriots, through which the necessary (financial) resources flowed in Svishtov. During all mentioned political upheavals, there are people from the town of Svishtov with speculative thinking who took risk but also enriched themselves. The latter is particularly evident during the Russio-Ottoman War of Liberation (1877–1878). Moreover, the issues studied deserve particular attention and in-depth research in the future.