STAMBOLISKY, ALEXANDER (1879-1923), Bulgarian statesman, was born at Slavovitsa, in southern Bulgaria, Sept. 1, 1879, the son of a peasant landowner. After studying at the vil lage school and later in the neighbouring town, he attended the agricultural college of Halle in Germany. On returning to Bul garia, aged 18, he took up journalism, and in 1902 became editor of the organ of the newly-formed Agrarian League. Six years later he was elected to the Sobranye, where he led the Agrarian party.
He now began to organise the peasant masses, who form 8o% of the total population of Bulgaria, into agricultural associations. In 1911, when the Grand Sobranye met at Trnovo to amend the Constitution, his first conflict with King Ferdinand occurred. After the treaty of Bucharest (1913) Stambolisky and the Agra rians were unmerciful in their criticisms of Ferdinand's policy, though deterred from extreme measures by the fear of external complications. Stambolisky's opposition to Ferdinand came to a head in 1915 during the negotiations that preceded Bulgaria's entry into the World War. Stambolisky strongly backed the Entente in spite of the King's anger, pressure from the Govern ment and the growing influence of the Central Powers. Sum moned before the King, Stambolisky threatened him with personal violence if he should fight against the Allies, reminding him that he had a crown to lose. Ferdinand ordered his arrest. He was tried by court-martial and condemned to penal servitude for life.
In Sept. 1918, when the resistance of the Bulgarian troops began to slacken, Ferdinand released Stambolisky, who left for the Macedonian front. He returned at the head of the insur rectionary troops and their arrival at Sofia resulted in Ferdi nand's abdication and flight. A partisan of the new ruler, King Boris, Stambolisky became a member of the Cabinet in Jan. 1919 and Prime Minister in Oct. ; as head of the Government he went to Paris and signed the Treaty of Neuilly in the same year. In Feb. 192o he dissolved the Sobranye, and the following
month was returned to power at the head of a homogeneous Agrarian majority. From 1920 to 1923, the Agrarians under Stam bolisky ruled Bulgaria with a rod of iron. They had the Rado slavov Cabinet, which had brought Bulgaria into the World War, condemned to death by popular vote. Stambolisky also carried measures based on the interest of the peasants (see BUL GARIA), and declared : "Sofia, that Sodom, that Gomorrah, may disappear. . . . I shall not weep for her." Through his influence post-War Bulgaria loyally carried out the terms of the Peace Treaty, won the esteem of the Allies, and secured a reduction of reparations. Stambolisky also made persistent efforts to improve Bulgaria's relations with Yugoslavia, with which country he con cluded an agreement at Nig (1922). His ultimate ideal was prob ably some kind of federal South Slav State, embracing Bulgaria.
The overthrow of the Government by a military faction on June 9, 1923, was caused partly by dissatisfaction with Stambo lisky's domestic policy and partly by the influence of the Mace donian party. The change of regime took place in one night, the Agrarian Ministers being arrested in their homes. Stambo lisky, pursued by an armed detachment to his native village of Slavovitsa, escaped and fled across the mountains, hoping to reach the frontier. After being followed by soldiers for three days, he was eventually surrounded and shot on June 12. A formidable personality, attractive in many ways, and made of finer clay than the average Balkan statesman, Stambolisky has been called a modern Rienzi. Tall and broad, his demeanour was fierce and his movements ungainly ; his rough-hewn face was crowned by a mass of black hair; he impressed everyone with his strength and the sincerity of his advocacy of a "Green International," to unite the peasants of all countries. Stambolisky published Authority, Anarchy and Democracy ; and What a Politician ought to be.