French diplomacy during the July Monarchy (1830 – 1848) was put to the test, as a result of the approach and strategy used in regulating the second escalation of the Ottoman-Egyptian conflict (1839 – 1841). French strategic interests in the Mediterranean basin were decisive in favour of the claims made by the Egyptian governor Muhammad Ali Pasha (1769 – 1849) for hereditary investiture, in addition to Egypt and the Ottoman province of Syria, which he occupied in 1831. The policy of Paris was carried out by the two main political players, François Guizot (1787 – 1874) and Adolphe Thiers (1797 – 1877), who applied two different approaches to regulating the crisis in the Orient. The model of behaviour, defending the categorical pro-Egyptian position, was implemented by François Guizot, charged with a diplomatic mission in London (from 23 February 1840 to 29 October 1840) according to the instructions of the Foreign Minister Adolphe Thiers (from 1 March 1840 to 29 October 1840). The differences between the two approaches were evident in the conclusion of the secret treaty of 15 July 1840 between Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, which excluded France and dealt a blow to its dignity. Thiers’ belligerent approach was replaced by the more peaceful one, implemented by Guizot and promoting Franco-English partnership. The article examines the differences in the opinions of the two statesmen in the 1840s, which gave rise to a conflict of interests and a lack of a shared political goal, but in the 1850s a compromise between Thiers’ pro-Napoleonic worldview and the Franco-English alliance supported by Guizot was achieved.

The article aims to present a current picture of the Bulgarian diaspora in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The number, ethnic composition and economic motives of Bulgarian citizens who have chosen the country for temporary or permanent residence are examined. Attention is also paid to the models of integration, the creation of community spaces, educational and cultural institutions that maintain the national identity of the diaspora. Bulgarian citizens in the Netherlands are a representative model of society in Bulgaria, with the main difference that abroad, this society actively builds a positive environment for its social and cultural cohesion in a spirit of partnership and equality.

The article examines two cartoons by the British artist William Chasemore that reflect on the Congress of Berlin 1878. The Congress was famous for the creation of other cartoons, but the two works by William Chasemore do not fall into this category and may represent an interesting addition to the more popular aspects of satire dedicated to the diplomatic forum after the Russo-Turkish War of 1877 – 1878. Leading European politicians are depicted curiously, including German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (Lord Beaconsfield), Russian Foreign Minister Prince Gorchakov, and other important participants in the meeting in Berlin in the summer of 1878. The satirical presentation of the event is filled with many scathing but accurate observations about international politics in the context of the Eastern Question.

The text presents little-known or entirely unknown data on the history of Sofia buildings financed through the donations of Bulgarian merchant Ivan Denkoglu and those that are named after him. It traces their fate from the mid-19th century to the present day, analyzing it through the lens of the turbulent history of the Bulgarian state. In addition to exploring the history of the Ivan Denkoglu School and the churches ‘St. Virgin Mary Prechista’ and ‘St. Spas’, which received direct support from the benefactor, the article also examines the fate of buildings bearing his name – such as a Charitable society, a cultural center (chitalishte), and a bookstore named Ivan Denkoglu. Within the context of these Sofia buildings, related topics are also discussed, including the final resting place of Ivan Denkoglu’s parents, the fate of his library, and the activities of the Sofia Charitable Society ‘Iv. N. Denkoglu’, among others. The study aims to connect the history of these buildings with the broader history of Sofia and the memory of the benefactor.

The article briefly examines the biographies and activities of the most prominent Spanish diplomats in Istanbul from the end of the 18th century and in the 19th century. The correspondence sent from the capital of the Ottoman Empire to the Spanish Secretary of State in Madrid is used, as well as other documents of the Spanish legation. The diplomats’ documentation established a number of important events in the history of the Balkans and the Bulgarians over the two centuries, as well as their attitude towards the Eastern Question, which was important for Europe.

The Great Depression (World Economic Crisis 1929 – 1933) did not significantly affect Bulgarian industry. The crisis inflicted the greatest damage on the tobacco industry because it produces tobacco products exclusively for the foreign market. The article examines the way in which the Bulgarian state manages to deal with this crisis. This is mainly due to the measures carried out by the government of the People’s Bloc (1931 – 1934), which were supported and continued by the next cabinet of the Military Union and the “Union” Political Circle. These actions of the two governments, known in the literature as the “Great Compensation Deal”, represent a significant breakthrough in Bulgaria’s foreign trade, which almost froze during the crisis. The article makes a small contribution to the objective and unintended assessment of the so-called “Regime of the Nineteenth Stomach” and its place in Bulgarian economic history in the 1930s.