L. A. Gerd. Franco-Russian Rivalry in Eastern Thrace (1856–1870s) // Petersburg Historical
Journal, no. 1, 2026, pp. 131–145.

DOI: 10.51255/2311–603X_2026_1_131

Abstract:

The end of the 1850s and the 1860s were a period of the highest tension in the Greek-Bulgarian counter-action in the church-national question. The struggle of the Bulgarians against the Greek high clergy was used by the diplomacy of the powers (Russia, France and Great Britain) for strengthening of their influence in the Balkans. The Russian representatives supported Orthodoxy, while the French diplomats and missionaries tried to convert the Bulgarians into the Union with Rome. The article is focused on the methods of struggle of the Bulgarian population of Adrianople and Eastern Thrace, used by the secular and religious agents of the concurrent powers (Russia and France), and the results of their activities. Basing on the reports of French diplomats conclusions are made concerning the missionary work in the colonial policy of France in the third quarter of the 19th century.

Key words: Eastern Question, Balkans, Adrianople, Russian church policy, Greek-Bulgarian question, soft power, Catholic missionaries, union with Rome.

Author:

Gerd, Lora Aleksandrovna — Dr of Sci. in History, Leading Researcher, Department of General History, St. Petersburg Institute of History, Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg, Russia).
E-mail: loragerd@gmail.com
ORCID: 0000-0001-6842-5871

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