The exhibition “The Bulgarian Army: The Beginning” is dedicated to the 145th anniversary of the establishment of the Bulgarian Army and presents the army as a symbol of revived statehood through a wide range of exhibits – testimonies to the will and ambition of the first Bulgarian statesmen and military leaders to create a strong and well-equipped army.
The exhibition presents iconic artifacts that bear witness to the first steps in the building of the army. Among them are the original 14 flags presented to the first infantry companies, which had been carried in the wars for national liberation and unification. Some of these flags had been made for the Bulgarian Volunteer Corps; others had been rescued from captivity at the end of the First World War.
The exhibition narrative is enriched through personal belongings of the first knyaz of Bulgaria, Alexander I – a sultan (kalpak, an indigenous type of fur hat), a general’s pattern parade uniform, a sword forged for him, decorations, etc. The early years of the history of the Bulgarian Army are also illustrated through some of the earliest adopted in service cold steel and firearms, military dress, and accessories.
