History, City of Stara Zagora
The most ancient traces of human activity in the region of Stara Zagora date back between the VII and VI millennia B.C. Exactly at that time (the beginning of the new stone age) four pre-historic villages were built up, with territory covering as much of the territory of the town of Stara Zagora and the surrounding area today. For almost six thousand years one of those villages remained the biggest within the boundaries of the existing provinces. Some scientists believe that the ancient Thracian village of Beroe was originally located there. The village of Beroe was founded in the IV century B.C. by Philip of Macedonia.
In the turn of the II century A.D. during the rule of the Roman Emperor Trayan (98-117 AD) laid over the foundations of the big Roman town of Augusta Trayana. The area and the significance of Augusta Trayana rivalled those of the biggest Roman cities in the Trakia and Mizia provinces at that time. According to the prominent Roman historian from the 4th century A.D. Amian Marcelin, Beroe (i.e. Augusta Trayana), together with Philipopoulis, “beautified” the Trakia province; whereas the native people used to call it “the most fascinating town”.
Between the II and IV century A.D. a broad range of “trans-border” activities from the people of Augusta Trayana was under way. Sparta (Greece), Akvinkum (Budapest), Syria, etc. were among those to have had trade contacts with the Thracian town.
In mid-IV century A.D. the town became one of the most active venues of early Christianity on the Balkan Peninsula.
In ancient times, the town of Augusta Trayana was visited by the Roman Emperors Septimius Sever (193-211 AD), Karakala ((211-217 AD), Diocletian (293-306 A.D.) and others. Those events evidenced the significance that the town held as an administrative, strategic, military and geopolitical center in the region.
Accompanied by her suite in 784 A.D. the town of Augusta Trayana was also visited by the Byzantine Empress Irina. She came to regard the town as a highly important military and strategic center and invested special care and labour into improving the town’s fortification facilities. The town then was renamed after her - Irinopolis (the town of Irina).
During the Ottoman dominance Stara Zagora (Eski Zagra, Eski Zaara) is an administrative district.
On July 19, 1877, during the Russo-Turkish War, the front army troops of General Gurko took over Stara Zagora., but soon his army and its joint Bulgarian volunteer soldiers were confronted by the huge army of the Turkish Suleiman Pasha. The Russian soldiers were forced to retreat and surrender the town. Stara Zagora was then burnt down and massacred. Over 5,000 people were killed. The town was eventually liberated on Jan. 1, 1878.
After its liberation, Stara Zagora became the main town in a department in East Rumelia province. The town was rebuilt, while the new street planning featured a predominance of straight streets crossing each other in a perpendicular fashion. The new plan was worked out in 1879 by the Czech urban planner Lubor Bayer.
In 1884, Stara Zagora numbered 15,258 people and was the third biggest in the East Rumelia province, trailing only behind the towns of Plovdiv and Sliven.
By the end of WWII the town economy was predominantly food and agriculture -processing. The most important sectors of the Stara Zagora economy today are: machine building and metal-processing; electronics and electro-engineering industry; food-processing; chemical industry and the production of artificial fertilizers. The town economy also includes the production and processing of sunflower oil, grain silo, flour and macaroni products, world-famous beer brand “Zagorka”, tobacco products, wood furniture, textile, etc. By 1992 the town’s population reached 150,482, being the sixth biggest in the country, trailing behind Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, and Ruse.
On June 27, 1996, The Thracian University was established in Stara Zagora, bringing together the two then existing higher-education institutes in town: The Higher Institute of Medicine and The Higher Institute of Zootechnics and Veterinary Medicine. The new academic institution quickly started to make name as a complex academic and R&D center in the field of medicine, veterinary medicine, livestock-breeding, and teacher qualification and skill training.
Union of Bulgarian Scientists in Stara Zagora © 20066000 Stara Zagora, 140 “Tsar Simeon Veliki” Blvd; P.O.Box 304 Bulgaria
Tel/Fax. +359(42)63 91 05, Tel. +359(42)64 60 41 or 63 85 71