Кратак поглед на историју Цигана у бугарским земљама до краја Првог светског рата
Brief Overview of the History of Gypsies in Bulgarian Lands up to the end of the World War I

Summary/Abstract: Nowadays, the second-largest ethnic minority in Bulgaria – Gypsies are increasingly attracting the attention of the government and society. However, in the early years after the restoration of the Bulgarian state (1878), Gypsies are only a part of the diverse ethnic picture of the country; they do not play any significant role in political and public life, nor do they attract much attention. Although differences among themselves on the basis of religion, crafts and language are present, social development of different Gypsy groups during this historical period is identical. That is why they are recognized and treated by the other ethnical groups as a unified population. However, the approach towards Muslim Gypsies in the country has its nuances. Considerations of the Bulgarian society and government with their baptizing and the withdrawal of their voting rights in the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth century are in large part burdened with historical heritage, but to some extent they are based upon practical means. These events mark the very beginning of the special policies towards Muslim Gypsies, conducted during different historical periods, which later (after 1944) reflects upon the entire Gypsy minority in the country, regardless of their religion. In the timeframe dealt in this article, these processes are still ripening. Traditional ethnic tolerance towards the minority is manifested and it gets special attention only in the context of the political elections and trade of Gypsy electoral votes.

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