The April Uprising in Bulgaria and the Batak massacre

Background. In 1875, increased taxes on non-Muslims caused tension between Muslims and Christians, leading to revolts. In November 1875, the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee decided that the political situation was suitable for a general uprising. The insurrection was scheduled for April or May 1876. A general meeting of committees from the fourth revolutionary district was held in April 1876 to discuss the proclamation of the insurrection.

Outbreak. The local rebel committee attacked the headquarters of the Ottoman police in Koprivshtitsa on 20 April 1876. The uprising was proclaimed on 2 May [O.S. 20 April] 1876. In Batak, the role was to take possession of Ottoman storehouses in surrounding villages to ensure provisions for insurgents. Organizers expected Batak to defend itself alone against Ottoman troops.

Massacre. Ottoman irregular cavalry troops massacred Bulgarians in Batak. Estimates for casualties range from 1,200 to 8,000, with 5,000 being the most common estimate. The indiscriminate slaughter of non-combatant civilians shocked Western Europe. The events caused a public outcry, mobilizing people to demand reform of Ottoman governance, eventually leading to the re-establishment of a separate Bulgarian state in 1878.

Investigation. News of massacres reached European embassies in Istanbul in May and June 1876. Schuyler visited Batak and other locations to prepare a report published in the Daily News. His official report stated that fifty-eight villages were destroyed and fifteen thousand people were massacred. Robert More visited Batak in 1876, noting a prior population of approximately 9,000.