Dobri Voynikov facts for kids
Dobri Popov Voynikov (born November 10, 1833 – died March 27, 1878) was a very important Bulgarian teacher, writer of plays, and journalist. He lived during a special time called the Bulgarian National Revival. Many people think he was the "father" of modern Bulgarian theatre. He was also the first person to produce plays in Bulgaria. Dobri Voynikov even helped start the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
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Who Was Dobri Voynikov?
His Early Life and School Days
Dobri Voynikov was born in 1833 in a city called Şumnu. Today, this city is known as Shumen in Bulgaria. Back then, it was part of the Ottoman Empire. He went to schools run by important teachers like Sava Filaterov and Ivan Bogorov. In 1858, he finished his studies at the Galatasaray High School in Istanbul.
A Teacher in Shumen
After finishing school, Dobri Voynikov became a teacher in his hometown of Shumen. He taught there until 1864. While teaching, he was also very active in public life. He worked hard to help Bulgarians gain more independence for their church. He also helped set up schools that taught regular subjects, not just religious ones.
Moving to Romania and Starting Theatre
Life as an Emigrant
In 1864, Dobri Voynikov had to leave Bulgaria. He moved to the Romanian Principalities, which is now part of Romania. He first lived in Brăila and later moved to Giurgiu in 1873. For a short time in 1866, he was part of a secret Bulgarian group. He wrote books in French to tell people about the bad things happening in Bulgarian lands. He also explained the goals of the Bulgarian freedom movement.
The Father of Bulgarian Theatre
While living in Romania, Voynikov became very involved in theatre. In 1865, he started a Bulgarian amateur theatre group in Brăila. He led this group until 1870. This was a big moment for Bulgarian theatre! For the first time ever, women acted in plays alongside men. He continued his theatre work in other cities like Giurgiu and Bucharest. Later, he even brought his theatre skills back to Shumen.
His Famous Plays
Dobri Voynikov wrote many plays. He wrote both serious dramas and funny comedies. Some of his well-known plays include:
- Princess Rayna (1866)
- Baptism of the Preslav Court (1868)
- Velislava, Bulgarian Princess (1870)
- The Enthronement of Krum the Fearsome (1871)
- The Misunderstood Civilization (1873) – This one is very famous!
- The Chorbadzhia (1881)
- A Physician in Spite of Himself (1884)
His plays were very important for Bulgarian theatre during the National Revival. They set the stage for future playwrights like Vasil Drumev and Ivan Vazov.
Later Life and Legacy
In the early 1870s, Voynikov became close to a group called the Band of Virtues. They helped him get Russian citizenship. This allowed him to return to Bulgaria in 1874. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, he managed an orphanage in Tarnovo. Sadly, he died there in 1878 from a serious illness called typhus.
Dobri Voynikov is remembered as a key figure in Bulgarian history. He helped shape education and, most importantly, laid the foundation for modern Bulgarian theatre.
