Dimitar Agura
Encyclopedia
Dimitar Dimitrov Agura was a Bulgaria
n historian, one of the first professors of history at Sofia University
and a rector
of the university.
Agura was born to a Bessarabian Bulgarian
family in Chushmelia, Bessarabia
, then part of the Romania
(today Krynychne, Odessa Oblast
, Ukraine
). He started his education in Bolgrad
and finished the seminary
in Iaşi
, Romania
, in 1868. Agura graduated in history from the University of Iaşi in 1872. He proceeded to work as a teacher in Bârlad
(1872–1874) and a school inspector in Iaşi and Vaslui
. For several years, he taught Romanian language
and Bulgarian history
at the Bolhrad High School
(1875–1878).
With the Liberation of Bulgaria
in 1878, Dimitar Agura arrived in the newly-established Principality of Bulgaria
and worked as a clerk at the Ministry of Interior (1879–1883). He was an interim Minister of Popular Enlightenment
in Leonid Sobolev
's cabinet (1883). After that, he was director of the Sofia
(1884–1885) and Plovdiv
(1885–1889) men's high schools.
The Sofia University was founded in 1888 and Agura became a lecturer of history at the university in 1889. He was rector
of Sofia University three times (1889–1890, 1892–1895, 1907–1908). He was the university's second rector, after fellow Bessarabian Bulgarian Aleksandar Teodorov-Balan
. In 1900, Agura became an acting member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
. In 1901, he was among the founders of the Bulgarian Historical Society; he remained its chairman until his death.
Dimitar Agura died in 1911 in Iaşi, where he was attending the University of Iaşi's 50th anniversary celebrations.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n historian, one of the first professors of history at Sofia University
Sofia University
The St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888...
and a rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the university.
Agura was born to a Bessarabian Bulgarian
Bessarabian Bulgarians
The Bessarabian Bulgarians are a Bulgarian minority group of the historical region of Bessarabia, inhabiting parts of present-day Ukraine and Moldova.- Location and number :-Modern Ukraine:...
family in Chushmelia, Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
, then part of the Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
(today Krynychne, Odessa Oblast
Odessa Oblast
Odesa Oblast, also written as Odessa Oblast , is the southernmost and largest oblast of south-western Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Odessa.-History:...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
). He started his education in Bolgrad
Bolhrad
Bolhrad sometimes known as Bolgrad is a small city in Odessa Oblast of south-western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of Bolhrad Raion , and is located at around ....
and finished the seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, in 1868. Agura graduated in history from the University of Iaşi in 1872. He proceeded to work as a teacher in Bârlad
Bârlad
Bârlad is a city in Vaslui County, Romania. It lies on the banks of the Bârlad River, which waters the high plains of eastern Moldavia....
(1872–1874) and a school inspector in Iaşi and Vaslui
Vaslui
Vaslui , a city in eastern Romania, is the seat of Vaslui County, in the historical region of Moldavia.The city administers five villages: Bahnari, Brodoc, Moara Grecilor, Rediu and Viişoara.-History:...
. For several years, he taught Romanian language
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
and Bulgarian history
History of Bulgaria
The history of Bulgaria spans from the first settlements on the lands of modern Bulgaria to its formation as a nation-state and includes the history of the Bulgarian people and their origin. The first traces of human presence on what is today Bulgaria date from 44,000 BC...
at the Bolhrad High School
Bolhrad High School
The Georgi Sava Rakovski Bolhrad High School ; , Bolgradskaya gimnaziya imeni G. S. Rakovskogo is a gymnasium in Bolhrad, Odessa Oblast, southwestern Ukraine...
(1875–1878).
With the Liberation of Bulgaria
Liberation of Bulgaria
In Bulgarian historiography, the term Liberation of Bulgaria is used to denote the events of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 that led to the re-establishment of Bulgarian state with the Treaty of San Stefano of March 3, 1878, after the complete conquest of the Second Bulgarian Empire, which...
in 1878, Dimitar Agura arrived in the newly-established Principality of Bulgaria
Principality of Bulgaria
The Principality of Bulgaria was a self-governing entity created as a vassal of the Ottoman Empire by the Treaty of Berlin in 1878. The preliminary treaty of San Stefano between the Russian Empire and the Porte , on March 3, had originally proposed a significantly larger Bulgarian territory: its...
and worked as a clerk at the Ministry of Interior (1879–1883). He was an interim Minister of Popular Enlightenment
Ministry of Education and Science (Bulgaria)
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Science of Bulgaria is the ministry charged with regulating and promoting the educational and scientific work in the country...
in Leonid Sobolev
Leonid Sobolev
Leonid Nikolayevich Sobolev was an Imperial Russian Army general and politician.A veteran of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, General Sobolev was the main proponent of the strand of Russian foreign and military policy that saw for the Russians a duty to expel the Ottoman Empire from Europe and...
's cabinet (1883). After that, he was director of the Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
(1884–1885) and Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
(1885–1889) men's high schools.
The Sofia University was founded in 1888 and Agura became a lecturer of history at the university in 1889. He was rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Sofia University three times (1889–1890, 1892–1895, 1907–1908). He was the university's second rector, after fellow Bessarabian Bulgarian Aleksandar Teodorov-Balan
Aleksandar Teodorov-Balan
Aleksandar Stoyanov Teodorov-Balan was a Bulgarian linguist, historian and bibliographer.Balan was born in the Bessarabian village of Kubey, today Chervonoarmiyske near Bolhrad in Odessa Oblast, Ukraine , to a Bulgarian family. The general Georgi Todorov was his brother...
. In 1900, Agura became an acting member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy is autonomous and has a Society of Academicians, Correspondent Members and Foreign Members...
. In 1901, he was among the founders of the Bulgarian Historical Society; he remained its chairman until his death.
Dimitar Agura died in 1911 in Iaşi, where he was attending the University of Iaşi's 50th anniversary celebrations.