The Stambolov era in Bulgaria marks the victory of executive over legislative power in the Bulgarian political system.

Stambolov has stabilized Bulgaria's international position, but his methods, which amount to a virtual dictatorship, have alienated much of the population.

Seven years of iron control by Stambolov and the People's Liberal Party he had founded in 1886 have often bypassed the country's democratic institutions but brought unprecedented stability to Bulgaria.

Russo-Bulgarian relations remain chilly, however, and this break has further destabilized Bulgarian politics and society.

Stambolov's autocratic maneuvering and tough policies have won him many enemies, especially after the stabilization of the early 1890s appears to make such tactics unnecessary.

Legitimacy of the Bulgarian throne remains an important symbolic issue in the early 1890s, and the threat of assassination or overthrow of the prince has remained after Stambolov had consolidated his power.

Stambolov had therefore found a Catholic wife for Ferdinand and maneuvered past Orthodox Church objections in 1893 to ensure Ferdinand an heir that would stabilize the throne.

That heir, Boris, is born in 1894.

In this same year, Ferdinand, seeking more power for himself and believing that Stambolov has become a political liability, unexpectedly makes use of his constitutional right to dismiss Stambolov and replaces him with a Russophile government headed by a Conservative, Konstantin Stoilov.

The two main factions of the Macedonian Revolutionary Organization divide the region into military districts in 1896, collect taxes, draft recruits, and use tactics of propaganda and terrorism.

Macedonian unrest has continued.

The new Bulgarian government headed by Konstantin Stoilov has between 1894 and 1896 has reversed the late Stambolov's policy of controlling Macedonian extremists.

The Bulgarian-Greek-Serbian rivalry for Macedonia has escalated in the 1890s, and nationalistic secret societies have proliferated.

Macedonian refugees in Bulgaria establish the Supreme Committee for Liberation of Macedonia, which favors Bulgarian annexation and recruits its own military force to confront Turkish units and rival nationalist groups in Macedonia.

Macedonian unrest continues into the twentieth century.

Bulgarian premier Konstantin Stoilov, seeking to negotiate with the Turks for territorial concessions in Macedonia at the end of the century, finds that he cannot control IMRO (Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization).

This group, which advocates Macedonian autonomy over the standard Bulgarian policy goal of annexation, has gained control of the Macedonian liberation movement inside Bulgaria by 1900.

Russia and the Western powers now hold Ferdinand responsible for all disruptions in Macedonia, causing suspicion of all Bulgarian activity in the Balkans.

Greece and Serbia also lay claim to parts of Macedonia, giving them vital interests in the activities of IMRO as well.