Monument to the Tsar Liberator

The Tsar Liberator Monument (Bulgarian: амeтник на ар освоодител, Pametnik na Tsar Osvoboditel) is an equestrian monument in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital. It was built to commemorate Russian Emperor Alexander II, who rescued Bulgaria from Ottoman domination during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.

Arnoldo Zocchi, an Italian sculptor, created the Neoclassical monument after winning a competition with 31 other artists from 12 nations (and a total of 90 artists from 15 countries) during the end of the 19th century. Nikola Lazarov, a Bulgarian architect, was involved in the design of the monument. The foundation stone was placed on St. George’s Day, April 23, 1901, in the presence of Knyaz Ferdinand I of Bulgaria, and the monument was finished on September 15, 1903.

On August 30, 1907, Ferdinand, his sons Boris and Kiril, Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia, son of Alexander II, and his wife and son, as well as other significant persons, attended the opening of the monument.

The Monument to the Tsar Liberator is made of black polished granite from Vitosha and consists of a pedestal, a center section with figures, and a large Neo-Renaissance cornice completed with a sculpture of the Russian Tsar on a horse. Romania contributed the bronze wreath at the foot in commemoration of the Romanian troops who died during the conflict.

The central bronze bas-relief portrays a troop of Russian and Bulgarian warriors headed by the goddess of triumph (Nike in Greek mythology and Victoria in Roman mythology), who holds her sword far above. The group is surrounded by portraits of Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaievich, Count Ignatiev, and the generals Joseph Vladimirovich Gourko and Mikhail Skobelev. Other bas-reliefs depict events from the Battle of Stara Zagora, the Treaty of San Stefano, and the inauguration ceremony of the Constituent National Assembly in Veliko Tarnovo, as well as portraits of Petko Slaveykov, Stoyan Zaimov, Ivan Vazov, Stefan Stambolov, and other historical personalities.

The Tsar Liberator Monument is located on Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard, just across from the National Assembly of Bulgaria, with the InterContinental hotel behind it.