Editing Sliven (section)

=== Early modern history ===
During Ottoman rule Sliven was a sanjak centre in first [[Rumelia eyalet]], then [[Silistra Eyalet|Silistre]] ([[Ochakov|Özi]]) eyalet, [[Edirne vilayet]]. From the beginning of the 16th century it was the centre of a [[kaza]], which retained its territory until the middle of the 19th century. In the 17th century Sliven developed as a crafts centre and also famous for the production of guns, pickaxes, iron tools. The town was the settlement of a strong [[Hajduk]] movement against the Ottomans and became known as "the town of the hundred voivodes". Among them were [[Hadzhi Dimitar]], Zlati Voivoda and [[Panayot Hitov]]. As the chief priest of the Bulgarian Militia, Amphilohiy from Sliven consecrated the Samara flag in [[Ploiești]]. Sliven was also as a Jewish center. By 1859, 30 Jewish families lived in Sliven, where a synagogue and a Jewish school were built for them.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Raĭchevski |first1=Stoi︠a︡n. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/256501426 |title=Bŭlgari i evrei prez vekovete |last2=Райчевски |first2=Стоян. |date=2008 |publisher=Bŭlgarski bestselŭr |isbn=978-954-463-021-8 |edition=1. izd |location=Sofii︠a︡ |oclc=256501426}}</ref>

In 1738, the population of Sliven was predominantly Turkish.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Leo |first=Michel |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1062162833 |title=Bŭlgarii͡a i neĭnii͡at narod pod osmanka vlast : prez pogleda na anglosaksonskite pŭteshestvenit͡si (1586-1878) : otkrivaneto na edna narodnost |date=2013 |publisher=Tangra TanNakRa |others=Marieta Glukharova |isbn=978-954-378-106-5 |edition=1. izd |location=Sofii͡a |oclc=1062162833}}</ref> In a register from 1792, Sliven [[Sanjak]] is mentioned for the first time. Many Sliven residents participated in the [[Greek War of Independence]]. Hadzi Hristo was made a general and took the lead of the troops of Bulgarians, Albanians and Greeks, and was later elected to the Greek parliament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Every crucial battle in the Greek War of Independence involved Bulgarians |url=http://www.grreporter.info/en/every_crucial_battle_greek_war_independence_involved_bulgarians/11010 |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=grreporter.info}}</ref> The inhabitants of the town also supported the [[Brăila]] revolt, [[Crimean War]] and participated in the [[Second Bulgarian Legion]].

During the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829, the troops of General [[Hans Karl von Diebitsch]] entered Sliven. Continuous massacres of the Muslim population and desecration of mosques were made, involving both Bulgarian and Russian soldiers and local residents.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Doĭnov |first1=Stefan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/63519471 |title=Bŭlgarite v Ukraĭna i Moldova prez Vŭzrazhdaneto (1751-1878) |last2=Дойнов |first2=Стефан. |date=2005 |publisher=Akademichno izdatelstvo "Marin Drinov" |isbn=954-322-019-0 |edition=1. izd |location=Sofii︠a︡ |pages=86 |oclc=63519471}}</ref> The first Russian consulate was opened here in April 1830.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Doĭnov |first1=Stefan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/63519471 |title=Bŭlgarite v Ukraĭna i Moldova prez Vŭzrazhdaneto (1751-1878) |last2=Дойнов |first2=Стефан. |date=2005 |publisher=Akademichno izdatelstvo "Marin Drinov" |isbn=954-322-019-0 |edition=1. izd |location=Sofii︠a︡ |pages=101 |oclc=63519471}}</ref> After the withdrawal of the Russian troops, more than 15,000 people from the town and surrounding villages were displaced to southern Russia, Bessarabia and Wallachia, while only 2,000-3,000 Bulgarians remained in the town.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Doĭnov |first1=Stefan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/63519471 |title=Bŭlgarite v Ukraĭna i Moldova prez Vŭzrazhdaneto (1751-1878) |last2=Дойнов |first2=Стефан. |date=2005 |publisher=Akademichno izdatelstvo "Marin Drinov" |isbn=954-322-019-0 |edition=1. izd |location=Sofii︠a︡ |pages=109 |oclc=63519471}}</ref> With this, Sliven suffered a severe demographic and economic blow, which blunted the momentum of its former development.

During the [[Bulgarian National Revival]], Sliven emerged as an important trade, craft and cultural centre. The town was divided into residential, commercial and craft and administrative parts. Through the efforts of [[Dobri Chintulov]] and other Sliven notables, the Zora Community Centre was founded in 1860. The founder of the Bulgarian theatrical work was the Sliven-born public and cultural worker [[Sava Dobroplodni]], who wrote the first play in Bulgarian history - "Mihal Mishkoed". In 1843, the first textile industrial enterprise in the Ottoman Empire was established in Sliven, with [[Dobri Zhelyazkov]] as its head. In 1864 a second one was opened, and in 1872 tobacco and spirit factories were established.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Добри Желязков отхвърлил исляма и останал без фабрика |url=https://www.24chasa.bg/bulgaria/article/137105 |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.24chasa.bg |language=en}}</ref>

The inhabitants of Sliven became actively involved in the national church struggle. In 1859, the people of Sliven expelled the Greek bishop, and the Diocese of Sliven entered the borders of the [[Bulgarian Exarchate]] established on 28 February 1870. The first spiritual leader of the diocese was Metropolitan Seraphim of Sliven.

During the [[April Uprising of 1876|April Uprising]], Sliven was the centre of the Second Revolutionary District. Battles were fought near the town during the Russo-Turkish Liberation War of 1877-1878 which in return burnt 800 shops and 100 houses in the town centre. Metropolitan Seraphim is particularly credited with saving Sliven and a number of settlements and [[Chiflik|chifliks]] in the region from complete destruction. Sliven was liberated by Russian troops on 16 January 1878.

In the 19th century, the town was a district centre and was one of the largest towns in Bulgaria with a population of over 20,000. The majority were Bulgarians. For a short period a centre of a department in the autonomous province of [[Eastern Rumelia]] before its inclusion in the [[Principality of Bulgaria]] in 1885.