Putting this in post-1900 because the Kingdom of Bulgaria really received de facto independence from the Ottomans in 1908, but if there's reason to believe that a Bulgarian state founded no more than a few decades before the beginning of the 20th century could fit the bill, do share.
Is it at all possible for a Bulgarian state to conquer or annex Thrace, Constantinople/the Bosporus, and enough of Greece to be able to plausibly lay claim to being the successors of the Eastenr Roman Empire, should they choose to do so?
I guess these are two separate, yet related questions:
1) What is the most territory the Bulgarians could have plausibly gained during this time period?
2) If that territory includes Constantinople, would there be any desire to declare themselves as a Byzantine successor state (they certainly wouldn't literally call themselves by that name, but you know what I mean)?
Is it at all possible for a Bulgarian state to conquer or annex Thrace, Constantinople/the Bosporus, and enough of Greece to be able to plausibly lay claim to being the successors of the Eastenr Roman Empire, should they choose to do so?
I guess these are two separate, yet related questions:
1) What is the most territory the Bulgarians could have plausibly gained during this time period?
2) If that territory includes Constantinople, would there be any desire to declare themselves as a Byzantine successor state (they certainly wouldn't literally call themselves by that name, but you know what I mean)?