Greater Bulgaria Timeline

This is my first attempt to write a TL. My thinking is to first create mold and then try to fit in ATL into this mold. This should be a collaborative timeline, so you can join in.

To begin i have created some maps that the TL will center around.
1.
Smallprint Bulgaria at the start of world war 1.png

Here is Bulgaria at the start of WW1.

2.
Smallprint Bulgaria at the end of world war 1.png

Here is Bulgaria at the end of WW1. These borders will remain in place untill WW2.

3.
Smallprint Bulgaria at the end of WW2.png

This is Bulgaria's borders in the aftermath of WW2. Here the Bulgarian territory of Strumica has been ceded to Yugoslavia, aswell as other associated territories that were ceded to Yugoslavia OTL after WW1. At the same time the Gevgelija, Valendovo, Dojran, Bogdanci muncipalities of FYROM Yugoslavia has been ceded to Greece. I am not sure of how rational or plausible these border changes are, maybe those border changes should be avoided? These borders will remain implace untill the dissolution of Yugoslavia.

4.
Smallprint Bulgaria following reunification with fyrom.png

The last map, depicting Bulgarian reunification with fyrom following the dissolution of Yugoslavia.
 
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Should Istanbul be renamed Tsargrad or maybe Ivaylograd after the medieval rags to riches Bulgarian czar?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivaylo_of_Bulgaria
I think it would be best if the Bulgarians kept the name Constantinople and not try to rename every single Greek city or town in the country with a Slavic name since this Bulgaria is going to have a ton of minorities it will be trying to keep happy.

Looking at your maps, that Greater Bulgaria looks nice on paper but I can't feel it still needs Kavala. It would add more minorities, but owning Kavala would be a much bigger economic boon to Bulgaria than Macedonia. It gives Sofia a railway to the Aegean Sea and makes Bulgaria more politically compact. Basically holding it makes Bulgaria getting Gallipoli and Constantinople more sensible.

If Yugoslavia falls apart in your timeline it might make more sense to partition Macedonia between Albania and Bulgaria. Supporting Albanian nationalism gives Bulgaria a natural ally, probably one of the few long-term alliances that could exist in a region as unstable as the Balkans.
 
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I think it would be best if the Bulgarians kept the name Constantinople and not try to rename every single Greek city or town in the country with a Slavic name since this Bulgaria is going to have a ton of minorities it will be trying to keep happy.
Bulgarians would probably be a minority in this Bulgaria. Today Turkish Thrace has more population than Bulgaria. Large Greek and Turkish population would mean a higher population which is good for the economy, but it might also make Bulgaria the victim of Greek and Turkish irredentism. Both Countries Greece and Turkey would have claims on Bulgaria, aswell as co-ethnics that might support these states if they are oppresses or Bulgaria is poorer than Greece or Turkey.

OTL Bulgaria and Greece had some population transfers, this might happen ATL too. Bulgaria would be motivated by a wish to consolidate it's holdings in a age of nationalism. Greece would have similar motivations. Bulgaria's relationship with Greece and Turkey is important to wheter Greeks or Turks would be "repatriated". Perhaps Greece and Bulgaria cooperate alot more than in OTL, and therefore ethnic hostility and national hostility between them is lessened?
Looking at your maps, that Greater Bulgaria looks nice on paper but I can't feel it still needs Kavala. It would add more minorities, but owning Kavala would be a much bigger economic boon to Bulgaria than Macedonia. It gives Sofia a railway to the Aegean Sea and makes Bulgaria more politically compact. Basically holding it makes Bulgaria getting Gallipoli and Constantinople more sensible.
If Bulgaria is going to keep Kavala, then they need a better deal in a Balkan war peace deal.

Map 1.
Smallprint Bulgaria at the start of WW1 including Kavala region.png

Bulgaria at the start of WW1, including Kavala region. Because this map shows Bulgaria at the start of ww1, then the POD for this Bulgaria must be earlier.
Map 2.
Smallprint Bulgaria at the end of ww1 including Kavala region.png

Bulgaria at the end of WW1. In this ATL, Bulgaria joined the Entente furing WW1. As a reward they got Eastern Thrace, what is today Turkish Thrace. Greece also being in the Entente would gain some land on the coast of Anatolia, which they may lose as in OTL.
If Yugoslavia falls apart in your timeline it might make more sense to partition Macedonia between Albania and Bulgaria. Supporting Albanian nationalism gives Bulgaria a natural ally, probably one of the few long-term alliances that could exist in a region as unstable as the Balkans.
My scenario was that perhaps the Macedonian Slavs, who considered themselfes to be Bulgarian, until recently would willingly and peacefully want to unify with Bulgaria. Assuming that FYROM experiences a civilwar then partition might be more feasible.
 
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Honestly I think you need to look into why Bulgaria is stronger, and I would also suggest using the Balkan Wars instead WWI.
 
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