The Rise of a Commercial Enterprise during the Bulgarian National Revival Period in Karlovo: the Company of the Brothers Evlogi and Hristo Georgievi (1830s – early 1850s)

The current chapter sheds light on the establishing and initial functioning of the commercial house “Pulievi – Georgievi” during the period from 1839 to the outbreak of the Crimean War (1853–1856). Briefly, otherwise necessary information has been provided on the factors for the emergence of Evlogi and Hristo Georgievi as persons with entrepreneurial acumen. Special attention has been paid to the terms included in the commercial contract signed on 1st January 1839 between Hristo and Nikola Todorovi Pulievi, and their nephew Evlogi Georgiev. An important stage of the entrepreneurial career of Evlogi and Hristo Georgievi took place in the early 1840s. Hristo Georgiev settled down in Bucharest, and he ran the commercial branch there, while Evlogi moved to Galaţi. Pulievi, in their turn, took responsibility of the commercial office in Karlovo. In the subsequent timeframe, until the beginning of the Crimean War (1853 – 1856), the commercial enterprise was primarily oriented towards the export of significant quantities of agricultural and craft items from the Bulgarian lands and their dispatch to Bucharest and Galaţi. Georgievi’s business dealings were successful and lucrative. From the late 1840s, Evlogi and Hristo became interested in banking and financial dealings. They also expanded the geographical scope of their activities. Moreover, they managed to attract many new “friends” to their social/entrepreneurial network. All this was a significant prerequisite for the unprecedented business success during and after the Creamean War.