In the history of the anti-Ottoman struggle, the period from the 30s to the 50s was marked by the most massive armed uprisings of the Bulgarian population up to that point. A series of peasant uprisings broke out in the northwestern Bulgarian lands, provoked by the fact that the agrarian reform, which led to the abolition of the spahilak, was not carried out in this part of the Bulgarian lands. The local ags and beys kept the land in their own hands and continued to use the Christian population for labor in the form of drudgery. The inaction of the central government causes the local Bulgarians to take up arms. From 1833 to 1856, a total of six uprisings broke out in Vidinsko, Belogradchishko, Berkovsko, Kulasko, Niško, Pirotsko and Negotinsko.
One of the main leaders of the resistance in today's Northwest Bulgaria is Ivan Kulin. When he was 8 years old, his father was slaughtered by the Turks before his own eyes, which left a lasting mark on the young man's mind and determined his life path. During the Russo-Turkish war of 1828-1829, he formed a khaydushka detachment and went to the Balkans, later took an active part in the Manchov uprising (1836), for which he was imprisoned in Vidin prison. After his release, he was elected prince of the village of Medkovets and beshknez of Lomska nahiya. In 1850, the most massive of the series of uprisings broke out in the Northwest. Chief voivode is Ivan Kulin again. The number of insurgents is impressive - at the beginning of June, more than 10 people organized a blockade of Belogradchik. In addition to being a military leader, Ivan Kulin also appeared as a diplomat - as part of a special commission he went to Constantinople, where he negotiated with the authorities to alleviate the situation of the local villagers. However, he receives only empty promises and returns to the weapon again. He was eventually sent into exile, from which he escaped; participated in the preparation of the Dimitraki riot (000) and the organization of the First Bulgarian Legion (1856). Died of a heart attack in Zajcar, Serbia.
