Several attempts and proposals were made to unify Bulgaria and Romania in the 19th and early 20th centuries, under a federation, a personal union or a confederation. Earlier, Bulgarians and Romanians had lived together under the First Bulgarian, Second Bulgarian and Ottoman empires for centuries. After the establishment in 1878 of an autonomous Bulgarian principality, there were several unsuccessful Romanian nominees for its throne. In 1886, Bulgarian leader Stefan Stambolov tried again to establish a personal union with Romania, and negotiations were conducted. All such proposals ultimately failed because of cultural and political differences and opposition from Austria-Hungary and especially Russia, which even threatened to invade both countries. Approaches to effect a union were attempted again during the communist era, but the Soviet Union strongly rejected them. The accession of both countries into the European Union has led to speculation about a new future revitalization of the idea.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_of_Bulgaria_and_Romania

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1919:

Sir Harry Hands, the mayor of Cape Town, performed the first public observance of a two-minute silence in remembrance of those killed in World War I. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-minute_silence

1931:

Five people were killed in Ådalen, Sweden, as soldiers opened fire on an unarmed trade union demonstration. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%85dalen_shootings

1951:

Trains ran on the Talyllyn Railway (locomotive pictured) in Wales for the first time since its preservation, making it the first railway in the world to be operated by volunteers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talyllyn_Railway

1980:

Salvadoran Civil War: Refugees trying to flee El Salvador across the Sumpul River to Honduras were attacked by both Salvadoran and Honduran forces, resulting in at least 300 deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumpul_River_massacre

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

up to something: (idiomatic) Doing something mischievous or scheming. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/up_to_something

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Don't avoid the clichés — they are clichés because they work!   --George Lucas https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Lucas