Tsankov, Dragan

Tsankov, Dragan (drä`gän tsän`kôf), 1828–1911, Bulgarian politician. As journalist and later as professor he played an important part in achieving the autonomy of the Bulgarian Church from the patriarchate of Constantinople and in establishing the Bulgarian state. He was vice president of the constituent assembly, founded the Russophile Liberal party, and became (1879) diplomatic agent at Constantinople. Made premier in 1880, he disagreed with Prince Alexander and was imprisoned (1882–83). He formed a government when Alexander abdicated, but it was soon replaced by a regency.