A country of southeast Europe on the Black Sea. Settled in the 6th century A.D. by Slavs, it was ruled by Turkey from the late 14th century until 1908, when it became an independent kingdom. The monarchy was overthrown in 1944 following a Soviet invasion, and a Soviet-style people's republic was established in 1947. Communist rule came to an end in 1989, and a new constitution established a parliamentary republic in 1991. Sofia is the capital and the largest city. Population: 7,390,000.
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