Bulgarian Empire
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{{Unreferenced|date=June 2007}}
[[Image:Omurtag1.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Khan Omurtag (814-831)]]
[[Image:Ivan Alexander.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Emperor Ivan Alexander (1331-1371)]]
'''''Bulgarian Empire''''' ({{lang-bg|Българско царство}}, ''Balgarsko tsarstvo'' {{IPA|['bɤl.gər.sku 'ʦar.stvu]}}) is a term used to describe two periods in the [[medieval]] history of [[Bulgaria]], during which it acted as a key regional power in [[Europe]] in general and in [[Southeastern Europe]] in particular, often rivalling [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantium]]. The two "Bulgarian Empires" are not treated as separate entities, but rather as one state restored after a period of Byzantine rule over its territory.
==First Bulgarian Empire==
{{main|First Bulgarian Empire}}
The '''[[First Bulgarian Empire]]''' was established as a result of an expansion of [[Old Great Bulgaria]] to the territory south of [[Danube River]], and is usually described as having lasted between 681 (when its existence was acknowledged by Byzantium by means of a peace treaty) and 1018, when it was subjugated by the Byzantine Empire. It gradually reached its cultural and territorial apogee in the 9th century and early 10th century under [[Boris I of Bulgaria|Boris I]] and [[Simeon I of Bulgaria|Simeon the Great]], when it developed into the cultural and literary centre of [[Slavic Europe]], as well as one of the largest states in Europe.
==Second Bulgarian Empire==
{{main|Second Bulgarian Empire}}
The medieval Bulgarian state was restored as the '''[[Second Bulgarian Empire]]''' after a successful [[Vlach-Bulgarian Rebellion|uprising]] of two nobles from [[Tarnovo]], [[Ivan Asen I of Bulgaria|Asen]] and [[Theodore Peter of Bulgaria|Peter]], in 1185, and existed until it was conquered during the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] invasion of the Balkans in the late 14th century, with the date of its subjugation usually given as 1396 or 1422. Under [[Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria|Ivan Asen II]] in the first half of the 13th century it gradually recovered much of its former power, though this did not last long due to internal problems and foreign invasions.
In 1878 the independence of the country was finally restored as autonomy status. Independence of Bulgaria was recognized by Ottomans in [[1908]].
== See also ==
*[[First Bulgarian Empire]]
*[[Second Bulgarian Empire]]
{{Bulgarian Empire}}
[[Category:History of Bulgaria]]
[[Category:Former empires]]
[[Category:681 establishments]]
[[Category:Former countries in the Balkans]]
[[Category:Former Slavic countries]]
[[cs:Bulharská říše]]
[[eo:Bulgara Imperio]]
[[it:Impero bulgaro]]
[[he:האימפריה הבולגרית]]
[[mk:Бугарија#Царство Бугарија]]
[[ja:ブルガリア帝国]]