First Bulgarian Empire 2843775 225718825 2008-07-15T01:50:51Z 69.3.101.174 {{Infobox Former Country |native_name = Първo Българско царство<br>Părvo Bălgarsko Tsarstvo |conventional_long_name = First Bulgarian Empire |common_name = Bulgaria | |continent = Europe |region = Balkans |era = Middle Ages |status = Empire |government_type = Monarchy | |year_start = 632 |year_end = 1018 | |event1 = Arrival of [[Asparukh of Bulgaria|Asparukh]] |date_event1 = 681 |event2 = [[Christianization of Bulgaria|Christianisation]] |date_event2 = 864 |event3 = Fall to the [[Byzantine Empire]] |date_event3 = 1018 | |p1 = Old Great Bulgaria |flag_p1 = Blank.svg |s1 = Second Bulgarian Empire |flag_s1 = Coat of Arms of the Bulgarian Empire.PNG | |image_flag = |flag = |flag_type = | |image_coat = |symbol = Lion (heraldry) |symbol_type = Imperial Emblem | |image_map = Bulgaria Simeon I (893-927).svg |image_map_caption = Bulgarian Empire at its greatest extent c. 920 under [[Simeon I of Bulgaria|Simeon I the Great]] | |capital = [[Pliska]] <small>(681-893)</small> <br>[[Preslav]] <small>(893-972)</small> <br>[[Skopje|Skopie]] <small>(972-992)</small> <br>[[Ohrid]] <small>(992-1018)</small> |common_languages = [[Bulgarian language|Old Bulgarian]] |religion = Paganism until 864 A.D and Eastern Orthodox 865 on |currency = |leader1 = [[Asparukh of Bulgaria|Asparukh]] |leader2 = [[Presian II of Bulgaria|Presian II]] |year_leader1 = 681–700 |year_leader2 = 1018 |title_leader = [[Tsar|Tsar (Emperor)]] |deputy1 = |year_deputy1 = |title_deputy = | |stat_year1 = 10th century |stat_area1 = 750000 |stat_pop1 = 4000000 |stat_year2 = |stat_area2 = |footnotes = }} The '''First Bulgarian Empire''' ({{lang-bg|Първo Българско царство, ''Părvo Bălgarsko Tsarstvo''}}) was a [[medieval]] [[Bulgaria]]n state founded in AD 632 in the lands near the [[Danube Delta]] and disintegrated in AD 1018 after its annexation to the [[Byzantine Empire]]. At the height of its power it spread between [[Budapest]] and the [[Black Sea]] and from the [[Dnieper]] river in modern Ukraine to the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]]. It was succeeded by the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]], established in 1185. The official name of the country since its very foundation was '''Bulgaria'''. <ref>П. Хр. Петров, Към въпроса за образуването на първата българска държава, Славянска филология, V, София, 1963, стр. 89—112</ref> The Empire played a major role in European politics was one of the strongest [[military]] powers of its time. In 717-718 the coalition of Byzantines and Bulgarians decisively defeated the [[Arabs]] in the [[siege of Constantinople (718)|siege of Constantinople]] thus saving [[Eastern Europe]] from the [[Muslim]] threat and later destroyed the [[Eurasian Avars|Avar]] Khanate expanding its territory to the [[Pannonian Plain]] and the [[Tatra Mountains]]. Bulgaria served as an effective shield against the constant invasions of [[nomadic]] peoples from the east in the so called second wave of the [[Migration Period|Great Migration]]. [[Pechenegs]] and [[Cumans]] were stopped in north-eastern Bulgaria and after a decisive victory over the [[Magyars]] in 896 they were forced to retreate to and permanently settle down in Pannonia. To the south in course of the [[Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars]] the Bulgarians incorporated most of [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]]-populated region of [[Thrace]] and [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]]. After the annihilation of the Byzantine army in the [[battle of Anchialus]] in 917 the Byzantine Empire was on the edge of destruction. The [[Bulgars]] brought new construction and battle techniques to Europe. The first Bulgarian cities were made of large monolith stones unlike the Roman brick-build fortresses. With an area of 27 km² the capital [[Pliska]] was among the largest towns in Europe. The Inner town had a [[sewerage]] and floor heating long before cities such as [[Paris]] and [[London]]. After the adoption of [[Christianity]] in 864 Bulgaria became the cultural center of Slavic Europe. Its leading cultural position was further consolidated with the invention of the [[Cyrillic alphabet]] in [[Preslav]], which some credit to the Bulgarian scholar [[Clement of Ohrid]]. According to some historians the schools of [[Preslav]] and [[Ohrid]] were the second universities in Europe after the [[University of Constantinople]]. ==Background== During the time of the late [[Roman Empire]], the lands of present-day Bulgaria had been organised in several provinces - [[Scythia Minor]], [[Moesia]] (Upper and Lower), [[Thrace]], [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] (First and Second), [[Dacia]] (south of the Danube), [[Dardani]]a, Rhodope and Hemimont, and had a mixed population of Romanised [[Getae]] and Hellenised [[Thracians]]. During the [[Hunnic]] Invasions of Central and Eastern Europe, [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] groups named [[Bulgars]] settled in the region. Several consecutive waves of [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] migration throughout the 6th and the early 7th century led to the almost complete [[slavicisation]] of the region, at least linguistically. ==The Bulgars== {{main|Bulgars}} Little is known about the origins of the Bulgars that reached the [[Balkans|Balkan peninsula]] in the 7th century (according to some sources even earlier) because during the ages the original Bulgars melted into the local population of what is nowadays Bulgaria. The established theory is that the Bulgars are related to the [[Huns]] and originated in [[Central Asia]] but their ethnicity is not entirely clear. Clues for this can be found in the advanced calendar and system of government of the early Bulgars. Nevertheless the so called "[[Hun]] theory" is still vehemently supported by some historians who base their thesis on a lot of existing documents and sources. In [[Nominalia of the Bulgarian khans]], a late copy of an ancient document, is written that the first ruler of the Bulgars was [[Avitohol]] and the second [[Irnik]]. [[Irnik]] or [[Ernakh]] is the name of [[Attila]]'s youngest son therefore some historians believe that [[Avitohol]] was no other than [[Attila the Hun]]. {{History of Bulgaria}} It is assumed that the Bulgars were governed by hereditary [[Khan (title)|khan]]s. The only similar title found so far is ''kanasubigi'' and it was used by only four of the Bulgarian rulers, namely [[Krum]], [[Omurtag]], [[Malamir of Bulgaria|Malamir]] and [[Presian]], which were respectively a grandfather, son, grandson and a nephew of Malamir, and after them the title disappears. Other similar but non-kingly titles were attested among Bulgarian noble class and these are ''kavkan'' (vicekhan), ''tarkan'', and ''boritarkan''. Starting from there (if there was a vicekhan (kavkhan) so there was a khan, too) the scholars assume the title khan for the early Bulgarian leader. Later iscriptions speak of ''archonts'' (a [[Greeks|Greek]] title) and ''[[knyaz]]e'' (a [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] title). There were several (probably more than 100) aristocratic families whose members, called ''boila'' (boyars) who bore military titles and formed a governing class. The religion of the Bulgars is also obscure but it is supposed that it was [[Monotheism|monotheistic]], worshipping the Turkic Sky god [[Tengriism|Tangra]]. There is only one mentioning of Tangra in the 8 century inscription near the [[Madara Rider]]. All other sources simply talk about ''Bog'', the Slavic and [[Aryan]] word for God. More confusingly some Bulgar rulers, renowned for their persecution of Christians were depicted with Christian state symbols. There is a theory that Bulgars were [[Arianism|Arians]] (an early Christian sect). On the top of that, early Bulgar sacred places featured the plan of two concentric squares, typical to [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian temples]]. <ref>[http://www.kroraina.com/brentjes/ Brentjes B. On the Prototype of the Proto-Bulgarian Temples at Pliska, Preslav and Madara]</ref> [[Image:Kubrat sword.jpg|thumb|left|220px|The sword of Khan [[Kubrat]]<ref>Andras Rona-Tas. Hungarians and Europe in the Early Middle Ages. Central European University Press, 1999. Page 217.</ref>]] The migration of Bulgars to the European continent started as early as the 2nd century AD when branches of Bulgars settled on the plains between the Caspian and the Black Sea. Between AD 351 and 389, some of these crossed the [[Caucasus]] and settled in [[Armenia]]. They were eventually assimilated by the Armenians. Swept by the Hunnish wave at the beginning of the 4th century AD, other numerous Bulgarian tribes broke loose from their settlements in central Asia to migrate to the fertile lands along the lower valleys of the [[Seversky Donets|Donets]] and the [[Don River (Russia)|Don]] rivers and the [[Sea of Azov|Azov]] seashore. Some of these remained for centuries in their new settlements, whereas others moved on with the Huns towards [[Central Europe]], settling in [[Pannonia]]. In the 6th and 7th century, the Bulgars formed an independent state, often called [[Great Bulgaria]], between the lower course of the [[Danube]] to the west, the [[Black Sea|Black]] and the [[Sea of Azov|Azov]] Seas to the south, the [[Kuban]] river to the east, and the Donets river to the north. The capital of the state was [[Phanagoria]], on the Azov. The pressure from peoples further east (such as the [[Khazars]]) led to the dissolution of [[Old Great Bulgaria|Great Bulgaria]] in the second half of the 7th century. One Bulgar tribe migrated to the [[Idel-Ural|confluence of the]] [[Volga River|Volga]] and [[Kama River|Kama]] Rivers in what is now [[Tatarstan]], [[Russia]] (see [[Volga Bulgaria]]). They converted to [[Islam]] in the beginning in the 10th century and maintained an independent state until the 13th century. Smaller Bulgar tribes seceded in [[Pannonia]] and in [[Italy]], northwest of [[Naples]], while other Bulgars sought refuge with the [[Lombards]]. Another group of Bulgars remained in the land north of the Black and the Azov Seas. They were, however, soon subdued by the Khazars. These Bulgars converted to [[Judaism]] in the 9th century, along with the Khazars, and were eventually assimilated. ==Establishment of the Bulgarian state== There are two different dates for the year of establishment of present-day Bulgaria, based upon two different interpretations of history. Yet another Bulgar tribe, led by Khan [[Asparukh of Bulgaria|Asparuh]], moved westward, occupying today's southern [[Bessarabia]]. After a successful war with Byzantium in [[680|AD 680]], Asparuh's khanate conquered [[Moesia]] and [[Dobrudja]] <ref>Theophanes, ibid., р. 358</ref>,<ref>Theophanes, ibid., p. 359</ref> and was recognised as an independent state under the subsequent treaty signed with the Byzantine Empire in [[681|AD 681]]. The same year is usually regarded as the year of the establishment of present-day Bulgaria. Another theory is that [[Great Bulgaria]], although it suffered a major territory loss from the [[Khazars]], managed to defeat them in the early 670s. Khan Asparuh, the successor of Khan [[Kubrat]], conquered [[Moesia]] and [[Dobrudja]] after the war with the Byzantine Empire in AD 680. This war ended with a peace treaty in 681. Therefore, according to some researchers, the year of establishment of present-day Bulgaria has to be considered 632, and not AD 681. ===Establishing a firm foothold in the Balkans=== [[Image:Madara Horseman.jpg|thumb|250px|Bulgar art: The [[Madara Rider]] (ca. AD 710), large rock relief carved on the Madara Plateau east of Shumen, northeast Bulgaria.]] After the decisive victory at [[battle of Ongala|Ongala]] in 680 the armies of the Bulgars and Slavs advanced to the south of the Balkan mountains, defeating again the Byzantines who were then forced to sign a humiliating peace treaty which acknowledged the establishment of a new state on the borders of the Empire. They were also to pay an annual tribute to Bulgaria. In the same time the war with the [[Khazars]] to the east continued and in 700 Asparough perished in battle with them. The Bulgars lost the territories to the east of the [[Dnester]] river but managed to hold the lands to the west. The Bulgars and the Slavs signed a treaty according to which the head of the state became the Khan of the Bulgars who had also the obligation to defend the country against the Byzantine, while the Slavic leaders gained considerable autonomy and had to protect the northern borders along the Carpathian mountains against the [[Eurasian Avars|Avars]].<ref>Theophanes, ibid., p. 359</ref> Asparough's successor, [[Tervel of Bulgaria|Tervel]] helped the deposed Byzantine Emperor [[Justinian II]] to regain his throne in 705. In return he was given the area ''Zagore'' in northern [[Thrace]] which was the first expansion of the country to the south of the Balkan mountains. However, three years later Justinian tried to take it back by force but his army was defeated at [[battle of Anchialus (708)|Anchialus]]. In 716 Tervel signed a trade agreement with Byzantium. During the [[Siege of Constantinople (718)|siege of Constantinople]] in 717-718 he sent 50,000 troops to help the besieged city. In the decisive battle the Bulgarians massacred around 30,000 [[Arabs]]<ref>Theophanes, ibid., p. 397</ref> and Tervel was called ''The saviour of Europe'' by his contemporaries. ===Internal instability and struggle for survival=== [[Image:NE 800ad.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Near East in 800AD, showing the Bulgarian Empire and its neighbors.]] In 753 died Khan [[Sevar of Bulgaria|Sevar]] who was the last scion of the [[Dulo clan]]. With his death the Khanate fell into a long political crisis during which the young country was on the verge of destruction. For just 15 years ruled 7 Khans who were all murdered. There were two main fractions; some nobles wanted uncompromising war against the Byzantines while others searched for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. That instability was used by the Byzantine Emperor [[Constantine V]] (745-775) who launched nine major campaigns aiming at the elimination of Bulgaria. In 763 he defeated the Bulgarian Khan [[Telets of Bulgaria|Telets]] at [[Battle of Anchialus (763)|Anchialus]]<ref>Nicephorus, ibid., p. 69</ref><ref>Theophanes, ibid., p. 433</ref> but the Byzantines were unable to advance further north. In 775 Khan [[Telerig of Bulgaria|Telerig]], by tricking Constantine to reveal those loyal to him in the Bulgarian Court, executed all the Byzantine spies in the capital [[Pliska]].<ref>Theophanes, ibid., р. 447-448</ref> Under his successor [[Kardam of Bulgaria|Kardam]], the war took a favourable turn after the great victory in the [[battle of Marcelae]]<ref>Theophanes, ibid., p. 467</ref> in 792. The Byzantines were thoroughly defeated and forced once again to pay tribute to the Khans. As a result of the victory, the crisis was finally overwhelmed and Bulgaria entered the new century stable, stronger and consolidated. ==Territorial expansion== {{see also|Krum of Bulgaria|battle of Pliska}} [[Image:Krum1.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Khan Krum feasts after the victory at Varbitsa Pass]] [[Image:Omurtag.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Khan Omurtag orders the killing of [[Christians]]]] Under the great Khan [[Krum of Bulgaria|Krum]] (803-814), also known as Crummus and Keanus Magnus, Bulgaria expanded northwest and southwards, occupying the lands between middle Danube and [[Moldova]], the whole territory of present-day [[Romania]], [[Sofia]] in 809 and [[Adrianople]] (modern [[Odrin]]) in 813, and threatening [[Constantinople]] itself. Between 804 and 806 the Bulgarian armies thoroughly eliminated the Avar Khanate and a border with the [[Frankish Empire]] was established along the middle [[Danube]]. In 811 a large Byzantine army was decisively defeated in the [[battle of Pliska|battle of the Varbitsa Pass]].<ref>Theophanes, ibid., р. 492</ref> The Byzantine Emperor [[Nicephorus I]] was slain along with most of his troops. Krum immediately took the initiative and moved the war towards [[Thrace]], defeating the Byzantines once more at [[battle of Versinikia|Versinikia]]<ref>Scriptor incertus, ibid., p. 337-339</ref> in 813. After a treacherous Byzantine attempt to kill the Khan during negotiations, Krum pillaged the whole of Thrace, seized Odrin and resettled its 10,000 inhabitants in "[[Bulgarian lands across the Danube|Bulgaria across the Danube]]"<ref>Scriptor incer., ibid., p. 346-347</ref>. He made enhanced preparation to capture Constantinople: 5,000 iron-plated waggons were built to carry the siege equipment<ref>Scriptor incert., ibid., p. 347-348</ref>, the Byzantines even pleaded for help from the Frankish Emperor [[Louis the Pious]].<ref>Annales Laurissenses minores, s. an. 814</ref> Due to the sudden death of the great Khan, however, the campaign was never launched. Khan Krum implemented law reform intending to reduce the poverty and to strengthen the social ties in his vastly enlarged state. During the reign of Khan Omurtag (814-831), the northwestern boundaries with the Frankish Empire were firmly settled along the middle Danube by the 827 and magnificent palace, pagan temples, ruler's residence, fortress, citadel, water-main and bath were built in Bulgarian capital Pliska, mainly of stone and brick. [[Image:Territorial expansion during the reign of Khan Krum (803-814).png|thumb|left|300px|Bulgaria towards the death of Khan Krum in 814.]] During the short reign of [[Malamir of Bulgaria|Malamir]] (831-836) the important city of [[Plovdiv]] was incorporated into the country. Under Khan [[Presian of Bulgaria|Presian]] (836-852), the Bulgarians took most of [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] and the borders of the country reached the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] and [[Aegean Sea]]s. The Byzantine historians do not mention any resistance against the Bulgarian expansion in Macedonia which bring the conclusion that it was largely peaceful.<ref>Const. Porphyr., De admin. imp., ed. Bon., p. 154—155</ref> == Merger of Bulgars and Slavs == It is assumed that The Bulgars were greatly outnumbered by the Slav population among whom they had settled. Between the 7th and the 10th centuries, the Bulgars were gradually absorbed by the Slavs, adopting a Bulgaro-[[Slavic languages|South Slav language]] and converting to Christianity (of the Byzantine rite) under [[Boris I of Bulgaria|Boris I]] in 864. At that time the process of absorption of the remnants of the old Romanised Thracian population from south of the [[Danube]] had already been significant in the formation of this new [[ethnic group]]. Modern Bulgarians are normally considered to be of [[South Slavs|Southern Slavic]] origin, even though the Slavs were only one of the peoples that took part in the formation of their ethnicity. Some recent studies suggest that the Bulgars were much more numerous than originally thought.This theory is getting more support amongst new Bulgarian historians. == Bulgaria under Boris I == {{see also|Boris I}} The reign of [[Boris I of Bulgaria|Boris I]] (852-889) began with numerous setbacks. For ten years the country fought against the Byzantine and Eastern Frankish Empires, [[Great Moravia]], the [[Croats]] and the [[Serbs]] forming several unsuccessful alliances and changing sides. In August 863 there was a period of 40 days of earthquakes and there was a lean year which caused famine throughout the country. To cap it all there was an incursion of locusts. ===Christianization=== {{see also|Christianization of Bulgaria}} In 864 the Byzantines under [[Michael III]] invaded Bulgaria on suspicions that Khan Boris I prepared to accept Christianity in accordance with the Western rites. Upon the news of the invasion, Boris I started negotiations for peace.<ref>Georgius Monachus Continuatus, p. 824</ref> The Byzantines returned some lands in Macedonia and their single demand was that he accept Christianity from Constantinople rather than Rome. Khan Boris agreed to that term and was [[baptised]] in September 865 assuming the name of his godfather, Byzantine Emperor Michael.<ref>Georgius Monachus Continuatus, loa cit., Logomete</ref> The pagan title "[[Khan (title)|Khan]]" was abolished and the title "[[Knyaz]]" assumed in its place. The reason for the conversion to Christianity, however, was not the Byzantine invasion. The Bulgarian ruler was indeed a man of vision and he foresaw that the introduction of a single religion would complete the consolidation of the emerging Bulgarian nation which was still divided on a religious basis. He also knew that his state was not fully respected by [[Christian]] Europe and its treaties could have been ignored by other signatories on religious basis. [[Image:250px-Pokrastvane.jpg|150px|left|thumb|Khan Boris I converts to Christianity]] Тhe Byzantines' goal was to achieve with peace what they were unable to after two centuries of warfare: to slowly absorb Bulgaria through the Christian religion and turn it into a satellite state, as naturally, the highest posts in the newly founded Bulgarian Church were to be held by Byzantines who preached in the Greek language. Boris was well aware of that fact and after Constantinople refused to grant autonomy of the Bulgarian Church in 866 he sent a delegation to [[Rome]] declaring his desire to accept Christianity in accordance with the Western rites along with 115 questions to [[Pope]] [[Pope Nicholas I|Nicolas I]]<ref>Johannes VIII Papa. Epistolae, p. 159</ref> <ref>Anastasius Bibliothecarius, pp. 1373—4</ref>. The Bulgarian ruler desired to take advantage of the rivalry between the Churches of Rome and Constantinople as his main goal was the establishment of an independent Bulgarian Church in order to prevent both the Byzantines and the [[Catholics]] from exerting influence in his lands through religion. The Pope's detailed answers to Boris' questions were delivered by two bishops heading a mission whose purpose was to facilitate the conversion of the Bulgarian people. However, Nicolas I and his successor [[Pope Adrian II]] also refused to recognize an autonomous Bulgarian Church which cooled the relations between the two sides but Bulgaria's shift towards Rome made the Byzantines much more conciliatory. In 870, at the [[Fourth Council of Constantinople]], the Bulgarian Church was recognized as an [[Autonomy|Autonomous]] [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] under the supreme direction of the Patriarch of Constantinople. ===Creation of the Slavic Writing System=== Although the Bulgarian Knyaz succeeded in securing an autonomous Church, its higher clergy and theological books were still Greek which impeded the efforts to convert the populace to the new religion. Between 860 and 863 the Byzantine monks of Slavic origin<ref>Barford, P. M. (2001). The Early Slavs. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press</ref> [[Saint Cyril]] and [[Saint Methodius]] created the [[Glagolitic alphabet]], the first Slavic alphabet by order of the Byzantine Emperor, who aimed to convert [[Great Moravia]] to Orthodox Christianity. However these attempts failed and in 886 their disciples [[Clement of Ohrid]], [[Naum of Preslav]] and Angelarius, who were banished from Great Moravia, reached Bulgaria and were warmly welcomed by Boris I. The Bulgarian Knyaz commissioned the creation of two theological academies to be headed by the disciples where the future Bulgarian clergy was to be instructed in the local vernacular. Clement was sent to [[Ohrid]]<ref>Vita S. démentis</ref> in southwestern Bulgaria where he taught 3,500 pupils between 886 and 893. Naum established the literary school in the capital [[Pliska]], moved later to the new capital [[Preslav]]. In 893, Bulgaria adopted the [[Glagolitic alphabet]] and [[Old Church Slavonic]] (Old Bulgarian) language as official language of the church and state and expelled the Byzantine clergy. In the early 10th century the [[Cyrillic alphabet]] was created at the [[Preslav Literary School]]. ==The "Golden Age"== {{see also|Simeon I of Bulgaria|battle of Anchialus}} [[Image:Skylitzes Simeon sending envoys to the Fatimids.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Simeon sends envoys to the [[Fatimid]] Chaliph to form an alliance against the Byzantines. The two sides were close to an agreement but on their way back the Bulgarian delegats were captured by the Byzantines who managed to distract the Arabs from that alliance.]] By the late 9th and the beginning of the 10th century, Bulgaria extended to [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]] and [[Thessaly]] in the south, [[Bosnia (region)|Bosnia]] in the west and controlled the whole of present-day Romania and eastern Hungary to the north. A Serbian state came into existence as a dependency of the Bulgarian Empire and was later fully subordinated under the general and possibly Count of Sofia [[Marmais]]. Under Tsar [[Simeon I of Bulgaria|Simeon I]] (Simeon the Great), who was educated in Constantinople, Bulgaria became again a serious threat to the Byzantine Empire and reached its greatest territorial extension<ref>Енциклопедия България, Академично издателство "Марин Дринов", 1988</ref>. Simeon hoped to take Constantinople and fought a series of wars with the Byzantines throughout his long reign (893-927). The border close to the end of his rule reached [[Peloponnese]] in the south. Simeon styled himself "Emperor ([[Tsar]]) of the Bulgarians and Autocrat of the Greeks", a title which was recognized by the Pope, but not of course by the Byzantine Emperor nor the The [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarch]] of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]. He was recognized "Emperor (Tsar) of the Bulgarians" by the Byzantine Emperor and the Patriarch only at the end of his rule. Between 894 and 896 he defeated the Byzantines and their allies the [[Magyars]] in the so called "Trade War" because the pretext of the war was the shifting of the Bulgarian market from Constantinople to [[Solun]]<ref name=delev>Delev, Bǎlgarskata dǎržava pri car Simeon.</ref>. In the decisive [[battle of Bulgarophygon]] the Byzantine army was routed<ref>Златарски, История на Първото българско царство, с. 316.</ref> and the war ended with favourable for Bulgaria peace which was, however, often violated by Simeon<ref>Златарски, История на Първото българско царство, с. 321.</ref>. In 904 he captured Solun which was previously looted by the [[Arabs]] and returned it to the Byzantines only after Bulgaria received all Slavic-populated areas in [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] and 20 fortress in Albania including the important town [[Durrës|Drach]]<ref>Бакалов, История на България, "Симеон І Велики"</ref>. After the unrest in the Byzantine Empire that followed the death of Emperor [[Alexander (emperor)|Alexander]] in 913 Simeon invaded Byzantine Thrace but was persuaded to stop in return for official recognition of his Imperial title and marriage of his daughter to the infant Emperor [[Constantine VII]]<ref>Runciman, A history of the First Bulgarian Empire, p. 157</ref> <ref>Fine, The Early Medieval Balkans, pp. 144–148</ref>. After a plot in the Byzantine court Empress Zoe rejected the marriage and his title and both sides prepared for a decisive battle. By 917 Simeon broke every attempts of his enemy to form an alliance with the Magyars, the [[Pechenegs]] and the Serbs and Byzantines were forced to fight alone. On [[20 August]] the two armies clashed at [[battle of Anchialus|Anchialus]] in one of the greatest battles in the [[Middle Ages]]<ref>Dimitrov, Bulgaria: illustrated history.</ref>. The Byzantines suffered an unprecedented defeat leaving 70,000 killed on the battlefield. The pursuing Bulgarian forces defeated the reminder of the enemy armies at [[battle of Katasyrtai|Katasyrtai]]<ref>De Boor, Сarl Gothard (1888). Vita Euthymii. Berlin: Reimer, p. 214</ref>. However, Constantinople was saved by a Serb attack from the west; the Serbs were thoroughly defeated but that gave precious time for the Byzantine admiral and later Emperor [[Romanos I|Romanos Lakepanos]] to prepare the defense of the city. In the following decade the Bulgarians gained control of the whole [[Balkan peninsula]] with the exception of Constantinople and [[Pelopones]]. ==Decline== [[Image:Bulgaria Samuil raster.png|right|thumb|300px|The Bulgarian Empire under Samuil. <ref name=delev/>]] After Simeon's death, however, Bulgarian power slowly declined. In a peace treaty in 927 the Byzantines officially recognized the Imperial title of his son Peter I and the [[Bulgarian Patriarchate]]. The peace with Byzantium did not bring prosperity to Bulgaria. In the beginning of his rule the new Emperor had internal problems and unrest with his brothers and in 930s was forced to recognize the independence of [[Rascia]]<ref>Constantine Porphyrogennetus. Op. cit., pp. 158—9</ref>. The main blow came from the north: between 934 and 965 the country suffered five Magyar invasions<ref>Theophanes Continuatus, pp. 462—3,480</ref>. In 944 Bulgaria was attacked by the Pechenegs who looted the north eastern regions of the Empire. Under [[Peter I of Bulgaria|Peter I]] and [[Boris II of Bulgaria|Boris II]] the country was divided by the egalitarian religious heresy of the [[Bogomilism|Bogomils]]<ref>Nicolaus Papa. Response, p. 1015</ref>. In 968 the country was attacked by [[Kievan Rus'|Kievan Rus]], whose leader, [[Sviatoslav I of Kiev|Svyatoslav I]], took [[Preslav]]<ref>Cedrenus: II, p. 383</ref> and established his capital at [[Pereyaslavets|Preslavets]]<ref>Chronique dite de Nestor, pp. 53—4</ref>. Three years later, Byzantine Emperor [[John I Tzimiskes]] interfered into the struggle and defeated Svyatoslav at [[Siege of Dorostolon|Dorostolon]]. After that, Boris II was deceived and solemnly dethroned at Constantinople<ref>Leo Diaconus, pp. 158-9</ref> and eastern Bulgaria was proclaimed a Byzantine protectorate. == Struggle for independence == {{see also|Samuil of Bulgaria|battle of Kleidion}} After the Byzantine betrayal the lands to the west of the [[Iskar]] river remained free and the resistance against the Byzantines was headed by the [[Comitopuli]] brothers. By 976 the forth brother [[Samuil of Bulgaria|Samuil]] concentrated the whole power in his hands after the deaths of his eldest brothers. When the rightful heir to the throne, [[Roman of Bulgaria|Roman]], escaped from captivity in Constantinople, he was recognized for Emperor by Samuil in [[Vidin]]<ref>Prokić, p. 28</ref> and the later remained the chief commander of the Bulgarian army. Brilliant general and good politician, he managed to turn the fortunes to the Bulgarians. The new Byzantine Emperor Basil II was decisively defeated in the [[battle of the Gates of Trajan]] in 986 and barely escaped<ref>Skylitzes, pp. 436-438</ref><ref>Гильфердинг, А (1868). Письма об истории сербов и болгар (in Russian), p. 209. </ref>. Five years later he eliminated the Serbian state<ref>Шишић, p. 331</ref>. In 997 after the death of Roman who was the last from the Krum dynasty Samuil was proclaimed Emperor of Bulgaria<ref>Розен, p. 43</ref>. However, after 1001 the war turned in favour of the Byzantines who captured the old capitals Pliska and Preslav in the same year and from 1004 launched annual campaigns against Bulgaria. They were eased by a war between Bulgaria and the newly established [[Kingdom of Hungary]] 1003. In 1014 Emperor [[Basil II]] defeated the armies of Tsar Samuil in the [[Battle of Kleidion|Battle of Belasitsa]] and massacred thousands, acquiring the title "Bulgar-slayer" (''Voulgaroktonos''). He ordered 14,000 Bulgarian prisoners blinded and sent back to their country. At the sight of his returning armies Samuil suffered a heart attack and died. By 1018 the country had been mostly subjugated by the Byzantines. ==Cultural development== [[Image:St. Theodor.jpg|thumb|Ceramic icon of St. Theodor, Preslav, ca. AD 900, National Archaelogical Museum, Sofia.|left|150px]] Missionaries from Constantinople, [[Saint Cyril|Cyril]] and [[Saint Methodius|Methodius]], devised the [[Glagolitic alphabet]], which was adopted in the Bulgarian Empire around 886. The alphabet and the [[Bulgarian language|Old Bulgarian]] language gave rise to a rich literary and cultural activity centered around the [[Preslav Literary School|Preslav]] and [[Ohrid Literary School|Ohrid]] Schools, established by order of Boris I in 886. In the beginning of 10th century AD, a new alphabet — the [[Cyrillic alphabet]] - was developed on the basis of Greek and Glagolitic cursive at the [[Preslav Literary School]]. According to an alternative theory, the alphabet was devised at the Ohrid Literary School by Saint [[Clement of Ohrid]], a Bulgarian scholar and disciple of Cyril and Methodius. A pious monk and hermit [[John of Rila|St. Ivan of Rila]] (Ivan Rilski, 876-946), became the patron saint of Bulgaria. After 893 [[Preslav]] became the truly new Bulgarian capital. During his reign Simeon gathered many scholars in his court who translated enormous number of books from Greek and wrote many new works. Among the most prominent figures were [[Constantine of Preslav]], [[John Exarch]] and [[Chernorizets Hrabar]] who is believed by some historians to have been Simeon himself. The was intensive construction of churches and monasteries throughout the Empire including the Great Basilica in Pliska which was one of the biggest structures of the time with its length of 99 m and the splendid Golden Church in Preslav. The Bulgarian capital was also famous for its ceramics which adorned the public and religious buildings. Beautiful icons and church altars were made of special ceramic tiles. There were numerous goldsmith and silversmith workshops who produced fine jewellery. ==Footnotes== {{reflist|2}} ==References== * {{cite book | last = Zlatarski | first = Vasil N. | authorlink = Vasil Zlatarski | title = Medieval History of the Bulgarian State, Vol I: History of the First Bulgarian Empire, Part I: Age of Hunn-Bulgar Domination (679-852) | publisher = Science and Arts Publishers, 2nd Edition (Petar Petrov, Ed.), Zahari Stoyanov Publishers, 4th Edition, 2006 | year = 1918 | location = Sofia | language = Bulgarian | url = http://navigator.idg.bg/index.php?type=2&p=2169&id=4514676 | isbn = 9547366284}} (История на българската държава през средните векове. Том I., История на Първото българско царство. Част I. Епоха на хуно-българското надмощие (679—852), София 1918) * {{cite book | last = Zlatarski | first = Vasil N. | authorlink = Vasil Zlatarski | title = Medieval History of the Bulgarian State, Vol I: History of the First Bulgarian Empire, Part II: From Slavianization to the Fall of the First Bulgarian Empire (852-1018) | publisher = Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2002 | year = 1927 | location = Sofia | language = Bulgarian | url = http://knigabg.com/index.php?page=book&id=2271&PHPSESSID=6e7a644cf7f0100a222bb7d55953be18 | isbn = }} (История на българската държава през средните векове. Том I. История на Първото българско царство. Част II. От славянизацията на държавата до падането на Първото царство (852—1018)], София 1927) * {{cite book |last = Бакалов |first = Георги |coauthors = Милен Куманов |title = Електронна издание &ndash; История на България |publisher = Труд, Сирма |year = 2003 |location = София |id = ISBN 9844830679 |language=Bulgarian }} * {{cite book | title = Български хроники | last = Цанев | first = Стефан | publisher = Труд, Жанет 45 | language = Bulgarian | year = 2006 | location = София, Пловдив | id = ISBN 954-528-610-5 }} * {{cite book | | title = История и цивилизация за 11. клас | last = Делев | first = Петър | coauthors = Валери Кацунов, Пламен Митев, Евгения Калинова, Искра Баева, Боян Добрев | year = 2006 | language = Bulgarian | publisher = Труд, Сирма }} * {{cite book | url = http://www.mfa.government.bg/history_of_Bulgaria/ | title = Българите и България | publisher = Министерство на външните работи на България, Труд, Сирма | year = 2005 | language = Bulgarian }} * {{cite book | last = Fine, Jr. | first = John V.A. | year = 1991 | title = The Early Medieval Balkans | publisher = [[University of Michigan]] Press | location = [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor]] | id = ISBN 978-0472081493 }} * {{cite book | last = Runciman | first = Steven | authorlink = Steven Runciman | title = A History of the First Bulgarian Empire | publisher = G. Bell & Sons, London | year = 1930 | language = English | url = http://www.questia.com/library/book/a-history-of-the-first-bulgarian-empire-by-steven-runciman.jsp | }} ==See also== {{portal|Bulgarian Empire|Coat of Arms of the Bulgarian Empire.PNG}} *[[Bulgars]] *[[Slavs]] *[[Thracians]] *[[Kingdom of Balhara]] *[[Old Great Bulgaria]] *[[Bulgarian Orthodox Church]] *[[Comitopuli dynasty|House of Comitopuli]] *[[Medieval Bulgarian Army]] *[[Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars]] *[[Bulgarian-Hungarian Wars]] {{Bulgarian Empire}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Bulgarian Empire}} [[Category:681 establishments]] [[Category:1018 disestablishments]] [[Category:Former empires]] [[Category:History of Bulgaria]] [[Category:History of Macedonia]] [[Category:Middle Ages by country]] [[Category:Former countries in the Balkans]] [[Category:Former Slavic countries]] [[be:Першае Балгарскае царства]] [[bg:Първа българска държава]] [[es:Primer Imperio Búlgaro]] [[it:Primo impero bulgaro]] [[ja:第一次ブルガリア帝国]] [[no:Det første bulgarske riket]] [[nn:Det første bulgarske riket]] [[pl:Historia Bułgarii w średniowieczu]] [[ru:Первое Болгарское царство]] [[sr:Прво Бугарско царство]] [[tt:Berençe Bolğar patşalığı]] [[zh:保加利亚第一帝国]]