The_Bulgars First_Bulgarian_Empire

the bulgarian colonies after fall of old great bulgaria in 7th century.



early bulgar khanate s zones of tribal control in late 7th. century ad.

the bulgars semi-nomadic warrior tribes originating central asia exact ethnic origin controversial. spoke form of turkic language , during migration westwards absorbed other ethnic groups , cultural influences, including hunnic, iranian , indo-european people. bulgars included tribes of onogurs, utigurs , kutrigurs, among others.

the first clear mention of bulgars in written sources dates 480, when served allies of byzantine emperor zeno (r. 474–491) against ostrogoths although obscure reference ziezi ex quo vulgares, ziezi being offspring of biblical shem, son of noah, in chronography of 354. in 490s kutrigurs had moved west of black sea while utigurs inhabited steppes east of them. in first half of 6th century bulgars raided byzantine empire in second half of century kutrigurs subjugated avar khaganate , utigurs came under rule of western turkic khaganate.

as power of western turks faded in 600s avars reasserted domination on bulgars. between 630 , 635 khan kubrat of dulo clan managed unite main bulgar tribes , declare independence avars, creating powerful confederation called old great bulgaria, known patria onoguria, between black sea, sea of azov , caucasus. kubrat, baptised in constantinople in 619, concluded alliance byzantine emperor heraclius (r. 610–641) , 2 countries remained in relations until kubrat s death between 650 , 663. kubrat fought khazars in east after demise old great bulgaria disintegrated under strong khazar pressure in 668 , 5 sons parted followers. eldest batbayan remained in homeland kubrat s successor , became khazar vassal. second brother kotrag migrated middle volga region , founded volga bulgaria. third brother asparukh led people west lower danube. fourth one, kuber, settled in pannonia under avar suzerainty revolted , moved region of macedonia, while fifth brother alcek settled in central italy.