Background First_Bulgarian_Empire

1 background

1.1 balkans during migration period
1.2 slavic migrations balkans
1.3 bulgars

background
the balkans during migration period

the eastern balkan peninsula inhabited thracians group of proto-indo-european tribes. whole region far north danube river gradually incorporated roman empire 1st century ad. decline of roman empire after 3rd century ad , devastating invasions of goths , huns left of region devastated, depopulated , in economic decline 5th century. empire s successor, eastern roman empire, called later historians byzantine empire, not exercise effective control in these territories other in coastal areas , cities in interior. nonetheless, never relinquished claim whole region danube. series of administrative, legislative, military , economic reforms improved situation despite these reforms disorder continued in of balkans. reign of emperor justinian (r. 527–565) saw temporary recovery of control , reconstruction of number of fortresses after death empire unable face threat of slavs due significant reduction of revenue , manpower.

slavic migrations balkans

the slavs, of indo-european origin, first mentioned in written sources inhabit territories north of danube in 5th century ad historians agree had arrived earlier. group of slavs came known south slavs divided antes , sclaveni spoke same language. slavic incursions in balkans increased during second half of justinian s reign , while these pillaging raids, large-scale settlement began in 570s , 580s. migration associated arrival of avars settled in plains of pannonia between rivers danube , tisza in 560s subjugating various bulgar , slavic tribes in process.

consumed in bitter wars persian sasanian empire in east, byzantines had little resources confront slavs. slavs came in large numbers , lack of political organisation made difficult stop them because there no political leader defeat in battle , thereby force retreat. wars persia persisted, 610s , 620s saw new , larger migration wave slavs penetrating further south balkans, reaching thessaly, thrace , peloponnese , raiding islands in aegean sea. byzantines held out salonica , number of coastal towns beyond these areas imperial authority in balkans disappeared.

the bulgars

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.