Government First_Bulgarian_Empire

1 government

1.1 social classes
1.2 administration
1.3 legislation

government

khan omurtag first bulgarian ruler known had claimed divine origin, madrid skylitzes

the first bulgarian empire hereditary monarchy. monarch responsible issues of peace , war. commander-in-chief of armed forces, judge , high priest in pagan period. guided external policy of country , conclude treaties or through authorised emissaries. in pagan period title of ruler khan. after 864 boris adopted slavic knyaz (prince), , since 913 bulgarian monarchs recognised tsars (emperors). authority of khan limited leading noble families , people s council. people s council included nobility , armed people gathered discuss issues of crucial importance state. people s council in 766 dethroned khan sabin because seeking peace byzantines. according old bulgarian tradition khan first among equals , among reasons why boris decided convert christianity, christian monarch ruled grace of god. however, should noted divinity of bulgarian ruler, superiority on byzantine emperor, asserted khan omurtag (r. 814–831), stated in chatalar inscription:

the kanasubigi omurtag divine ruler in land born. ... may god [ tangra ] grant divine ruler may press down [byzantine] emperor foot long ticha flows...

the second important post in bulgaria after monarch kavhan, monopolised members of tentatively known kavhan family . kavhan had broad powers , commanded left wing of army, , @ times whole army. co-ruler or regent during minority of monarch; sources mention khan malamir ruled kavhan isbul (fl. 820s–830s) , kavhan dometian noted associate [in government] of gavril radomir (r. 1014–1015). third highest-ranking official ichirgu-boila, commanded right wing of army @ war , might have had role of foreign minister. under direct command 1,300 soldiers. historian veselin beshevliev assumes post might have been created under reign of khan krum (r. 803–814), or earlier, in order limit power of kavhan. although bulgarians did not have own writing system, presence of numerous stone inscriptions, in greek language, indicate existence of chancellery khan organised in byzantine manner. part of chancellery s staff might have been greeks , monks, despite fact country still pagan.

social classes

the symbol ıyı associated dulo clan , first empire

according inscription dated reign of khan malamir (r. 831–836) there 3 classes in pagan bulgaria – boilas, bagains , bulgarians, i.e. common people. nobility known boila after 10th century word transformed bolyar, adopted in many countries in eastern europe. each boila clan had own totem , believed had been divinely established, hence staunch opposition christianity, seen threat privileges. many of clans had ancient origin traced time when bulgars inhabited steppes north , east of black sea. nominalia of bulgarian khans mentions monarchs of 3 clans ruled bulgaria until 766 – dulo, vokil , ugain. power of principal noble families crippled in aftermath of anti-christian rebellion of 866, when boris i executed 52 leading boilas along families.

the boila divided inner , outer boilas , among ranks holders of highest military , administrative posts selected. outer boilas resided outside capital, while inner ones member of court under direct influence of monarch. bagains second-ranking aristocratic class , divided numerous ranks. presence of 2 separate nobility classes further confirmed in responsa nicolai ad consulta bulgarorum (responses of pope nicholas questions of bulgarians), boris i wrote primates , mediocres seu minores. privileged group tarkhans, although surviving inscriptions impossible determine whether belonged boilas or bagains, or separate class. original bulgar titles , many of institutions pagan era preserved after christianisation of bulgaria until fall of first empire. beginning of 9th century marked process of incorporation of both slavs , byzantine greeks in ranks of bulgarian nobility , privileged classes, increased power of monarch had been curtailed leading bulgar aristocratic families. since time slavic titles became more prominent, such župan, , of them mingled forming titles župan tarkhan.

the peasants lived in rural communities known zadruga , had collective responsibility. majority of peasantry free under direct rule of central administration , legislation introduced following adoption of christianity regulated relations. number of dependent peasants bound nobility or ecclesiastical estates increased since 10th century.

administration

due limited remaining sources difficult reconstruct administrative evolution , division of country. slavic tribes retained autonomy since beginning of 9th century commenced process of centralisation. bulgaria s territory steadily expanded measures against tribal autonomy deemed necessary in order achieve more effective control , prevent separatism. when in 820s slavic tribes in western bulgaria, timochani, branichevtsi , abodriti sought overlordship franks, khan omurtag replaced chieftains own governors. country divided comitati, governed comita, although term used western european chroniclers, wrote in latin. bulgarians used term земя (zemya, meaning land ), mentioned in court law people. number unknown, archbishop of reims hincmar mentioned 866 rebellion against boris headed nobility of 10 comitati. further divided župi, in turn consisted of zadrugi. comita appointed monarch, , assisted tarkhan. former had many civil , administrative functions, while latter responsible military affairs. 1 of few comitati known name kutmichevitsa in south-western bulgaria, corresponding modern western macedonia, southern albania , north-western greece.

legislation

the first know written bulgarian law code issued khan krum @ people s council in beginning of 9th century text has not survived in integrity , items have been preserved in 10th-century byzantine encyclopedia suda. prescribed death penalty false oaths , false accusations , severe penalties thieves , gave them shelter. suda mentioned laws foresaw uprooting of vineyards measure against drunkenness claim refuted in contemporary sources indicate after capturing pliska in 811 byzantine emperor nicephorus i found large quantities of wine; , after final bulgarian victory krum drank wine in emperor s skull. krum s legal code seen many historians attempt centralise state , end different element of society putting them under single set of law. however, since text not preserved precise aims remain unknown.

after conversion christianity boris i concerned legal matters , asked pope nicholas provide legal texts. eventually, under reign compiled Законъ соудный людьмъ (zakon sudnyi ljud m), or court law people, based heavily on byzantine ecloga , nomocanon, adapted bulgarian conditions , valid whole population of country. combined element of civil, criminal, canon , military law, public , private law, , included substantive norms , procedural guidelines. court law people dealt combating paganism, testimony of witnesses, sexual morality, marital relations, distribution of war booty, etc. eradicate residual paganism law provided village allowed performance of pagan rituals should transferred along whole land church; , should rich landowner perform them, lands sold, , revenue shared among poor.