History First_Bulgarian_Empire

1 history

1.1 establishment , consolidation
1.2 internal instability , struggle survival
1.3 territorial expansion
1.4 golden age
1.5 decline , fall

history
establishment , consolidation

bulgaria @ turn of 7th century

the bulgars of asparukh moved westwards bessarabia, subdued territories north of danube in modern wallachia, , established in danube delta. in 670s crossed danube scythia minor, nominally byzantine province, steppe grasslands , pastures important large herd stocks of bulgars in addition grazing grounds west of dniester river under control. in 680 byzantine emperor constantine iv (r. 668–685), having defeated arabs, led expedition @ head of huge army , fleet drive off bulgars suffered disastrous defeat @ hands of asparukh @ onglos, swampy region in or around danube delta bulgars had set fortified camp. bulgars advanced south, crossed balkan mountains , invaded thrace. in 681, byzantines compelled sign humiliating peace treaty, forcing them acknowledge bulgaria independent state, cede territories north of balkan mountains , pay annual tribute. in universal chronicle western european author sigebert of gembloux remarked bulgarian state established in 680. first state empire recognised in balkans , first time legally surrendered claims part of balkan dominions. byzantine chronicler theophanes confessor wrote of treaty:

...the emperor [constantine iv] signed peace them [the bulgars], , agreed pay them tribute shame of romans , our many sins. wondrous faraway , close peoples hear he, made pay him tribute – east , west, north , south, had been defeated unclean , newly emerged people.

the relations between bulgars , local slavs matter of debate depending on interpretation of byzantine sources. vasil zlatarski asserts concluded treaty historians agree subjugated. bulgars superior organisationally , militarily , came dominate politically new state there cooperation between them , slavs protection of country. slavs allowed retain chiefs, abide customs , in return pay tribute in kind , provide foot soldiers army. 7 slavic tribes relocated west protect frontier avar khaganate, while severi resettled in eastern balkan mountains guard mountain passes byzantine empire. number of asparukh s bulgars difficult estimate. vasil zlatarski , john van antwerp fine jr. suggest not particularly numerous, numbering 10,000, while steven runciman considers tribe must had been of considerable dimensions. bulgars settled in north-east, establishing capital @ pliska, colossal encampment of 23 km protected earthen ramparts.

to north-east war khazars persisted , in 700 khan asparukh perished in battle them. despite setback consolidation of country continued under asparukh s successor, khan tervel (r. 700–721). in 705 assisted deposed byzantine emperor justinian ii regain throne in return of area zagore in northern thrace, first expansion of bulgaria south of balkan mountains. in addition tervel obtained imperial title caesar , sitting enthroned besides emperor received obeisance of citizenry of constantinople , numerous gifts. however, 3 years later justinian tried regain ceded territory force, army defeated @ anchialus. skirmishes continued until 716 when khan tervel signed important agreement byzantium defined borders , byzantine tribute, regulated trade relations , provided prisoners , fugitives exchange. when arabs laid siege constantinople in 717–718 tervel dispatched army besieged city. in decisive battle before walls of constantinople bulgarians slaughtered between 22,000 , 30,000 arabs forcing them abandon undertaking. historians agree byzantine-bulgarian victory important 1 stopping arab offences against europe.

internal instability , struggle survival

a golden jug treasure of nagyszentmiklós depicting warrior captive. experts cannot agree if warrior bulgar, khazar or avar

with demise of khan sevar (r. 738–753) ruling dulo clan died out , khanate fell long political crisis during young country on verge of destruction. in fifteen years 7 khans reigned, , of them murdered. surviving sources of period byzantine , present byzantine point of view of ensuing political turmoil in bulgaria. describe 2 factions struggling power – one sought peaceful relations empire, dominant until 755, , 1 favoured war. these sources present relations byzantine empire main issue in internal struggle , not mention other reasons, have been more important bulgarian elite. relationship between politically dominant bulgars , more numerous slavs main issue behind struggle there no evidence aims of rival factions. zlatarski speculates old bulgar military aristocracy leaning towards war while other bulgars supported majority of slavs inclined peace byzantium.

the internal instability used soldier emperor constantine v (r. 745–775), launched 9 major campaigns aiming eliminate bulgaria. having contained arab threat during first part of reign, constantine v able concentrate forces on bulgaria after 755. defeated bulgarians @ marcellae in 756, anchialus in 763 , berzitia in 774, lost battle of rishki pass in 759 in addition hundreds of ships lost storms in black sea. byzantine military successes further deteriorated crisis in bulgaria on other hand rallied many different fractions resist byzantine advance in period of political volatility , military setbacks, shown @ council of 766 when nobility , armed people denounced khan sabin words you, romans enslave bulgaria! . in 774 khan telerig (r. 768–777) tricked constantine v revealing spies @ bulgarian court in pliska , had them executed. next year constantine v died during retaliatory campaign against bulgaria. despite being able defeat bulgarians several times byzantines able neither conquer bulgaria, nor impose suzerainty , lasting peace, testimony resilience, fighting skills , ideological coherence of bulgarian state. devastation brought country 9 campaigns of constantine v firmly rallied slavs behind bulgars , increased dislike of byzantines, turning bulgaria hostile neighbour. hostilities continued until 792 when khan kardam (r. 777–803) achieved important victory in battle of marcelae, forcing byzantines once again pay tribute khans. result of victory, crisis overcome, , bulgaria entered new century stable, stronger, , consolidated.

territorial expansion

during reign of khan krum (r. 803–814) bulgaria doubled in size , expanded southward , northwest, occupying lands along middle danube , transylvania. between 804 , 806 bulgarian armies thoroughly eliminated avar khaganate, had suffered crippling blow franks in 796, , border frankish empire established along middle danube or tizsa. prompted byzantine moves consolidate hold on slavs in macedonia , northern greece , in response byzantine raid against country, bulgarians confronted byzantine empire. in 808 raided valley of struma river, defeating byzantine army, , in 809 captured important city serdica (modern sofia). in 811 byzantine emperor nicephorus launched massive offensive against bulgaria, seized, plundered , burned down capital pliska on way byzantine army decisively defeated in battle of varbitsa pass. nicephorus i himself slain along of troops, , skull lined silver , used drinking cup. krum took initiative , in 812 moved war towards thrace, capturing key black sea port of messembria , defeating byzantines once more @ versinikia in 813 before proposing generous peace settlement. however, during negotiations byzantines attempted assassinate krum. in response, bulgarians pillaged eastern thrace , seized important city of adrianople, resettling 10,000 inhabitants in bulgaria across danube . krum made enhanced preparation capture constantinople: 5,000 iron-plated wagons built carry siege equipment; byzantines pleaded frankish emperor louis pious. due sudden death of krum on 14 april 814, however, campaign never launched. khan krum implemented legal reform , issued first known written law code of bulgaria established equal rules peoples living within country s boundaries, intending reduce poverty , strengthen social ties in vastly enlarged state.

krum s successor khan omurtag (r. 814–831) concluded 30-year peace treaty byzantines, allowing both countries restore economies , finance after bloody conflicts in first decade of century, establishing border along erkesia trench between debeltos on black sea , valley of maritsa river @ kalugerovo. west bulgarians in control of belgrade (whose modern name first known alba bulgarica) 820s , northwestern boundaries frankish empire firmly settled along middle danube 827. north-east omurtag fought khazars along dnieper river, easternmost limit of bulgaria. extensive building undertaken in capital pliska, including construction of magnificent palace, pagan temples, ruler s residence, fortress, citadel, water-main, , bath, stone , brick. expansion south , south-west continued under omurtag s successors under guidance of capable kavhan (first minister) isbul. during short reign of khan malamir (r. 831–836), important city of philippopolis (plovdiv) incorporated country. under khan presian (r. 836–852), bulgarians took of macedonia, , borders of country reached adriatic sea near valona , aegean sea. byzantine historians not mention resistance against bulgarian expansion in macedonia, leading conclusion expansion largely peaceful. this, bulgaria had become dominant power in balkans. advances further west blocked development of new slavic state under byzantine patronage, principality of serbia. between 839 , 842 bulgarians waged war on serbs did not make progress. historian mark whittow asserts claim serb victory in war in de administrando imperio wishful byzantine thinking notes serb submission bulgarians went no further payment of tribute.

bulgaria after territorial expansion under krum, omurtag , presian

the reign of boris (r. 852–889) began numerous setbacks. ten years country fought against byzantine empire, eastern francia, great moravia, croats , serbs forming several unsuccessful alliances , changing sides. in august 863 there period of 40 days of earthquakes , there lean year, caused famine throughout country. cap all, there incursion of locusts. yet, despite military setbacks , natural disasters skilful diplomacy of boris i prevented territorial losses , kept realm intact. in complex international situation christianity had become attractive religion mid 9th-century because provided better opportunities forging reliable alliances , diplomatic ties. taking account, variety of internal factors, boris i converted christianity in 864, assuming title knyaz (prince). taking advantage of struggle between papacy in rome , ecumenical patriarchate of constantinople, boris i brilliantly manoeuvred assert independence of newly established bulgarian church. check possibility of byzantine interference in internal matters of bulgaria, sponsored disciples of brothers cyril , methodius create literature in old bulgarian language. boris i dealt ruthlessly opposition christianisation of bulgaria, crushing revolt of nobility in 866 , overthrowing own son vladimir (r. 889–893) after attempted restore traditional religion. in 893 convened council of preslav decided capital of bulgaria moved pliska preslav, byzantine clergy banished country , replaced bulgarian clerics, , old bulgarian language replace greek in liturgy. bulgaria become principle threat stability , security of byzantine empire in 10th century.

golden age

the decisions of council of preslav brought end byzantine hopes exert influence on newly christianized country. in 894 byzantines moved bulgarian market constantinople thessaloniki, affecting commercial interests of bulgaria , principle of byzantine–bulgarian trade, regulated under treaty of 716 , later agreements on favoured nation basis. new prince, simeon (r. 893–927), came known simeon great, declared war , defeated byzantine army in thrace. byzantines turned aid magyars, @ time inhabited steppes north-east of bulgaria. magyars scored 2 victories on bulgarians , pillaged dobrudzha simeon i allied pechenegs further east , in 895 bulgarian army inflicted crushing defeat on magyars in steppes along southern bug river. @ same time, pechenegs advanced westwards , prevented magyars returning homeland. blow heavy magyars forced migrate west, settling in pannonian basin, established kingdom of hungary. in 896 byzantines routed in decisive battle of boulgarophygon , pleaded peace confirmed bulgarian domination on balkans, restored status of bulgaria favoured nation, abolished commercial restrictions , obliged byzantine empire pay annual tribute. peace treaty remained in force until 912 although simeon i did violate following sack of thessaloniki in 904, extracting further territorial concessions in macedonia.

emperor simeon i: morning star of slavonic literature, painting alfons mucha

in 913 byzantine emperor alexander provoked bitter war after resolving discontinue paying annual tribute bulgaria. however, military , ideological initiative held simeon i, seeking casus belli fulfil ambition recognized emperor (in bulgarian, tsar) , conquer constantinople, creating joint bulgarian–roman state. in 917, bulgarian army dealt crushing defeat byzantines @ battle of achelous, resulting in bulgaria s total military supremacy in balkans. in words of theophanes continuatus bloodshed occurred, had not happened in centuries , , leo deacon witnessed piles of bones of perished soldiers on battlefield 50 years later. bulgarians built on success further victories @ katasyrtai in 917, pegae in 921 , constantinople in 922. bulgarians captured important city of adrianople in thrace , seized capital of theme of hellas, thebes, deep in southern greece. following disaster @ achelous, byzantine diplomacy incited principality of serbia attack bulgaria west, assault contained. in 924, serbs ambushed , defeated small bulgarian army, provoking major retaliatory campaign ended bulgaria s annexation of serbia @ end of year. further expansion in western balkans checked king tomislav of croatia, byzantine ally , defeated bulgarian invasion in 926. simeon i aware needed naval support conquer constantinople , in 922 sent envoys fatimid caliph ubayd allah al-mahdi billah in mahdia negotiate assistance of powerful arab navy. caliph sent representatives bulgaria arrange alliance emissaries captured en route byzantines near calabrian coast. byzantine emperor romanos lekapenos managed avert bulgarian–arab alliance showering arabs generous gifts. war dragged on until simeon s death in may 927. bulgaria controlled byzantine possessions in balkans, without fleet did not attempt storm constantinople.

both countries exhausted huge military efforts had taken heavy toll on population , economy. simeon s successor peter (r. 927–969) negotiated favourable peace treaty. byzantines agreed recognize him emperor of bulgaria , bulgarian orthodox church independent patriarchate, pay annual tribute. peace reinforced marriage between peter , romanos s granddaughter irene lekapene. agreement ushered in period of 40 years of peaceful relations between 2 powers. during first years of reign, peter faced revolts 2 of 3 brothers, john in 928 , michael in 930, both quelled. during of subsequent rule until 965, peter i presided on golden age of bulgarian state in period of political consolidation, economic expansion , cultural activity.

decline , fall


bulgaria under rule of emperor samuel

despite treaty , largely peaceful era followed, strategic position of bulgarian empire remained difficult. country surrounded aggressive neighbours – the magyars north-west, pechenegs , growing power of kievan rus north-east, , byzantine empire south, proved unreliable neighbour. bulgaria suffered several devastating magyar raids between 934 , 965. growing insecurity, expanding influence of landed nobility , higher clergy @ expense of personal privileges of peasantry, led emergence of bogomilism, dualistic heretic sect in subsequent decades , centuries spread byzantine empire, northern italy , southern france (cf. cathars). south, byzantine empire reversed course of byzantine–arab wars against declining abbasid caliphate , in 965 discontinued payment of tribute, leading sharp deterioration of bilateral relations. in 968 byzantines incited kievan rus invade bulgaria. in 2 years kievan prince svyatoslav defeated bulgarian army, captured preslav , established capital @ important bulgarian city of preslavets (meaning little preslav ). in desperate situation ageing peter i abdicated, leaving crown son boris ii (r. 969–971), had little choice cooperate svyatoslav. unexpected success of rus campaigns led confrontation byzantine empire. byzantine emperor john tzimiskes defeated svyatoslav s forces , compelled him leave balkans in 971. in course of campaign byzantines seized preslav , detained boris ii. john i tzimiskes presented himself liberator boris ii promptly forced ritually abdicate in constantinople. although @ time byzantines controlled eastern regions of country, bulgaria proclaimed byzantine province.

samuel s fortress in ohrid

the lands west of iskar river remained free , bulgarians able regroup headed 4 cometopuli brothers. 976, youngest of them, samuel, concentrated power in hands following death of eldest siblings. when in 976 rightful heir throne, boris ii s brother roman (r. 971–997), escaped captivity in constantinople, recognized emperor samuel, remained chief commander of bulgarian army. peace impossible because result of symbolic ending of bulgarian empire following boris ii s abdication, roman , later samuel, seen rebels , byzantine emperor bound enforce imperial sovereignty on them. led more 40 years of increasingly bitter warfare. capable general , politician, @ first samuel managed turn fortunes bulgarians. new byzantine emperor basil ii decisively defeated in battle of gates of trajan in 986 , barely escaped life. byzantine poet john geometres wrote of defeat:

even if sun have come down, have never thought moesian [bulgarian] arrows stronger ausonian [roman, byzantine] spears. ... , when you, phaethon [sun], descend earth gold-shining chariot, tell great soul of caesar: istros [bulgaria] took crown of rome. take arms, arrows of moesians broke spears of ausonians.

above: byzantines defeat samuel @ kleidion, below: death of samuel, manasses chrinicle

immediately after victory samuel pushed east , recovered north-eastern bulgaria old capitals pliska , preslav. in next ten years bulgarian armies expanded country south annexing whole of thessaly , epirus , plundering peloponnese peninsula. major bulgarian military successes , defection of number of byzantine officials bulgarians, prospect of byzantines losing balkan themes quite real. threatened alliance between byzantines , serbian state of duklja, in 997 samuel defeated , captured prince jovan vladimir , took control of serb lands. in 997, following death of roman, last heir of krum s dynasty, samuel proclaimed emperor of bulgaria. established friendly relations stephen of hungary through marriage between son , heir gavril radomir , stephen s daughter gavril radomir expelled wife , in 1004 hungary participated byzantine forces against bulgaria. after 1000 tides of war turned in favor of byzantines under personal leadership of basil ii, launched annual campaigns of methodical conquest of bulgarian cities , strongholds carried out in twelve months of year instead of usual short campaigning of epoch troops returning home winter. in 1001 seized pliska , preslav in east, in 1003 major offensive along danube resulted in fall of vidin after eight-month siege, , in 1004 basil ii defeated samuel in battle of skopje , took possession of city. war attrition dragged on decade until 1014, when bulgarians decisively defeated @ kleidion. 14,000 bulgarians captured; said 99 out of every 100 men blinded, remaining hundredth man left 1 eye lead compatriots home, earning basil ii moniker bulgaroktonos , bulgar killer. when arrived in samuel s residence in prespa, bulgarian emperor suffered heart attack @ grisly sight , died 2 days later, on 6 october. resistance continued 4 more years under ravril radomir (r. 1014–1015) , ivan vladislav (r. 1015–1018) after demise of latter during siege of dyrrhachium nobility surrendered basil ii , bulgaria annexed byzantine empire. bulgarian aristocracy kept privileges, although many noblemen transferred asia minor, depriving bulgarians of natural leaders. although bulgarian patriarchate demoted archbishopric retained sees , enjoyed privileged autonomy. despite several major attempts @ restoring independence, bulgaria remained under byzantine rule until brothers asen , peter liberated country in 1185, establishing second bulgarian empire.