The
First Bulgarian Empire was a medieval
Bulgarian state that existed in southeastern
Europe between the 7th and 11th centuries AD. It was founded circa 681 when
Bulgar tribes led by
Asparukh moved to the north-eastern
Balkans. At the height of its power,
Bulgaria spread from the
Danube Bend to the
Black Sea and from the
Dnieper River to the
Adriatic Sea.
 |
Samuel's Fortress in Ohrid |
The
Bulgars were semi-nomadic warrior tribes originating from
Central Asia. Between 630 and 635
Khan Kubrat of the
Dulo clan managed to unite the main
Bulgar tribes and to declare independence from the
Avars. Kubrat, who was baptised in
Constantinople in 619, concluded an alliance with the
Byzantine Emperor Heraclius (r. 610–641) and the two countries remained in good relations until
Kubrat's death between 650 and 663. After his demise
Old Great Bulgaria disintegrated under strong pressure in 668.
 |
The Bulgarian colonies after the fall of Old Great Bulgaria in the 7th century |
In 680 the
Byzantine Emperor Constantine IV (r. 668–685), having recently defeated the
Arabs, led an expedition at the head of a huge army and fleet to drive off the
Bulgars but suffered a disastrous defeat at the hands of
Asparukh at
Onglos. In 681, the
Byzantines were compelled to sign a humiliating peace treaty, forcing them to acknowledge
Bulgaria as an independent state.
 |
Constantine IV and his retinue, mosaic in basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna. |
The
Bulgars were superior organisationally and militarily and came to dominate politically the new state but there was cooperation between them and the
Slavs for the protection of the country. To the north-east the war with the
Khazars persisted and in 700
Khan Asparukh perished in battle with them. Despite this setback the consolidation of the country continued under
Asparukh's successor,
Khan Tervel (r. 700–721).
 |
Khan Tervel |
In 705
Khan Tervel assisted the deposed
Byzantine Emperor Justinian II to regain his throne in return of the area
Zagore in
Northern Thrace, which was the first expansion of
Bulgaria to the south of the
Balkan mountains. In addition
Tervel obtained the almost imperial title
Caesar and sitting enthroned besides the Emperor received the obeisance of the citizenry of
Constantinople and numerous gifts. However, three years later
Justinian tried to regain the ceded territory by force, but his army was defeated at
Anchialus.
 |
Battle of Anchialus |
Skirmishes continued until 716 when
Khan Tervel signed an important agreement with
Byzantium that defined the borders and the
Byzantine tribute. When the
Arabs laid siege to
Constantinople in 717–718
Tervel dispatched his army to help the besieged city. In the decisive battle before the Walls of
Constantinople the
Bulgarians slaughtered around 22,000
Arabs forcing them to abandon the undertaking.
 |
Section of wall of Constantinople |
With the demise of
Khan Sevar (r. 738–753) the ruling
Dulo clan died out and the
Khanate fell into a long political crisis during which the young country was on the verge of destruction. In just fifteen years seven
Khans reigned, and all of them were murdered. The internal instability was used by the "soldier Emperor"
Constantine V (r. 745–775), who launched nine major campaigns aiming to eliminate
Bulgaria.
 |
Constantine V(on the right) and his father Leo III the Isaurian(on the left) |
No comments:
Post a Comment