After the Internal instability and struggle for survival period of the
First Bulgarian Empire and the death of
Constantine V, the devastation brought to the country by his nine campaigns firmly rallied the
Slavs behind the
Bulgars and greatly increased the dislike of the
Byzantines, turning
Bulgaria into a hostile neighbour. The hostilities continued until 792 when
Khan Kardam (r. 777–803) achieved an important victory in the
battle of Marcelae, forcing the
Byzantines once again to pay tribute to the
Khans. As a result of the victory, the crisis was finally overcome, and
Bulgaria entered the new century stable, stronger, and consolidated.
 |
Church of St. Sophia, Ohrid |
During the reign of
Khan Krum (r. 803–814)
Bulgaria doubled in size and expanded southward and to the northwest, occupying the lands along the middle
Danube and
Transylvania. Between 804 and 806 the Bulgarian armies thoroughly eliminated the
Avar Khaganate, which had suffered a crippling blow by the
Franks in 796, and a border with the
Frankish Empire was established along the middle
Danube or
Tisza.
 |
A 14th century depiction of Krum |
In 808 they raided the valley of the
Struma River, defeating a Byzantine army, and in 809 captured the important city
Serdica. In 811 the
Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus I launched a massive offensive against
Bulgaria, seized, plundered and burned down the capital
Pliska but on the way back the Byzantine army was decisively defeated in the
battle of the Varbitsa Pass. Nicephorus I himself was slain along with most of his troops and his skull was lined with silver and used as a drinking cup.
 |
Khan Krum feasts while a servant brings the skull of Nikephoros I fashioned into a drinking cup |
Khan Krum took the initiative and in 812 moved the war towards
Thrace, capturing the key
Black Sea port of
Messembria and defeating the
Byzantines once more at
Versinikia in 813 before proposing a generous peace settlement. However, during the negotiations the
Byzantines attempted to assassinate
Krum and in response
Bulgarians pillaged
Eastern Thrace. He planned to capture
Constantinople but due to his death on 14 April 814, the plan was not executed.
 |
Makri Harbor, Messembria region |
Khan Krum's successor
Khan Omurtag (r. 814–831) concluded a 30-year peace treaty with the
Byzantines. Omurtag started in 814 persecution of
Christians, in particular against the
Byzantine prisoners of war settled north of the
Danube. The expansion to the south and south-west continued under
Omurtag's successors under the guidance of the capable
kavhan (First Minister) Isbul. During the short reign of
Khan Malamir (r. 831–836), the important city of
Philippopolis (Plovdiv) was incorporated into the country.
 |
Bulgar soldiers slaughter Christians |
Under
Khan Presian (r. 836–852), the
Bulgarians took most of
Macedonia, and the borders of the country reached the
Adriatic Sea near
Valona and
Aegean Sea. With this,
Bulgaria had become the dominant power in the
Balkans. The advances further west was blocked by the development of a new
Slavic state under
Byzantine patronage, the
Principality of Serbia. Between 839 and 842 the
Bulgarians waged war on the
Serbs but did not make any progress.
 |
Adriatic Sea, Croatia |
The reign of
Boris I (r. 852–889) began with numerous setbacks. For ten years the country fought against the
Byzantine Empire, Eastern Francia, Great Moravia, the Croats and
the Serbs forming several unsuccessful alliances and changing sides. Yet, despite all military setbacks and natural disasters the skilful diplomacy of
Boris I prevented any territorial losses and kept the realm intact.
Boris I converted to
Christianity in 864.
 |
Depiction in the Manases Chronicle of Boris I' baptism |
Boris I dealt ruthlessly with the opposition to the
Christianisation of Bulgaria, crushing a revolt of the nobility in 866 and overthrowing his own son
Vladimir (r. 889–893) after he attempted to restore the traditional religion. In 893 he convened the
Council of Preslav where it was decided that the capital of
Bulgaria was to be moved from
Pliska to
Preslav, the
Byzantine clergy was to be banished from the country and replaced with
Bulgarian clerics.
Bulgaria was to become the principle threat for the stability and security of the
Byzantine Empire in the 10th century.
 |
Preslav |
No comments:
Post a Comment