Establishment of the Bulgarian State
The ancient Bulgarians were the basic ethnic component in
the structure of the Mediaeval Bulgarian State. Their original
homeland was in Central Asia, in the mountainous region
of Pamir and Hindukush. They have left a rich cultural heritage
in the field of the philosophic understanding of the world
as well as in state administration, writing, military art,
linguistic culture, construction, astronomy, mathematics.
Eloquent proof of this is their calendar based on the sun
cycles, which is perfect from astronomical and mathematical
point of view. The powerful state union of the ancient Bulgars,
known to history under the name of Great Old Bulgaria existed
until the middle of the 7 th century when it broke down
into new states-Volga Bulgaria and Danubean Bulgaria. The
mighty Bulgarian Empire with Khan Asparuh at its head united
the ancient Thracian nation and the Slavic tribes. This
is how the Third Empire of Europe appeared in 681, so-called
Danubean Bulgaria, on the crossroad with Asia and Africa.
Its capital was called Pliska. Bysantium attacked the Bulgarian
Empire in 811 and burned down the capital Pliska. The warriors
of khan Krum immediately counterattacked and defeated the
Byzantine army. Emperor Nikiphorus I was killed in the battle.
Upsurge of the Bulgarian State
Khan Boris I (852-889) converted the Bulgarians to Christianity
and Bulgaria has been considered a Christian Orthodox country
since 865. The creation and the establishment of the Bulgarian-Slavic
writing by Cyril and Methodius-two monk brothers of Bulgarian
origin is especially important in both cultural and historical
terms. The alphabet created by them was adopted by other
nations through the Christian religion. Tsar Simeon (893-927)
moved the capital from Pliska to Preslav and expanded almost
twofold the territory of Bulgaria. The period of his reign
is known as the First Golden Age. Bulgaria bordered four
seas-the Adriatic, the Aegean, the Marble and the Black
Sea. During the reign of Tzar Samuil (997-1014), the capital
was moved to Ohrid. In 1014 the troops of Samuil were defeated
by the Byzantine emperor Basil II and that put an end to
the first period in the history of Danubean Bulgaria. Bulgaria
fell under Byzantine oppression for almost 170 years. In
1185 the brothers Asen and Peter gain back the independence
of their country. Veliko Turnovo became the capital of the
Second Bulgarian Empire. Tsar Ivan Asens reign was called
the Second Golden Age. Bulgaria became a world power for
the second time during the reign of Ivan Alexander (1331-1371).