European Kingdoms

Bulgaria

Proto-Bulgarians settled in the area of the Caucuses, north and east of the Black Sea, in the fourth to fifth centuries, and mixed with Slavic groups which arrived in the sixth century. By the early seventh century, the Bulgarians had set up a powerful tribal amalgamation known as Great Bulgaria. Its ruler was Khan Koubrat, who established friendly relations with the Byzantine empire, but after his death the state crumbled under pressure from the Khazars.

Some Bulgarians remained in the area and were subdued by the Khazars, but others travelled, reaching the Volga where they set up Volgan Bulgaria with its capital at Kazan. This existed up until the thirteenth century when it was wiped out by the Tartars. Another group of Proto-Bulgarians, lead by Kouber, settled first in Pannonia, and subsequently in the region of Bitolya (Macedonia).

A third group of Proto-Bulgarians under the tribal chieftain Asparouh headed for the west and reached the Danube at the beginning of the last quarter of the seventh century to found an independent kingdom that conquered territory from the Byzantine empire while it was fighting the Arabs in the east and south. The rulers were known as khans, in the Asiatic tradition, and remained independent of Byzantium until 971.

Great Bulgaria
AD c.632 - c.651

c.632 - c.651

Khan or Qaghan Kubrat/Koubrat

Created the Great Bulgarian state.

c.632 - c.651

Khan Kubrat is the first to lay the foundations of Bulgar military and tribal alliance and forms a capital at Phanagoria on the Taman Peninsula. Kubrat makes peace with the Byzantine empire and is awarded the title of patrician by Heraclius. Kubrat dies some time after 651 and Great Bulgaria gradually falls apart.

Kingdom of Bulgaria
c.AD 681 - 889

c.681 - 701

Qaghan Asparukh / Asparouh

Kubrat's fifth son. Founded a permanent Bulgarian state.

c.701 - c.718

Tervel

c.718 - 750

Sevar

750 - 762

Kormesios

762 - 763

Vinekh

762 - 763

Teletz

763

Umar

763 - 765

Baian

765

Tokt

c.765 - 777

Telerig

c.777 - c.803

Kardam

c.803 - 814

Krum

Killed Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus.

814

Dukum

814 - 815

Ditzevg

815 - 831

Omurtag

831 - 852

Malamir

852 - 889

Qaghan Boris I

852 - 889

Michael I

869 - 870

The conversion of Bulgaria is announced at the Church Council in Constantinople.

889

The Bulgarians declare their kingdom to be an empire based on the Byzantine model.

Empire of Bulgaria
AD 889 - 971

889 - 893

Emperor Vladimir

893 - 927

Emperor Simeon I the Great

Bulgaria's Golden Age.

927 - 969

Emperor Peter I

969 - 972

Emperor Boris II

Died c.977.

971

Bulgaria is conquered by Byzantine emperor, John I Tzimisces. An independent Macedonian Bulgarian splinter state is set up in western Bulgaria and northern Macedonia by the Cometopuli, 'Sons of the Count.'

Cometopuli Bulgarian State
c.AD 977 - 1018

c.977 - 997

Tsar Romanus

Figurehead. Captured 991.

988

Bulgaria takes the Greek region of Epirus from the Byzantine empire.

997 - 1014

Tsar Samuel

His army was annihilated by Basil II.

1014

Byzantine emperor Basil II 'Bulgar Slayer' captures and blinds most of the 15,000-strong Bulgarian army on 29 July. The defeat fatally weakens the Bulgar state.

1014 - 1015

Gabriel Radomir

1015 - 1018

John Vladislav

1018 - 1186

Bulgaria is annexed by Basil II.

Asens of Bulgaria
AD 1186 - 1279

Bulgaria had been annexed directly to the Byzantine empire in 1018, but by 1186 the empire was at a low point, and the Bulgarian Asens, local feudal lords, rose in rebellion against Byzantine rule and declared a new independent Bulgar state, maintaining the title of Tsar.

1186 - 1196

John I Asen

State recognised by Byzantium 1187.

1196 - 1197

Peter II Asen

1197 - 1207

Kaloyan

Stopped Fourth Crusade's advance 1205.

1207 - 1218

Boril

1218 - 1241

John II Asen

1242 - 1246

Kaloman

1246 - 1257

Michael II Asen

1257 - 1277

Constantine Tich

1278 - 1279

Ivalio

1279

John III Asen

1279 - 1396

Bulgaria gradually deteriorates as a power as internal anarchy spreads and cross-factional fighting increases.

Terters of Bulgaria
AD 1279 - 1393

1279 - 1292

George I Terter

1292 - 1300

Smilech

1300

Caka

1300 - 1322

Theodore Svetoslav

1322

George II Terter

1323 - 1330

Michael III Shishman

1330 - 1331

John Stephan

1331 - 1371

John Alexander

1371 - 1393

John Shishman

1396 - 1878

The Bulgars are conquered and occupied by the Ottoman Turks.

1878

After the Russo-Turkish War, the Principality of Bulgaria is set up which includes Moesia and the Sofia region, but not southern Bulgaria (East Rumelia) or the Macedonian region. A German prince is elected as head of state.

Principality of Bulgaria
AD 1878 - 1908

1878 - 1886

Alexander of Hessen-Battenberg

German prince. Arrested by pro-Russians. Forced to abdicate.

1885

Bulgaria annexes East Rumelia.

1887 - 1908

Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

German prince. Recreated the Bulgaria Tsarate.

Kingdom of Bulgaria
AD 1908 - 1943

1908 - 1918

Tsar Ferdinand

Forced to abdicate at end of the First World War.

1915

Despite being courted by the Allies, especially Britain and France, Bulgaria has noted the failures of the Gallipoli campaign against Turkey and the Italian campaign against Austria-Hungary and signs four treaties with Germany and Austria on 6 September, agreeing to attack Serbia in return for territory.

1918 - 1943

Boris III

Son. Monarchical numbering continued from the Empire.

1943 - 1946

Simeon II

Son. Prime minister in 2001.

1943 - 1944

Cyril

Regent.

1946

The country is taken over by Soviet communist forces.

Modern Bulgaria
AD 1946 - Present Day

Bulgaria was occupied by Soviet forces at the end of the Second World War and the monarchy was abolished. Modern Bulgaria has a long Black Sea coast and is a predominantly Slavic-speaking country.

1946 - 1993

The country a Soviet communist state.

1993

A democratic republic is declared.

2001 - 2005

Former king, Simeon II, is prime minister.

2004

Bulgaria joins NATO.

2007

In January, Bulgaria becomes a member state of the European Union.