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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. |
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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. |
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Kingdom of Bulgaria
AD c.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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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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 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.' |
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Cometopuli Bulgarian State
AD c.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 |
Army annihilated by
Basil II 1014. |
1014 - 1015 |
Gabriel Radomir |
|
1015 - 1018 |
John Vladislav |
|
1018 - 1186 |
Bulgaria is annexed by
Basil II. In 1186, Byzantium is at a low
point, and the Bulgarian Asens, local feudal lords, rise in rebellion
against Byzantine rule and declare a new independent Bulgar state, maintaining the title
of Tsar. |
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Asens of Bulgaria
AD 1186 - 1279 |
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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Kingdom of Bulgaria
AD 1908 - 1943 |
1908 - 1918 |
Tsar Ferdinand |
Forced to abdicate at
end of World War I. |
1918 - 1943 |
Boris III |
Son.
Monarchical numbering continued from the Empire. |
1943 - 1946 |
Simeon II |
Son. |
1943 - 1944 |
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Cyril |
Regent. |
1946 - 1993 |
The country
is taken over by
communist forces. |
1993 |
A democratic republic
is declared. |
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