Bulgars Research Papers

Tengrism, Zoroastrianism, Mithraism, these are the three most popular areas of religious research in Bulgarian scholarship regarding the pre-Christian beliefs in Danube Bulgaria prior to AD 864. This paper tries to shed light to both the... more

"The role of the Great Bulgaria is supposed to be very important for the ethnic identity formation of the tribes that were part of this confederation. Some of them kept their own identity, but others, most likely, after the... more

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- by Elena Galkina
- •
- 2
  Early medieval Bulgaria, Bulgars

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- by Petar Goliyski
- •
- 15
  Caucasus, Armenian History, Sarmatians, Volga Bulghars

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- by Boris Zhivkov
- •
- 4
  Khazars, Alans, Bulgars, Volga Bulgars

In 2015-2016 yy. in Fudan University (Shanghai), headed by ethnogenomist Shao-Qing Wen (文少卿)[1] in China were tested to determine the Y-DNA haplogroup the representatives from aristocratic Turkic clans Ashina[2] (creators and managers... more

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- by Bulat Muratov
- •
- 7
  Turks, DNA genealogy, Bulgars, Pashtuns

Bulgar diye anılan boylar birlikteliğinin oluşumunda ve Magna (Büyük) Bulgar ile Tuna Bulgar devletlerinin kurucu unsurları arasında yer alan Onogurlar, Oğuzların kardeşi ve batı kolu olan Ogurlara mensup idiler. Avrupa Hun Devleti’nin... more

Bulgar diye anılan boylar birlikteliğinin oluşumunda ve Magna (Büyük) Bulgar ile Tuna Bulgar devletlerinin kurucu unsurları arasında yer alan Onogurlar, Oğuzların kardeşi ve batı kolu olan Ogurlara mensup idiler. Avrupa Hun Devleti’nin yıkılış sürecinde Onogurlar başta olmak üzere Ogur boyları kolayca Karadeniz’in kuzeyin- deki bozkırlara yayıldılar. Onogurlar, Macarlarla beraber Hazar Bozkırı’ndan geçip Kafkaslar’a Kuban Bozkırı’na göçtüler. Onogurlar, Ugor-Macarlara siyasi, askeri ve kültürel bakımdan tesir etmişler, onları da kendileriyle beraber güneye sürükle- mişlerdir. Orta Asya’dan Doğu Avrupa coğrafyasına göç eden Ogurların yaşadıkları yerler İtil Nehri ile Karadeniz arasındaki bozkır bölgesinde Hazar Denizi’nin kuzey- batı kıyısında ve Kuban Nehri civarındaydı. Onogurlar Karadeniz’in kuzeyindeki ticarette rol oynamışlardır. Doğu Romalıların tahminen VII. yüzyılda başladıkları misyonerlik faaliyetleri sonucunda Onogurlar arasında Hristiyanlık yayılmaya baş- lamıştır. Bunun sonucunda Onogur Piskoposluğu dahi tesis edilmiştir. Onogurlar, yaşadıkları sahalarda askeri ve siyasi olarak değil, ticari yönleri ve şehirler kuracak sosyo-kültürel birikimleriyle dikkat çekmişlerdir.
Tarih Dergisi, Sayı 65 (2017 / 1), İstanbul 2017, s. 1-18

COMPOSITION OF BULGARIA AND THE POSITION OF
ONOGURES ON THE COURSE OF THE BULGARIAN STATES
The Onogures, the brother of the Oguz, and the Ogur, the west line, were among
the founding elements of the Bulgarian union called the Bulgarians and the founders of the Magna (Great) Bulgarian and Danube Bulgarian states .In the process of
the collapse of the European Hun State, Onogures, especially Ogur, spread easily
to the steppes in the north of the Black Sea.The Onogurs, together with the Hungarians, passed through the Caspian Steppe and emigrated to the Kuban Steppes in
the Caucasus. Onogurs , Ugor-Hungarian political, military and cultural influence,
they have dragged them along with them to the south. The places where the Ogur
migrated from Central Asia to Eastern Europe were located on the north-west coast
of the Caspian Sea and near the Kuban River in the steppe region between the Itil
River and the Black Sea. The Onogurans played a role in the trade in the north of
the Black Sea. As estimated, the Eastern Romans in VIIth century, as a result of the
missionary activities they started in the century, Christianity began to spread among
Onogurlar. As a result, even the bishop of Onogur was established. The Onogurs
attracted attention not only military and politically, but also their commercial aspects
and their socio-cultural accumulation in cities

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- by Üntaç Güner
- •
- 11
  Huns, Turks, ethno-linguistic origins of Huns, Bulgars

Dear colleagues! I bring to your attention the next, sixth release of our collection. It contains articles on archeology, history and antique and medieval Taurica's numismatics.
Yours faithfully, M. Choref

The article deals with a slightly overlooked episode of the early history of the Bulgars and their role in one of the most controversial chapters in the history of the Christian Faith. As a result of the struggle between Chalcedonians and... more

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- by Ivan Stoyanov
- •
- 6
  Roman History, Roman Religion, Heresy and Orthodoxy, Huns

Paper presents an attempt at deciphering of Murfatlar alphabet, a Runiform script used to write over 80 short inscriptions and graphs found at Rock Churches near village of Basarabi, Romania. The language assumed to be used there is... more

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- by Nedyalko Ovcharov
- •
- 4
  Early China, Early medieval Bulgaria, Bulgars, Runiform Scripts

The paper analyses John of Antioch' s early mention of Bulgarian presence on the Balkan peninsula.

This is the second edition of the book originally published in 2005, by the 'Gutenberg" Publ. House, Sofia. It deals with the so-called 'Inside' and 'Outside' Others in the histories of Bulgars, Khazars, Ancient Turk, and Uighurs and... more

Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi, Tarih Bölümü, Mezuniyet Tezi.

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- by Ayberk Ozel
- •
- 5
  Khazars, Bulgars, Altın Orda, Karadeniz'in Kuzeyi

Four Inscriptions written in Bulgar language are presented in this paper. Their grammatical structure and lexical content are examined and compared. Among the findings of this work are both unknown name of a God/Goddess and a verb.

The paper introduces newly found logographic script named by authod Bulgarian Sacred Script. Several inscriptions attributed to this Runiform script are investigated. Also, connection between BSS and Chinese script is being established.

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- by Nedyalko Ovcharov
- •
- 5
  Early China, Early medieval Bulgaria, Bulgars, History of Script

The article deals with the comparative analysis of the shapes of kitchen pots of the 8th-9th centuries from archeological sites of the Middle Don, the Steppe Seversky Donets and the Lower Danube. The study is carried out using the... more

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- by Shamil Mingazov
- •
- 5
  Tatars, Bulgars, John of Nikiu, Protobulgarians

Author has asked an interesting question in his study. That is, the question of the so-called bestowing of rule by Slavs to non-Slavic rulers chosen by the Slavic community. This action is, as far as world history is concerned, known from... more

The paper presents evidence of Bregalnica mission of St. Cyril. Also, several Runiform inscriptions are examined and interpreted. In result, a connection between certain Runiform graphs and Glagolitic letter is established.

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- by Nedyalko Ovcharov
- •
- 4
  Early China, Early medieval Bulgaria, Bulgars, Runiform Scripts

Spis treści ....... 6 Wykaz skrótów ......9 Wstęp 13 CZĘŚĆ I Dzieje . . . . 25 Rozdział I Panowanie Borysa-Michała (852–889). Chrzest Bułgarii 27 1.1. Kierunki polityki zagranicznej w pierwszym etapie rządów (852–863) ..... 28 1.2.... more

Spis treści ....... 6
Wykaz skrótów ......9
Wstęp 13

CZĘŚĆ I
Dzieje . . . . 25
Rozdział I
Panowanie Borysa-Michała (852–889). Chrzest Bułgarii 27
1.1. Kierunki polityki zagranicznej w pierwszym etapie rządów (852–863) ..... 28
1.2. Zawarcie pokoju z Bizancjum (863) i przyjęcie chrztu (866) ..... 30
1.3. Opozycja przeciw chrześcijaństwu. Bunt możnych . . . . . . 37
1.4. Między Konstantynopolem a Rzymem. Zmagania o status bułgarskiego
Kościoła (866–870) . . ... 43
1.5. Borys-Michał opiekunem uczniów Konstantyna-Cyryla i Metodego 53
1.6. Ostatnie lata rządów. Życie monastyczne. (?) Kanonizacja . . .. . 57
Rozdział II
Rządy Włodzimierz-Rasate (889–893): czas reakcji pogańskiej? . . . . . 61
Rozdział III
Symeon Wielki (893–927) – twórca Pierwszego Carstwa Bułgarskiego . . . . . 70
3.1. Przejęcie władzy
3.2. Wojna bułgarsko-bizantyńska (894–896) . . . .. 81
3.3. Charakterystyka stosunków bułgarsko-bizantyńskich w latach 897–904 . . 97
3.4. Wydarzenia roku 913 .......... 100
3.5. Anchialos (917) . . . . . . 118
3.6. Ostatnia dekada (917–927) . . . . 126
3.7. Cele polityki zagranicznej Symeona . . . . . 141
Rozdział IV
Czasy Piotra I (927–969) . . . . 149
4.1. Przejęcie władzy i walki z opozycją wewnętrzną 150
4.2. Zawarcie pokoju z Bizancjum (927) . . . . . 155
4.3. Sytuacja wewnętrzna. Bogomilizm ........ 162
4.4. Polityka zagraniczna . . . . 167
4.5. Zaostrzenie stosunków bułgarsko-bizantyńskich za panowania Nikefora II Fokasa (963–969) . . . . . . . . 174
4.6. Najazdy Światosława, księcia kijowskiego 176
4.7. Ocena panowania Piotra . . . . 186
Rozdział V
Borys II (969–971): Upadek Pierwszego Carstwa Bułgarskiego...189
5.1. Wojna bizantyńsko-ruska a Bułgarzy 189
5.2. Cesarz Jan I Tzymiskes i likwidacja Carstwa Bułgarskiego (971) . . . . . 192

Część II
Państwo – społeczeństwo – gospodarka – kultura .. . . . 201
Rozdział I
Państwo i społeczeństwo . . . . 203
1.1. Władca . . . . . 203
1.2. Rada wielkich bojarów . . . . 209
1.3. Kwestia tzw. saboru państwowego ..... 209
1.4. Administracja centralna . . . . . 210
1.5. Administracja prowincjonalna . . . . . 214
1.6. Stolice państwa ........ 218
1.7. Siły zbrojne .......... 222
1.8. System obronny państwa bułgarskiego . . . . . 229
1.9. Społeczeństwo . . . . . . 232
1.9.1. Skład etniczny 232
1.9.2. Struktura społeczeństwa . . . . . 237
Rozdział II
Kościół . . . . .240
2.1. Status Kościoła bułgarskiego i jego organizacja . . 240
2.2. Monastycyzm ... 256
2.3. Bogomilizm ... 262
2.4. Budownictwo kościelne i klasztorne . . . . . 268
Rozdział III
Gospodarka . . . . . .77
3.1. Warunki i zasoby naturalne. Znaczenie geopolityczne regionów . . . . . 277
3.2. Rolnictwo i hodowla . . . . . . 289
3.3. Rzemiosło wiejskie i miejskie. Rozwój ośrodków miejskich 291
3.4. System dróg i wymiana handlowa . . . . . 296
Rozdział IV
Kultura duchowa. Literatura . . . . . 305
4.1. Presławska szkoła literacka .... 309
4.2. Ochrydzka szkoła literacka .... 314
Zakończenie . . . . 319
Bibliografia . . . . 321
Aneks . . . . . 349

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- by Kiril Marinow and +1
  Mirosław J. Leszka
- •
- 32
  Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Medieval Literature, Medieval History, Medieval Studies

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- by Nicholas Morton
- •
- 7
  Crusades, Bulgaria, Byzantine Studies, Byzantine History

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- by Osman Karatay
- •
- 3
  Khazars, Bulgars, Rus

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- by Umut Üren
- •
- 5
  Pechenegs and Cumans, Medieval Bulgaria, Cumans, Oğuz Türkleri

The article is devoted to one of the parts of the Turkic speaking Bulgarian people, who migrated to Western Europe in the VII century. The author presents the information of the written sources on Bulgarians led by Alzec and considers the... more

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- by Umut Üren
- •
- 3
  Eastern European Studies, Central Asian Studies, Bulgars

Gelibolu Yarımadası, tarih boyunca pek çok istilaya ve mücadeleye tanık olmuştur. Bu bölgede askerî faaliyet gösterenler arasında Erken Ortaçağlarda çeşitli Türk Toplulukları da vardır. Roma-Bizans kaynaklarına göre Hunlar, Bulgarlar ve... more

Gelibolu Yarımadası, tarih boyunca pek çok istilaya ve mücadeleye tanık olmuştur. Bu bölgede askerî faaliyet gösterenler arasında Erken Ortaçağlarda çeşitli Türk Toplulukları da vardır. Roma-Bizans kaynaklarına göre Hunlar, Bulgarlar ve Kutrigurlar yarımadaya harekât düzenlemişlerdir. Hunlar, hükümdarları Attila’nın önderliğinde 447’de bölgeye ulaştıklarında, yarımadayı anakaradan gelecek istilalara karşı korumak için yapılan ama aynı yıl yaşanan depremde yıkılan Uzun
Sur’u aşmışlardır. Attila, bu sefer sırasında yarımadada yeri bilinmeyen bir çarpışmada bir Doğu Roma ordusunu da yenmiştir. Uzun Sur’un 478’deki başka bir depremde tahrip olmasından yararlanan bir Bulgar grubu, 539’dan sonra yarımadaya girerek burayı yağmalamış, Çanakkale Boğazı’nı aşıp Anadolu yakasına geçmeyi bile başarmıştır. 559’daki Kutrigur akını ise başarısız olmuş ve Kutrigurlar, kısa bir süre önce yeniden inşa edilen Uzun Sur nedeniyle yarımadaya giremeden çekilmek zorunda kalmışlardır. 813’e gelindiğinde Bulgarlar, hükümdarları Kurum Han’ın komutasında yarımadaya yeniden girerek bölgedeki yerleşimleri yağmalamışlardır. Söz konusu askerî faaliyetler incelendiğinde, bunların daha büyük Balkan seferlerinin yalnızca birer harekâtı olduğu ve tek başına yarımadayı hedef alan müstakil seferler düzenlenmediği görülmektedir. Bu akınlardan söz eden kaynaklardan anlaşıldığı kadarıyla, Erken Ortaçağlarda yarımadaya saldıran Türk
toplulukları buraları yalnızca geçici olarak istila etmişler ve ganimet elde ettikten sonra buraya yerleşmeyip ülkelerine dönmüşlerdir. Bu çalışmayla hem İslam-öncesi Türk Tarihi’ne hem de Çanakkale’nin ve Gelibolu Yarımadası’nın yerel tarihine katkıda bulunulması, bölge tarihinin İslam-öncesi Türklerle ilgili bir geçmişe de sahip olduğunun vurgulanması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada bölgedeki Türk akınlarıyla ilgili bilgi veren Roma-Bizans kaynakları tarafımızca gözden geçirilmiş, bu kayıtlardaki bilgiler ortaya çıkarılmış ve söz konusu bilgiler incelenmiştir.

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Throughout history, the Gallipoli Peninsula has witnessed numerous invasions and conflicts. Among those that conducted military operations in this area were various Turkic peoples in the Early Middle Ages. According to Romano-Byzantine sources, the Huns, Bulgars and Kutrigurs launched operations into the peninsula. When the Huns reached the region under the leadership of their king Attila in 447, they managed to cross the Long Wall, a defensive structure built to protect the peninsula from attacks that would come from the mainland but destroyed in the same year because of an earthquake. Attila also defeated an Eastern Roman army in the peninsula during this campaign, at a location currently unknown. Taking advantage of the destruction of the Long Wall in another earthquake in 478, the Bulgars entered the peninsula after 539. Pillaging here, the Bulgars even managed to cross the Hellespont and reach the Asian side. However, the Kutrigur raid in 559 failed and because of the Long Wall that was rebuilt not long ago, the Kutrigurs had to withdraw without being able to enter the peninsula. In 813, the Bulgars entered the peninsula again under the command of their ruler Krum Khan and pillaged the settlements in the region. When these military operations are examined, it can be observed that they were just one of the numerous operations within larger Balkan campaigns, and individual campaigns targeting solely the peninsula were not conducted. As can be understood from the sources describing these raids, Turkic peoples that attacked the peninsula in the Early Middle Ages only temporarily invaded these lands and withdrew back to their homelands after acquiring plunder, without settling here. In this study, it is aimed to make contributions both to Pre-Islamic Turkic History as well as to the local history of Çanakkale and the Gallipoli Peninsula, emphasizing that the region’s history also possesses a past related with Pre-Islamic Turks. Using Romano-Byzantine sources describing Turkic raids into the region, we have revealed narratives in these records and examined them in this study.

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- by Hayrettin İhsan Erkoç and +1
  Kubilay Gürses
- •
- 13
  Roman History, Byzantine History, Roman Empire, Pontic Steppe

The paper is an attempt of a new interpretation of the term saqaliba that Ahmad ibn Fadlan, who was a 10-century Arab traveler, used in his Kitab as a designation of the population of the Middle Volga region. The most likely is that... more

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- by Tsvetelin Stepanov
- •
- 9
  Chuvash language, Tatars, Tatarstan, Bulgars

On the author`s page:... more

On the author`s page:
https://www.academia.edu/30763049/%D0%91%D0%9E%D0%9B%D0%93%D0%90%D0%A0%D0%AB_%D0%98_%D0%A1%D0%9B%D0%90%D0%92%D0%AF%D0%9D%D0%95_%D0%A1%D0%A0%D0%95%D0%94%D0%98_%D0%92%D0%A0%D0%90%D0%93%D0%9E%D0%92_%D0%98_%D0%94%D0%A0%D0%A3%D0%97%D0%95%D0%99_%D0%92%D0%98%D0%97%D0%90%D0%9D%D0%A2%D0%98%D0%99%D0%A1%D0%9A%D0%9E%D0%99_%D0%98%D0%9C%D0%9F%D0%95%D0%A0%D0%98%D0%98_%D0%92_VI_IX_%D0%92%D0%92
The article considers role and dynamics of mutual images in the communication of Bulgars and Slavs with the Byzantine Empire and among themselves in connection with their migration across Danube, settlement in the Balkans, formation and enlargement of the Bulgarian state in the 7th–9th cc. The Byzantines’ phobias towards Bulgars and Slav incorporated both the reminiscences of the ancient fears of enemies and new eschatological fears. They were being overcome by real and symbolic interiorization of the outer enemies, which in political contacts were perceived as military opponents and trouble-making neighbors, untrustworthy allies, friends by status or insubordinate subjects. Their transfer from the world of images to the world of politics obviously did not make the Rhomeoi’s relationships with the «inner barbarians» free from the impact of traditional images and their remnants, which in the case of the Bulgars and integrated into
their state Slavs kept on existing after their conversion to Christianity. In their turn, the relations between theBulgars and Slavs, on the one side, and Byzantium on the other, were determined not only by political and
militaly challenges, but with their acculturation into the symbolic space of the Christian Empire conjugated with their attitudes to the statuses and nominations offered by Constantinople. The Bulgar-Slav relations and their symbolic expressions were shaped during their cooperation, which had begun long before the arrival of Asparuch to the Balkans, and in the course of the competition of the Bulgarian state with Byzantium for Balkan Slavinias. Nevertheless, the reminiscences of the ancient ethnic phobias in the mediaeval Byzantine and Slavonic texts existed more as literary fashion than as reflections of the current social and political realities. ***** В статье рассматриваются роль и динамика взаимных представлений в общении язычников-болгар
и славян с Византийской империей и друг с другом в связи с их переходом за Дунай, закреплением на Балканах, созданием и расширением болгарского государства в VII–IX вв., до принятия
христианства в 863 г. Фобии византийцев в отношении болгар и славян включали как реминисценции античных страхов перед врагами, так и новые эсхатологические страхи. Они преодолевались реальной и символической интериоризацией внешних противников, которые в политических контекстах воспринимались как военные противники, беспокойные соседи, ненадежные союзники, статусные «друзья» или непокорные подданные. Переход из мира представлений в мир политики, разумеется, не освобождал отношения ромеев с «внутренними варварами» от влияния традиционных имиджей и их элементов, которые в случае с болгарами и интегрированными ими в свое государство славянами продолжали сохраняться и после принятия христианства. В свою очередь, отношения болгар и славян к Византии определялись не только политическими и военными вызовами, но и аккультурацией в символическое пространство христианской империи, сопряженной с отношением к предлагаемым Константинополем статусам и номинациям. Болгаро-славянские отношения и представления о них формировались в основном на основе сотрудничества, начавшегося задолго до прихода Аспаруха на Балканы, и соперничества с Византией за балканские Славинии. Реминисценции древних «этнических» фобий в средневековых византийских и славянских текстах, тем не менее, сохранялись скорее в форме литературной моды, нежели отражали состояние современных им общественно-политических реалий.

Bu bildiri, 5-6 Mart 2020 tarihlerinde İstanbul Üniversitesi Güneydoğu Avrupa Araştırma Merkezi tarafından düzenlenecek olan Güneydoğu Avrupa'da Kültürel Etkileşimler adlı sempozyumda sunulacaktır.

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- by Umut Var
- •
- 7
  Medieval Balkans, Christianisation, Bulgars, Roma Bizans Tarihi

The paper introduces over 29 stone, brick and mortar bedding surfaces covered with Runiform graphs, ligatures and inscriptions found in valley of Bregalnica, Republic North Macedonia. In addition, all graphs are analysed and compared... more

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- by Nedyalko Ovcharov
- •
- 4
  Early China, Early medieval Bulgaria, Bulgars, Runiform Scripts

The paper presents a summary of the anthropological and archaeological materials from cemeteries investigated on the Lower Kuban River. The author concludes that a multiethnic population emerged there in the 13th—14th cc. AD. Its core... more

Thus formulated, the research topic is not unknown, nor has its course remained aloof from the studies of a number of prominent scholars still in the initial stage of development of

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- by Oksana М . Minaeva
- •
- 5
  Archaeology, Art History, Sasanian art, Bulgarian archaeology

The book re-examines the history of the Carpathian-Danubian region during the eighth and ninth centuries. Thus, the central task is providing an overview of the historical realities to the north of the Lower Danube over two centuries.... more

Paper discuses spelling of names in Runiform script in Early Medieval Bulgaria. It appears that was widespread practice to spell names with 2 or 3 graphs. Particular attention is payed to a monogram beаring наме of Bulgarian ruler Rasate.

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- by Nedyalko Ovcharov
- •
- 4
  History of China, Early medieval Bulgaria, Bulgars, Runiform Scripts

Conference at the University of Tübingen compares the Viking migrations to other migrations taking place at the same period.

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- by Anna Kouremenos
- •
- 16
  History, European History, Archaeology, Medieval History

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Time and circumstances of formation of Itil Bulgaria. Islamization of the Bulgarian society and transformation of Islam into Itil Bulgaria state religion.
Zufar Zainievich Miftakhov

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- by Üntaç Güner
- •
- 8
  Bulgaria, Bulgarian history, Bulgarian archaeology, Medieval Bulgaria

In the paper is presented an interpretation of a runiform inscription- ligature from Greek codex Roe 27. The content of the inscription shows symbiosis between shamanic and Christian views.

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- by Nedyalko Ovcharov
- •
- 4
  Early China, Early medieval Bulgaria, Bulgars, Runiform Scripts

The paper features the first general description in the Russian language of two necropolises located in Campochiaro (Campobasso, Italy) - Vicenne and Morrione, dating back to the period from the last third of the 7th - the beginning of... more

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- by Shamil Mingazov
- •
- 10
  History, Medieval Italy, Archaeology of the Avars, Langobards

Aleksei S. Shchavelev. The Rurikid’s Polity and Krumid’s Polity: The Circumstances of Emergence and the Trajectory of Development in the Pagan Age Abstract. The article deals with the history of the formation of the pagan polities of the... more

This is the Hungarian translation of "Religions in Pagan Bulgaria: Historiographic Approaches, 1980 - 2015", which was originally published in Bulgarian (Sofia: Paradigma, 2017).

Author deals with the first twenty years of long Justinian’s reign. After he made peace with Persians and crushed domestic opposition, the young emperor focused on strengthening the Empire. He improved defence of Danube frontiers by... more

The paper analyzes the evidence on the relations between the Franks and Bulgars and about the presence of the Bulgars in southern Pannonia, i.e. in the region between the rivers Drava, Sava and Danube in the ninth century. The principal... more

The paper analyzes the evidence on the relations between the Franks and Bulgars and about the presence of the Bulgars in southern Pannonia, i.e. in the region between the rivers Drava, Sava and Danube in the ninth century. The principal focus is placed on the issue of Bulgarian rule in the eastern part of the southern Pannonia, i.e. the area of modern Slavonia and Syrmia. With regard to that, the traditional historiographic view arguing for the Bulgarian dominance over the area lasting several decades is discussed. The paper suggests that this opinion is first and foremost a historiographic construction, which, according to the interpretation offered here, does not necessarily corresponds to the actual historical circumstances.
Relations between the Franks and Bulgars in the mid-Danube area experienced, during the ninth century, a complete change, from open hostility to alliance, which was also necessarily reflected in the circumstances in southern Pannonia, although the region was not in the focus of the Bulgarian interest. The campaigns undertaken by the Bulgarian rulers (in 827, 829, and 853) did not have a lasting effect on the situation in southern Pannonia. In the first campaign, however, a transitory Bulgarian suzerainty was established over parts of southern Pannonia in the Lower Drava area, but the last invasion proved to be a complete failure. On the other hand, it can be deduced that the region between the rivers Sava, Drava and Danube played an important role in diplomatic activities, since mutual Frankish and Bulgarian embassies passed most probably through this region.
The traditional historiographic opinion maintaining that the Bulgars ruled over the eastern parts of southern Pannonia (eastern Slavonia and Syrmia) for some time, although intermittently is apparently not supported by close analysis of the evidence. Not only there is no explicit testimonies which would confirm this usual view, but the circumstantial evidence rather points to the conclusion that the Frankish influence in the territory of the entire region between the Sava, Drava and Danube was continuous and almost uninterrupted during the entire ninth century. After all, the Bulgarian interests laid farther to the northeast, and much more to the south of the main Bulgarian territory, on the Byzantine soil.

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- by Hrvoje Gračanin
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- 4
  Early Medieval History, Franks, Carpathian-Pannonian region, Bulgars

Bulgars

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