First Bulgarian Empire: Map & History
The First Bulgarian Empire was a medieval state that existed in Southeastern and southeastern Central Europe between the 7th and 11th centuries AD.
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The First Bulgarian Empire was a medieval state that existed in Southeastern and southeastern Central Europe between the 7th and 11th centuries AD. It was founded in 680–681 after a group of Bulgars, led by Asparuh, moved south to the northeastern Balkans, and secured Byzantine recognition and their right to settle south of the Danube by defeating – possibly with the help of local South Slavic tribes – the Byzantine army led by Constantine IV. During the 9th and 10th century, Bulgaria reached the height of its power and stretched from the Danube Bend to the Black Sea and from the Dnieper River to the Adriatic Sea, becoming a major power capable of competing with the Byzantine Empire.
Modern Countries Once Part of First Bulgarian Empire
At its mapped extent, First Bulgarian Empire covered territory in 11 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Serbia806–1017 CE · nearly all
- North Macedonia850–1017 CE · nearly all
- Montenegro911–1017 CE · nearly all
- Albania850–1017 CE · most
- Bulgaria682–1014 CE · most
- Bosnia and Herzegovina926–935 CE · most
- Romania682–1002 CE · a large part
- Croatia830–839 CE · a large part
- Hungary806–899 CE · a large part
- Ukraine682–969 CE · a small part
- Greece990–1002 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside First Bulgarian Empire's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
First Bulgarian Empire in Depth
History
... the Emperor [Constantine IV] signed peace with them [the Bulgars], and agreed to pay them tribute for shame of the Romans and for our many sins. For it was wondrous for faraway and close peoples to hear that he, who made everyone pay him tribute – to the east and to the west, to the north and to the south, had been defeated by these unclean and newly emerged people.
The relations between the Bulgars and the local Slavs is a matter of debate depending on the interpretation of the Byzantine sources. Vasil Zlatarski asserts that they concluded a treaty, but most historians agree that they were subjugated.
Government
The Kanasubigi Omurtag is a divine ruler in the land where he was born.... May God [ Tangra ] grant that the divine ruler may press down the [Byzantine] emperor with his foot so long as the Ticha flows...
The second most important post in Bulgaria after the monarch was the kavhan, monopolised by the members of the tentatively known "Kavhan family". The kavhan had broad powers and commanded the left wing of the army, and at times the whole army. He could be a co-ruler or a regent during the minority of the monarch; the sources mention that Khan Malamir "ruled together with kavhan Isbul" (fl. 820s–830s) and kavhan Dometian is noted as an associate [in the government] of Gavril Radomir (r. 1014–1015).
Military
After the formation of the Bulgarian state the ruling elite harboured deep distrust towards the Byzantines, against whose perfidy and sudden attacks they had to maintain constant vigilance in all directions. The Byzantine Empire never relinquished its claim over all lands to the south of the Danube and made several attempts to enforce that claim. Throughout the existence of the First Empire Bulgaria could expect Byzantine onslaughts aimed at its destruction. The steppes to the north-east were home to numerous peoples whose unpredictable pillaging raids were also of concern. Therefore, military preparedness was a top priority. Guards always stood on the alert and if anyone was to flee during a watch, the responsible guards were to be killed without hesitation.
Economy and urbanism
Agriculture was the most important sector of the economy, the development of which was facilitated by the fertile soils of Moesia, Thrace, and partly, Macedonia. The land was divided into "lord's lands" and "village lands". The most widespread cereals were wheat, rye and millet, all of which were staple foods for the populace. Grapes were also significant, especially after the 9th century. Linen was used for fabrics and cloths that were exported to the Byzantine Empire. Harvests were prone to natural calamities, such as droughts or locusts, and there were occasional hunger years. In response to this problem the state maintained reserves of cereals.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: First Bulgarian Empire (CC BY-SA 4.0).
First Bulgarian Empire: Key Facts
| Capitals | Pliska, Veliki Preslav, Skopje, Ohrid |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Bulgar, Old Church Slavonic, medieval Greek |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Form of government | autocracy |
| Founded | 681 CE |
| Dissolved | 1018 |
Facts from Wikidata Q203817 (CC0).
First Bulgarian Empire Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which First Bulgarian Empire appears, with the other states of the time.
First Bulgarian Empire Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 428,320 km² in 854 CE.
First Bulgarian Empire: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the First Bulgarian Empire exist?
The First Bulgarian Empire is dated to 682 CE – 1017 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire?
The capital of the First Bulgarian Empire was Pliska (681–893), Preslav (893–968/972), Skopje (972–992), Ohrid (992–1015), Bitola (1015–1018).
How large was the First Bulgarian Empire at its peak?
At its peak in 854 AD the First Bulgarian Empire covered about 428,320 km².
How did the map of the First Bulgarian Empire change over time?
The First Bulgarian Empire appears on 3 dated world maps in the atlas, from 750 CE to 1000 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
Other Sovereign Realms
Early Middle Ages • Capital: Constantinople
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Early Middle Ages • Capital: Chang'an
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Bianjing