Early Bulgarian Middle Ages -
from VII c. till the beginning of XI c.

The Middle Ages play an essential part in the complete development as a foundation for the Bulgarian nationality and government. The real Middle Ages for Bulgaria begins with the early history of the Bulgarians and the Slavonians, their mutual life on the Balkan peninsula and the forming of the Bulgarian Chaganat in a period which lasts from IV till VII century. It mostly covers the “Great Migration of Peoples”.

The Early Bulgarian Middle Ages play an essential role in the entire Bulgarian history with its extraordinary achievements: laying the foundations of the Bulgarian government (681); acceptance of the Christian religion (865); carrying the Kiril - Methodi’s book tradition in Bulgaria (886); creation of a church organization and changing of the Bulgarian archbishopric into patriarchate (927) and the turning of the Bulgarian kingdom into a spiritual leader of the Slavonic world (on the years of Simeon the Great 893-927); creation of Bulgarian nationality as a stable ethnic community on a small territory (Thrace, Rhodopes, Macedonia, Dobrudja, Mizia).

After the destruction of the Great Roman Empire Byzantium acquired a big territory as a heritage. The fertile lands and the rich cities lured the barbarian tribes for ages. Their constants in visions had place in the history of the Greeks, who didn’t hide their contempt towards barbarians. But it’s their chronicles that give us the information what were the relations between our country and Byzantium.

Long before a government, the Slavonians and Bulgarians participated in battles and cruises against Byzantium. The Slavonian troops and the Bulgarian cavalry became a whole and fought many armies on their way (to the victory). In 517 year the made it to Epyr, Thessalia and theThermopils.

The Slavonians habituated the Northern part of Byzantium, but this huge territory wasn’t theirs. So the armies of the mighty empire often got in to steal and plunder the South. The Havars pushed on from the North-West. In the pursuit of self - protection the Slavonians united. Thus between the Danube river and the Balkan Range the union of the Seven Slavonian tribes the Severs appeared.

Meanwhile, a part of the Bulgarian tribes crossed the Northern border of Byzantium, with Khan Asparuh on the lead from the Dulo family.

That’s how in the beginning of the VII century on the North of Byzantium lived two peoples. They differed from each other by looks, language and gods. But their enemy - Byzantium - was a thing they got in common. In Tzarigrad they feared that such countries could become allies.

Asparuh moved the capital in the Slavonic village Pliska. He died in 701 in a battle with the Hazars North of the mouth of the Danube river. But in this two decades in peace Bulgaria managed to strengthen its positions on the Balkan Peninsula and to live on.

Bulgaria became a magnet for the Slavonian tribes out of the Country. It became larger and larger and in a century could be a rival of the other three empires - the Byzantine, the France, the Arabian.

Christening of Bulgaria didn’t happen at once. First it was accepted by the members of the Bulgarian delegation, which was to sign a truce in Konstantinople in 864. Later that year Khan Boris, along with his family was christened. It happened on a secret Ceremony in Pliska. The Bulgarian king took the name of the Byzantian emperor Maihail III and took the title archent (prince). Soon Boris Mihail gave orders the people to be christened. Many Bulgarians did it willingly, but mostly the people was forced to do so. A part of the old bail families opposed the new religion. They decided to kill the prince, and a dignified one should take his place. But Boris was alert. He felt their intention cruelly put out the rebel. He killed all the leaders and their families.

In Konstomtinopole they celebrated - the untamed Bulgarians were in the “Byzantine family of people”. And in the house of the newly - christened prince another happy thing happened - his third son was born - Simeon.

Bulgaria became a Christian country officially. But in the souls of common people there was total confusion which god they should believe in. This fact attracted the distributors of different religions from all over the world.

This chaos disturbed the common people still more and troubled Boris. He understood that to prevent the country from the influence of Byzantium, and independent church organization should be created. Boris made good use of the contradictions between both Christian churches - in Rome and in Tsarigrad. The prince began negotiations with Pope Nikolai I, when he promised to acknowledge the dominion of the Roman church.

The presence of the roman clergy in Bulgaria made Byzantium alert. In 870 the Ecumenical Guttering Tsarigrad gave permission to the young Bulgarian church to have their own archbishop, but under the domination of the Konstantinopole patriarch. The same year the first Bulgarian archbishop Joseph was ordained.

The Christian religion made the process of uniting the Bulgarians and Slavonians in one faster. Asparuh’s Bulgarians almost lost in the huge Slavonic majority, but left the name of the country - Bulgaria. As the time passed the Slavonic language became the country’s one. With the purpose to serve it an alphabet was created (a Bulgarian one). This was the language on which the first Bulgarians book was translated.

After the acceptance of the Christian religion Byzantine clergymen went in Bulgaria. Their language sounded in churches and monasteries, on the streets and markets. Even in the palace every single government paper, letter or canvas written in Greek. Thus Bulgaria was losing its independence, which she protected with wars for ages. That’s why Boris looked for a way to distribute the new religion in Slavonic language - a language used by the whole nation. The emperor of Byzantium was also worried. No matter the real of his clergyman, the god’s words didn’t read the newly christened baptized nations, that didn’t catch a word in the Greek, so easily. But the emperor soon found a way out. He sent scholars along with his clergymen to the new members of the Christian church. They translated the sacred books in the national language. Thus the Ghoti, The Armenians, The Syrians got alphabets of their languages. But the Slavonians still had no written language. That’s why the emperor gave Kiril and Methodii the task to form one. His choice wasn’t random. Both brothers were very well educated and made successful their diplomatic trips to many distant countries. They were born in Solun and spoke fluently the language of the Bulgarian Slavonians, which were the greater part of the nation of the region. But their new mission was more difficult than the previous ones. Because of that Kiril and Methodii went in the “Polychren” monastery to be alone. In the end of 855 they created a completely new alphabet there. It was thought for the sounds of the Bulgarian language. It was called “Glagolitza”. Using it many books were translated in Bulgarian language. Many students were bought to be teachers for the next generations. In years the “Glagolitza” was changed by another one, called “Kirilitza”. But the right to read and write in Bulgarian was preserved.

After accepting the Christian religion and the coming of the Slavonian teachers in Bulgaria the building of monasteries and churches begun. Among them the big basilica was the biggest one, built with the orders of the prince in Pliska. Its foundations were revealed and speak of measurements 100 x 300 meters. Marble columns and incantations decorated it from the inside and outside. Later a monastery was built round it, which turned into a center of the Bulgarian culture.

These were years of fame for Simeon I who became the king them. He took charge of a huge Christians country, which already had the benefits of the peaceful ruling of prince Boris I. Bulgaria was a country with its own Slavonic culture and its nation was united by a new common religion.

In 894 Simeon invaded in Byzantium and in Europe started the first war for protection of the trade interests. In 896 Simeon crushed the enemy army, in the end, and made Lion VI give back the Bulgarians markets in Tsarigrad, which were earlier transferred in Solun. In 504 his victorious army headed for Solun. The town was soon robbed the Arabians and was expected to be conquered easily. To save Solun the emperor negotiated for long. Simeon turned back the town but attached Southern Macedonia and Drach district to Bulgaria. Thus he continued the deed of his ancestors - to attach all Slavonians, living out of the laundries of Bulgaria.

The truce between Bulgaria and Byzantium longed for eight years. Prince Simeon gave rest to his tired army. Building flourished and the scholars didn’t stop working.

The crisis in Byzantium deepened. Its consequences became heavier because of the losses in the wars against the Arabians. Good opportunities to create Bulgarian hegemony on the Balkan Peninsula were there. The Tsarigrad government refused to fulfill its part of the truce contract and in 913 the Bulgarian army rounded Tzarigrad. The regency of the young Konstantin VII Bagrenorodni (913 - 959) lead peace negotiations, it agreed to fulfill all the changes in the contract and acknowledged Simeon “king of the Bulgarians”. In the Vlahern palace in honor of Simeon the Great and his sons a celebration was organized. Some conclusions give us the reason to think that there was organized. Some of the giving a crown to Simeon by the Tzarigrad patriarch there.

Many representatives of the Byzantine aristocracy thought that this contract was extremely humiliating. Soon enough the empire stopped fulfilling the contract, which lead to war again.

King Simeon the Great let the Byzantine army cross the border and fought her in the mountain in near the Aheloi river (in the village, nowadays, Burgas region), where it was rounded and killed (20.08.917).

After the glorious victory near Aheloi Simeon announced himself “king of Bulgarians and Byzantines”. His dream to rule this empire was about to become real. But he had to take over Konstantinopole, first. In September 923 the Bulgarian army were in front of the walls of again. Both kings wet but a treaty wasn’t signed. The condition of the Bulgarian king was that the Byzantines should announce their emperor illegal and admit Simeon king of Bulgarians and Byzantines. According to the legend, when the negotiations began, two falcons flew over Simeon and Lakapin. One of them went to Bulgaria and the other wouldn’t reach on agreement.

King Simeon went to Bulgaria, where bad news spread. The plan of the emperor succeeded and Serbia stood against us. Four years later the Byzantines managed to create a war between Simeon and the Croatians. It was the last one for him. King Simeon died on the 27.05.927. His death shook all Europe. Only Byzantium was happy. It trembled with fear only when his name was mentioned.

There’s an old saying, according to which the death of Simeon was because of a black magic made by Roman Lakapin. He, by chance learned that a statue of Simeon, a charmed one, was in Konstantinopole. It was enough to cut its head and Simeon would die. The emperor ordered this to be done. In the same time, Simeon died, “taken over by heart disease and insanity at the same time”.

The most vivid proof of the prosperity of our Golden Age and the greatness of our ruler is Preslav, the capital of Bulgaria then. In the suburbs of the city there were many monasteries built. There was not only spiritual and scholar tuition there but energetic craftsmanship: ceramic plates, floor pavements, colored glass… There were icons, crosses and other decorations made for the clergymen.