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70-733: According to the legend, Dobarsko was founded by soldiers from Bulgarian tsar Samuil 's blinded army after the Battle of Belasitsa in 1014, who arrived in the area en route to the Rila Monastery and discovered a holy spring that allegedly cured them. Dobarsko is first mentioned in Tsar Ivan Shishman 's donor's charter from the Rila Monastery in 1378. During the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria Dobarsko established itself as

140-614: A daughter of Charlemagne by his third wife Hildegard . Irene went as far as to send an official to instruct the Frankish princess in Greek; however, Irene herself broke off the engagement in 787, against her son's wishes. When the Second Council of Nicaea of 787 reintroduced the veneration of icons under Empress Irene, the result was not recognized by Charlemagne since no Frankish emissaries had been invited even though Charlemagne

210-523: A double name, the Christian name always preceded the name drawn from local tradition. Very rarely, Bulgarian rulers used double names combining two Christian names (i.e. Ivan Stephen, Ivan Alexander). The use of double names by Bulgarian monarchs, sometimes not used consistently in contemporary sources, has in cases led to confusion and misunderstanding in modern efforts to assign regnal numbers. In particular, it has sometimes erroneously been assumed that

280-722: A monastic education and some of these Bulgarians returned to their homeland to serve as clergymen. In 885, Boris was presented with a new opportunity to establish a native clergy when Slavic-speaking disciples of St. Cyril and St. Methodius were forced to flee from Moravia after a German-inspired reaction to the death of the apostle. In 886 Boris' governor of Belgrade welcomed the disciples of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius , who were exiled from Great Moravia into Bulgaria and sent them on to Boris in Pliska . Boris happily greeted two of these disciples, Clement of Ohrid and Naum of Preslav , who were of noble Bulgarian Slavic origin. To utilize

350-756: A national monument of culture, as well as one of the 100 national tourist attractions. The other church, the Church of the Purification of the Virgin , is a richly decorated Bulgarian National Revival work on the opposite side of the road dating to 1860. Other chapels and consecrated grounds around Dobarsko include the Goatherd's Church, the Dug Church, St Elijah, St Spas, St Athanasius, the Holy Trinity,

420-401: A rocket. The holy spring in the church yard is said to be curative and indeed the one that cured Samuil's soldiers that founded the village, as depicted in one fresco. A small swastika and a cross on the eastern wall are the only items in the exterior that show that the small stone building is a religious temple. The frescoes were cleaned up and partially restored in 1974–1978, and the church is

490-610: A similar nomination of either Formosus or Deacon Marinus (later Pope Marinus I ), after which Bulgaria began to shift towards Constantinople once again. At the Fourth Council of Constantinople in 870 the position of the Bulgarian church was reopened by Bulgarian envoys, and the eastern patriarchs adjudicated in favor of Constantinople. This determined the future of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church , which

560-432: A small three-naved stone basilica half dug into the ground, was constructed no later than 1614 (with some sources claiming as early as 1122) and painted in 1672. The church donors, Bogdan, Hasiya and his son, as well as the builders Spas, Stanko and Smilen, are depicted in a donors' fresco left of the door. The church is noted for its abundance of original frescoes and icons, some of which are interpreted as portraying Jesus in

630-408: Is kanasubigi , likely meaning " Khan " or "the sublime Khan ". When Bulgaria converted to Christianity in the ninth century, the ruler Boris I (852–889) was using the title knyaz (prince). For much of its later history under the first and second empires, Bulgaria functioned as a multi-ethnic imperial state modelled on the neighbouring Byzantine Empire , which contributed to the adoption of

700-590: Is regarded as a saint in the Orthodox Church , as the Prince and baptizer of Bulgaria, and as Equal-to-the-Apostles , with his feast day observed on May 2 and in Synaxis of all venerable and holy Fathers of Bulgaria (movable holiday on the 2nd Sunday of Pentecost). The most common theory is that the name Boris is of Bulgar origin. After his official act of conversion to Christianity , Boris adopted

770-734: The Christianization of Bulgaria in 864, paganism was abolished. A skillful diplomat, Boris I successfully exploited the conflict between the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Papacy to secure an autocephalous Bulgarian Church , thus dealing with the nobility's concerns about Byzantine interference in Bulgaria's internal affairs. When in 885 the disciples of Saints Cyril and Methodius were banished from Great Moravia , Boris I gave them refuge and provided assistance which saved

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840-771: The Glagolithic and later promoted the development of the Cyrillic script in Preslav and the Slavic literature. After he abdicated in 889, his eldest son and successor tried to restore the old pagan religion but was deposed by Boris I. During the Council of Preslav which followed that event, the Byzantine clergy was replaced with Bulgarian, and the Greek language was replaced with what is now known as Old Church Slavonic . He

910-596: The Ottoman Empire and not fully independent. From Bulgaria's complete independence from the Ottomans in 1908 until the abolition of the monarchy in 1946, Bulgarian monarchs once more used the title tsar , though this time generally translated internationally as "king" rather than "emperor". Evidence concerning the titles used by the rulers of the First Bulgarian Empire (681–1018) prior to

980-488: The Photian Schism , which was a major step in the rift between the eastern and western churches. To deliver his response to Boris’ questions, Pope Nicholas I sent two bishops to Bulgaria: Paul of Populonia and Formosus of Porto. The Pope expected that these priests would execute their episcopal responsibilities to address Boris’ concerns, but did not intend for them to be elevated to the positions that they assumed in

1050-474: The caesar Bardas . After the death of Knez Vlastimir of Serbia circa 850, his state was divided between his sons. Vlastimir and Boris' father had fought against each other in the Bulgarian-Serbian War of 839–842 , which resulted in a Serbian victory, and Boris sought to avenge that defeat. In 853 or 854, the Bulgarian army led by Vladimir-Rasate , the son of Boris I, invaded Serbia, with

1120-459: The "Emperor and Autocrat of the Bulgarians and Greeks" (Bulgarian: tsr’ i samodrzac Bl’garom i Gr’kom , Latin: imperator et moderator Bulgarorum et Grecorum ). Ivan Asen II's successors kept "autocrat" in the title but returned to the simpler style "Emperor and Autocrat of the Bulgarians". His extended title was later revived by Ivan Alexander (1331–1371), who also proclaimed himself as

1190-440: The "Emperor and Autocrat of the Bulgarians and Greeks" to challenge the authority of the then weakened Byzantine Empire. Ivan Alexander's son Ivan Shishman (1371–1395) is also recorded to have used this extended imperial title. The Tarnovo Constitution of the modern Principality of Bulgaria (1878–1908) stipulated that the monarch was to use the title " Knyaz of Bulgaria" (i.e. "Prince of Bulgaria") rather than tsar due to

1260-597: The "Emperor of the Bulgarians". Simeon himself used the grander title "Emperor of the Bulgarians and the Romans". The title of emperor was in Bulgarian translated as tsar (deriving from the Latin caesar ), seen as equivalent to the Greek basileus or Latin imperator . Bulgarian rulers from the death of Simeon I in 927 until the fall of the First Bulgarian Empire in 1018 used the simpler "Emperor of

1330-688: The Bulgar elite believed in Tangra , the Sky God, or God of Heaven. The arrival of Methodius and his followers introduced the Cyrillic alphabet, freeing the Bulgarians from dependence on Greek as a written and liturgical language. A Slavic Christian culture developed that helped unify the realm. After his baptism, the first major task that Boris undertook was the baptism of his subjects and for this task he appealed to Byzantine priests between 864 and 866. At

1400-401: The Bulgar hierarchy. In Bulgaria, the activities of Bishop Formosus (later Pope Formosus ) met with success, until the pope rejected Boris' request to nominate Formosus as archbishop of Bulgaria. Nicholas justified the rejection of the request by arguing that it was “uncanonical to transfer an already established bishop from one see to another”. The new Pope Adrian II refused Boris' request for

1470-480: The Bulgarian sources from that period, Boris I is called "Knyaz" and during the Second Bulgarian Empire , "Tsar". In modern historiography Boris is called by different titles. Most historians accept that he changed his title after his conversion to Christianity. According to them, before the baptism he had the title Khan or Kanasubigi , and after that Knyaz . The early 9th century marked

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1540-682: The Bulgarians to Christianity to resolve the disunity within the Bulgarian society. When he ascended to the throne, the Bulgars and Slavs were separate elements within Boris' kingdom, the minority Bulgars constituting a military aristocracy. Richard Spence compares it to the relationship between the Normans and Saxons in England. Religious plurality further contributed to divisions within the society. The Slavs had their own polytheistic belief system while

1610-510: The Bulgarians", ceasing to claim Byzantium's universal monarchy. The first rulers of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1422) revived the style used by Simeon I's successors, "Emperor of the Bulgarians", rendered tsr’ Bl’garom in Bulgarian documents and imperator Bulgarorum in Latin. The second empire's third ruler, Kaloyan (1196–1207), adopted the grander title "Emperor of Bulgarians and Vlachs " ( imperator Bulgarorum et Blachorum ). He unsuccessfully sought recognition of this title from

1680-649: The Bulgars under the Roman Church. However, late in 863, the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Michael III declared war on Boris and the Bulgars during a period of famine and natural disasters. Taken by surprise, Boris was forced to make peace with the Byzantines, promising to convert to Christianity according to the eastern rites, in exchange for peace and territorial concessions in Thrace (he regained

1750-506: The Byzantine Empire). Although names such as Asen or Terter could serve as genealogical and political markers to demonstrate a ruler's position in an illustrious lineage they were also fully part of the ruler's regnal names, as demonstrated by those rulers whose double names excluded genealogical connections (such as Ivan Alexander). Double names with genealogical connotations were at times also claimed by rulers not belonging to

1820-408: The Christian name Michael . He is sometimes called Boris-Michael in historical research. The only direct evidence of Boris's title are his seals and the inscription found near the town of Ballsh , modern Albania , and at Varna . There he is called by the Byzantine title " Archon of Bulgaria", which is usually translated as "ruler", and in the 10-11th centuries also as "Knyaz" (Кнѧзъ, Bulg.). In

1890-436: The Christian religion but to the fact that it was brought by foreign priests, which, as a result, established external foreign policy. By breaking the power of the old cults, Boris reduced the influence of the boyars, who resisted the khan's authority. In the summer of 865 a group of Bulgar aristocrats (boyars) started an open revolt. Boris ruthlessly suppressed it and executed 52 boyars together with their entire families. Thus

1960-478: The Christianization continued. In 889 Boris abdicated the throne and became a monk. His son and successor Vladimir attempted a pagan reaction, which brought Boris out of retirement in 893. Vladimir was defeated and Boris had him blinded, his wife shaved and sent to a monastery. Boris gathered the Council of Preslav placing his third son, Tsar Simeon I of Bulgaria , on the throne, threatening him with

2030-613: The First Bulgarian Empire as a prince ( knyaz ), his great-grandson Boris II (967–977) ruled the same state as emperor, and Boris III (1918–1943) ruled the modern Kingdom of Bulgaria as tsar (king). There were three different types of names used by medieval Bulgarian monarchs after Bulgaria converted to Christianity; names drawn from Bulgar or Slavic tradition (i.e. Boris, Boril, Vladimir, Presian), names drawn from Christian tradition (i.e. Michael, Simeon, Peter, Ivan, Samuel), or double names combining both (i.e. Ivan Vladislav, Gavril Radomir, Ivan Sratsimir, Theodore Svetoslav). When using

2100-534: The Germans. Both states tried to maintain good relations with Bulgaria on account of its considerable military power. Boris I was the son and successor of Presian I of Bulgaria. In 852 he sent emissaries to Eastern Francia to confirm the peace treaty of 845. At the time of his accession he threatened the Byzantines with an invasion, but his armies did not attack, and he received a small area in Strandzha to

2170-540: The Greek-speaking clergy from Constantinople still present in Bulgaria. The script that was originally developed by Cyril and Methodius is known as the Glagolitic alphabet . In Bulgaria , Clement of Ohrid and Naum of Preslav created (or rather compiled) the new Bulgarian script, later called Cyrillic that was declared the official alphabet in 893. Old Bulgarian was declared as the official language in

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2240-531: The Holy Theotokos, St Demetrius and St George. According to several travellers' accounts, Dobarsko was the centre of a famous beggars' school of blind singers that spread all over the country and existed until 1939. The beggars also invented a cant for their own use by uniting Bulgarian, Greek, Vlach and Roma vocabulary, and performed heroic epic songs. Dobarsko is known for its 25-metre waterfall , Shtrokaloto, its two old Eastern Orthodox churches and

2310-626: The Ottomans and the Russian Empire . Although tsar had been understood as equivalent to emperor in medieval times, the title of the new Bulgarian tsars was generally translated as "King of the Bulgarians" internationally. Regnal numbers for monarchs have only been officially used in Bulgaria in modern times, beginning with Alexander I in 1879. Modern historiography retroactively also assigns sequential regnal numbers to medieval Bulgarian rulers, even if they ruled different Bulgarian states and used different titles; Boris I (852–889) ruled

2380-587: The Papacy, though Pope Innocent III merely recognized him as "King of the Bulgarians and Vlachs" ( rex Bulgarorum et Blachorum ), not wishing to recognize any other emperor than the Holy Roman emperor. The fifth ruler of the second empire, Ivan Asen II (1218–1241) after 1230 extended his original title "Emperor of the Bulgarians" to the grander "Emperor of the Bulgarians and Greeks" ( tsr’ Bl’garom i Gr’kom , Latin: imperator Bulgarorum et Grecorum ). This title

2450-512: The Serbian throne. There are a number of versions as to why Boris converted to Christianity. Some historians attribute it to the intervention of his sister who had already converted while being at Constantinople. Another story mentions a Greek slave in the ruler's court. A more mythological version is the one in which Boris is astonished and frightened by an icon of Judgement day and thus decides to adopt Christianity. Richard B. Spence sees

2520-513: The Shishmanid dynasty, with which they only share matrilineal descent. Through their matrilineal descent from the House of Shishman, the rulers of the House of Sratsimir were also descendants of the House of Asen. Following the gradual conquest of Bulgaria in the 14th and 15th centuries, the Ottomans incorporated the Bulgarian lands into the vast province of Rumelia . In the late 16th century,

2590-490: The aim of replacing the Byzantine overlordship over the Serbs. The Serbian army was led by Mutimir and his two brothers; they defeated the Bulgarians, capturing Vladimir and 12 boyars . Boris I and Mutimir agreed to peace (and perhaps an alliance ), and Mutimir sent his sons Pribislav and Stefan to the border to escort the prisoners, where they exchanged items as a sign of peace. Boris himself gave them "rich gifts", while he

2660-430: The autocephalous status desired by Boris for his church and sent a large group of missionaries to continue the conversion of Bulgaria in accordance with the western rite. Bulgaria's shift towards the Papacy infuriated Patriarch Photios, who wrote an encyclical to the eastern clergy in 867 in which he denounced the practices associated with the western rite and Rome's ecclesiastical intervention in Bulgaria. This occasioned

2730-811: The beginning of a fierce rivalry between the Greek East and Latin West , which would ultimately lead to the schism between the Orthodox Church in Constantinople and the Catholic Church in Rome . As early as 781, the Empress Irene began to seek a closer relationship with the Carolingian dynasty and the Papacy . She negotiated a marriage between her son, Constantine , and Rotrude ,

2800-416: The conversion to Christianity in the 860s is scant. The only title known from contemporary sources is kanasubigi , recorded in ten Greek -language inscriptions (as ΚΑΝΑΣΥΒΙΓΙ) from the ninth century in reference to Omurtag (814–831) and his son Malamir (831–836). Two gold medallions struck for Omurtag also use the same title. Upon his conversion to Christianity in 864/865, Boris I (852–889) adopted

2870-675: The decision as deliberate, practical, and politic. For a variety of diplomatic reasons, Boris became interested in converting to Christianity. In order to both extend his control over the Slavic world and gain an ally against one of the most powerful foes of the Bulgars , the Byzantine Empire, Boris sought to establish an alliance with Louis the German against Ratislav of Moravia. Through this alliance, Louis promised to supply Boris with missionaries, which would have effectively brought

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2940-476: The disciple's talents, Boris commissioned Clement to be a “teacher” in the province of Kutmichevitsa . Both Clement and Naum were instrumental in furthering the cultural, linguistic and spiritual works of Cyril and Methodius. They set up educational centers in Pliska and in Ohrid to further the development of Slavonic letters and liturgy . Clement later trained thousands of Slavonic-speaking priests who replaced

3010-572: The empire centered in Constantinople . Due to the threat presented by Simeon, who reached the walls of Constantinople, the Byzantines relented and the Patriarch of Constantinople, Nicholas Mystikos , granted him an imperial crown. The only other monarch recognized as a basileus (i.e. emperor ) by the Byzantines was (at times) the Holy Roman emperor . The Byzantines did not consider Simeon as outranking their own emperors and designated him as

3080-417: The essence of religion , law , politics , customs and personal faith . Stemming from his concerns with the baptism of the Bulgarians, Boris also complained to Nicholas about the abuses perpetrated by the Byzantine priests responsible for baptizing the Bulgarians and how he could go about correcting the consequences resulting from these abuses. The pope temporarily glossed over the controversial question of

3150-534: The many consecrated grounds and chapels in the area, as well as the panorama view of three of Bulgaria's highest and largest mountains from the village - Rila , Pirin and Rhodope Mountains . There are hiking trails which provide access to the E4 European long distance path . List of Bulgarian monarchs The monarchs of Bulgaria ruled Bulgaria during the medieval First ( c. 681–1018) and Second (1185–1422) Bulgarian empires, as well as during

3220-433: The modern Principality (1879–1908) and Kingdom (1908–1946) of Bulgaria. This list includes monarchs from the establishment of the First Bulgarian Empire until modern times, omitting earlier mythical rulers as well as rulers of separate states such as Old Great Bulgaria and Volga Bulgaria . Various titles have been used by the rulers of Bulgaria. The only recorded title, used before Bulgaria's conversion to Christianity,

3290-577: The most important and richest village in the Razlog Valley . Many of the locals were merchants who bought cotton from Northern Greece and sold it in Central Europe and grazed large herds of cattle in the mountains and the plains around Drama and Serres . However, Dobarsko began to lose its former importance in the late 18th century, as Bansko rose to become the centre of the region. The Church of Theodore Tyro and Theodore Stratelates ,

3360-612: The new province of Silistra was created due to persistent northern attacks from the Cossacks . Later on, much of modern-day northern Bulgaria was organized into the Danube vilayet , which in terms of borders closely corresponded to the succeeding autonomous Principality of Bulgaria . Like under the period of Byzantine rule, the Ottoman authorities were sometimes faced with Bulgarian uprisings aimed at independence, at times also involving

3430-401: The new ruling title knyaz , generally translated as " prince " (though sometimes alternatively as " king "). This title was used by the Bulgarian rulers until 913, when the knyaz Simeon I (893–927), Boris I's son, invaded the Byzantine Empire . Simeon aspired to make Bulgaria into the new " universal monarchy " (a role the Byzantines viewed themselves as having) by absorbing and replacing

3500-708: The papacy and to honour his protector Charlemagne. Irene, like many of her predecessors since Justinian I , was too weak to protect Rome and its much reduced citizenry and the city was not being ruled by any emperor. Thus, Charlemagne's assumption of the imperial title was not seen as an usurpation in the eyes of the Franks or Italians. It was, however, seen as such in Byzantium, but protests by Irene and her successor Nicephorus I had no great effect. Mojmír I managed to unite some Slavic princes and established Great Moravia in 833. His successor, Rastislav , also fought against

3570-583: The peace between Bulgaria and Eastern Francia was restored, and Rastislav was forced to fight against Louis alone. In the meantime, a conflict between the Byzantines and Bulgarians had started in 855–856, and Boris, distracted by his conflict with Louis, lost Philippopolis ( Plovdiv ), the region of Zagora , and the ports around the Gulf of Burgas on the Black Sea to the Byzantine army led by Michael III and

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3640-553: The principality being an autonomous vassal state of the Ottoman Empire rather than a fully independent country. When Bulgaria achieved complete independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1908, the former knyaz Ferdinand I (1887–1918) adopted the higher title of " Tsar of the Bulgarians", as had been used by Bulgarian monarchs in the Middle Ages. The assumption of the title of tsar was met with opposition from both

3710-532: The proclamation of new Bulgarian monarchs. Boris I of Bulgaria Boris I (also Bogoris ), venerated as Saint Boris I (Mihail) the Baptizer ( Church Slavonic : Борисъ / Борисъ-Михаилъ , Bulgarian : Борис I / Борис-Михаил ; died 2 May 907), was the ruler ( knyaz ) of the First Bulgarian Empire from 852 to 889. Despite a number of military setbacks, the reign of Boris I was marked with significant events that shaped Bulgarian and European history. With

3780-473: The region of Zagora recently recovered by the Byzantines). At the beginning of 864, Boris was secretly baptized at Pliska by an embassy of Byzantine clergymen, together with his family and select members of the Bulgarian nobility. With Emperor Michael III as his godfather, Boris also adopted the Christian name Michael. Separate from diplomatic concerns, Boris was interested in converting himself and

3850-550: The reign of Krum (c. 803–814) are extremely scant, making the dates and family relationships of the rulers recorded in contemporary and later sources highly uncertain. The rulers below may all belong to the Dulo clan or might alternatively have belonged to various competing clans. Several alternate chronologies of early Bulgarian rulers have been proposed, with some presented below, with the names standardized across sources: (originally 1983) Various Byzantine military governors (with

3920-507: The religious belief system of the Bulgarians but also the structure of the Bulgarian government. Upon embracing Christianity, Boris took on the title of Knyaz and joined the community of nations that embraced Christ, to the great delight of the Eastern Roman Empire. Toward the end of his reign, Boris began to increase the number of native Bulgarian clergy. Consequently, Boris began to send Bulgarians to Constantinople to obtain

3990-617: The same dynastic lineage, such as Mitso Asen (1256–1257; who married into the Asen dynasty). The First Bulgarian Empire is regarded to have been established c. 680 when the Bulgarian ruler Asparuh crossed the Danube. Asparuh's family, the Dulo clan, claimed descent from the Hunnic ruler Attila , through Attila's son Ernak . References to political developments within Bulgaria prior to

4060-470: The same fate if he too apostatized. Boris returned to his monastery, emerging once again in c. 895 to help Simeon fight the Magyars , who had invaded Bulgaria in alliance with the Byzantines. After the passing of this crisis, Boris resumed monastic life and died in 907. The location of his retreat, where perhaps he was interred, is not certain; it may be near Preslav, or Pliska, or in a Ravna Monastery near Varna . St. Boris Peak on Livingston Island in

4130-476: The same time Boris sought further instruction on how to lead a Christian lifestyle and society and how to set up an autocephalous church from the Byzantine Patriarch Photios . Photios' answer proved less than satisfactory, and Boris sought to gain a more favorable settlement from the Papacy . Boris dispatched emissaries led by the kavhan Peter with a long list of questions to Pope Nicholas I at Rome in August 866, and obtained 106 detailed answers, detailing

4200-402: The same time the Croats waged a war against the Bulgarians. Both peoples had coexisted peacefully up to that time, suggesting that the Croats were paid by Louis to attack Bulgaria and distract Boris' attention from his alliance with Great Moravia. Kanasubigi Boris could not achieve any success, and both sides exchanged gifts and settled for peace. As a result of the military actions in 855,

4270-491: The same year. In the following centuries this script was adopted by other Slavic peoples and states. The introduction of Slavic liturgy paralleled Boris' continued development of churches and monasteries throughout his realm. Conversion to Christianity met great opposition among the Bulgarian elite. Some refused to become Christians while others apostatized after baptism and started a rebellion against Boris for forcing them to be baptized. Some people did not object necessarily to

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4340-403: The southeast. The peace treaty was not signed, however, although both states exchanged temporary delegations. In 854 the Moravian Prince Rastislav persuaded Boris I to help him against East Francia. According to some sources, some Franks bribed the Bulgarian monarch to attack Louis the German . The Bulgarian-Slav campaign was a disaster, and Louis scored a great victory and invaded Bulgaria. At

4410-471: The title strategos ) were appointed in formerly Bulgarian lands over the course of the Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria , from the 970s onwards. Following the completion of the conquest of Bulgaria in 1018, Emperor Basil II organized much of the central Balkans into the Theme of Bulgaria , which was governed by an imperially appointed official titled (depending on the time) as the doux ( duke ) or katepano of Bulgaria. The capital of Byzantine Bulgaria

4480-409: The title of tsar (emperor) by Bulgarian monarchs beginning with Simeon I (893–927) in 913. Some powerful medieval Bulgarian rulers challenged Byzantine authority by proclaiming themselves as both Bulgarian and Roman emperors . When Bulgaria re-emerged as a state in 1878 in the form of the Principality of Bulgaria, the rulers initially used the title knyaz since they were autonomous vassals of

4550-505: The usage of double names indicated that the monarchs employed family names; this interpretation has in the past resulted in the use of names such as Ivan II Asen (for Ivan Asen II), George I Terter (for George Terter I ) and Michael III Shishman (for Michael Asen III ). Names of clans were prominently used in Bulgaria in pre-Christian times, though disappeared from usage sometime after the conversion to Christianity, despite family names being used in some of Bulgaria's closest neighbours (such as

4620-450: Was Skopion (modern-day Skopje). There were several attempts at restoring the Bulgarian Empire during the nearly two centuries of Byzantine rule. The end of the male line of the House of Asen plunged Bulgaria into a chaotic period of fragmentation and civil wars between numerous lines of claimants. The rulers of the House of Sratsimir, patrilineal descendants of the despot Sratsimir , are in lists of monarchs often designated as part of

4690-415: Was by then ruling more than three provinces of the old Roman empire. While this improved relations with the Papacy, it did not prevent the outbreak of a war with the Franks, who took over Istria and Benevento in 788. When Charlemagne was proclaimed Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by Leo III , the Pope was effectively nullifying the legitimacy of Irene. He certainly desired to increase the influence of

4760-438: Was given "two slaves , two falcons , two dogs , and 80 furs ". An internal conflict among the Serbian brothers resulted in Mutimir banishing the two younger brothers to the Bulgarian court. Mutimir, however, kept a nephew, Petar , at his court for political reasons. The reason for the feud is not known, though it is postulated that it was a result of treachery. Petar would later defeat Pribislav , Mutimir's son, and take

4830-435: Was granted the status of an autocephalous archbishopric by the Patriarchate of Constantinople and an archbishop of its own. Later in the 870s, the Patriarch of Constantinople surrendered Bulgaria to the Papacy, but this concession was purely nominal, as it did not affect the actual position of Bulgaria's autocephalous church. The Christianization of the Bulgarians as a result of Boris’ actions had profound effects not only on

4900-465: Was taken to reflect his extensive conquests in formerly Byzantine territory and was effectively a revival of Simeon I's title since both "Greeks" and "Romans" were envisioned as referring to the inhabitants of the Byzantine Empire. Ivan Asen II also introduced the element " autocrat " (Bulgarian: samodrzac , Latin: moderator ) into the Bulgarian imperial title, modelled on its usage in the Byzantine imperial title, and eventually in full styled himself as

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