I don't pretend to know everything about the Bulgars,but i will share with you,what i know from diferent books and materials i have read so far.
The creation of modern Bulgaria began in 681,when it was recognized by the Byzantine Empire.But our history is much older than this simple date.
Scientists still linger to find out the beginning of our history,but is it said that Bulgars became to migrate from Central Asia in the early 2-nd century and settled on the plains between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea.
Bulgars were firts vasals and under the control of the Huns.
We took part in the Hun Empire raids across Europe between 377 and 453 years.
After Atila died in 453,his allies dispersed and the Bulgars remained in the land of present south Ukraine and the Crim peninsula.These are the lands of the ancient Scyths and Sarmatians,to which we closely refer.The Bulgarians established contacts with the Byzantine Empire and fought on their side of to push to Ostrogoths away from South-east Europe at the end of the 5-th century.Then we turned against the byzantines.
From 493 the Bulgars carried out frequent attacks on the western territories of the Byzantine Empire. Later raids were carried out at the end of the 5th century and the beginning of the 6th century.
This is a map of Old Great Bulgaria.
The Old Great Bulgaria was settled in 630 year under the reign of Khan Kubrat.
But it didn't last long because it was subject of many attack from the Khazars.
Actually Bulgaria split in two.One of Kubrat's sons Asparuh,took his people and establish what todayDanube Bulgaria is.
The other son Kotrag established The Volga Bulgaria at the same time.
As you can see ,they were two Bulgarian countries an the same time.
I think we Bulgarians played a significant role in the European history,because long time Bulgaria served a shield to the penetration of the Mongol and the Ottoman Empire in Europe.
Here is some maps,proving this fact :
It is interesting to know that Bulgaria was several times in war with the turks.
In 665 after the death ot Khan Kubrat,the Old Great Bulgaria was atacked from the Khazars.
In 1236 the Volga Bulgaria was attacked from The Golden Horde of Batu Khan.
And in 1396 the Danube Bulgaria was attacked from the Ottoman empire.
I respect the turks and i am tottaly agree that they are fine soldiers,but they paid their conquers in the Bulgar lands with a lot of victims.
After the Khazars conquered Old Bulgaria in 665,they were fought back from the Asparuh army and he established a border with them on the lower Dnieper river.
Maybe a lot of people don't know that The army of Batu Khan was defeated several times before he eventually conquered Volga Bulgaria in 13 -th century.And bulgarians were the only force at this time to ever stop him,before the battle of Liegnitz.
And finally the Ottoman empire,subdued Danube Bulgaria after dramatical battles like :
- The battle of Nicopolis in 1396
- The battle of Varna in 1444
Also a lot of internal rebellions in Bulgarian territories took part to throw away The Turkish autorhity along with valachian romanians,serbians and croats.
So as you can see it was never easy for none of the turkish empires to crush us,and they never did because Bulgaria is still existing today.
I don't mean to offend anyone with this post,hope you don't get me wrong.
I respect all the nationalities and their history.
But because this board is for Bulgars i am trying to show them in the best possible light.
The Bulgarian medieval kingdom was at its maximum extension at the times of King Simeon The Great in 10 century.
The Bulgarians played and will play their important role in the history and culture of Europe as they did in the past and will do in the future.We have one of the oldest history in Europe.
Unfortunately we have lost most of our territories like :
Macedonia,Aegean sea coast and Estern Trace,because of wrong political decisions and being at war with many countries.
Here is a photo of present Bulgaria :
Good Bye!