The Rise and Fall of the First Bulgarian Kingdom

Expansion under King Simeon I (893-927 A.D.)

The First Bulgarian Kingdom reached its peak during the rule of King Simeon I, who took the throne in 893. King Simeon defended Bulgaria against Byzantine attacks, leading to a war. The Bulgarians besieged Byzantium, but they couldn’t capture it. The reigns of King Boris and his son King Simeon are considered the golden age of the Bulgarian people, marking the firm establishment of their national identity.

Decline after King Simeon’s Death (927 A.D.)

After King Simeon’s death in 927, the First Bulgarian Kingdom went into decline. Bulgaria was worn out from two centuries of conflict with the Byzantine Empire. Byzantine influences separated the Bulgarian aristocracy from the common people by encouraging the adoption of oriental luxury. Byzantine Christianity became the religion of the elite City Tour Istanbul, while the common people followed the teachings of Father Paisius. The heretical Bogomil creed emerged in the 10th century, opposing church organization, rituals, and saints. It spread across the Balkans and remained a popular religion for about 500 years. The divisions caused by the Bogomil movement played a role in the downfall of the First Bulgarian Kingdom in 1014, at the hands of the Byzantine Empire.

Defeat under King Samuil (1014 A.D.)

The decisive defeat of the Bulgarians occurred during the reign of King Samuil, concluding a 14-year war. King Samuil’s army fell into an ambush near the Struma River, resulting in the capture of around 15,000 Bulgarians. The Byzantine emperor, Basil II, ordered the captives to be blinded, with every hundredth man receiving this harsh punishment in only one eye. The 150 one-eyed men guided their blinded comrades back to Bulgaria. Witnessing his army’s pitiful return, King Samuil fell dead, marking the end of the First Bulgarian Kingdom.

The Rise and Fall of the First Bulgarian Kingdom

Expansion under King Simeon I (893-927 A.D.)

The First Bulgarian Kingdom reached its peak during the rule of King Simeon I, who took the throne in 893. King Simeon defended Bulgaria against Byzantine attacks, leading to a war. The Bulgarians besieged Byzantium, but they couldn’t capture it. The reigns of King Boris and his son King Simeon are considered the golden age of the Bulgarian people, marking the firm establishment of their national identity.

Decline after King Simeon’s Death (927 A.D.)

After King Simeon’s death in 927, the First Bulgarian Kingdom went into decline. Bulgaria was worn out from two centuries of conflict with the Byzantine Empire. Byzantine influences separated the Bulgarian aristocracy from the common people by encouraging the adoption of oriental luxury. Byzantine Christianity became the religion of the elite City Tour Istanbul, while the common people followed the teachings of Father Paisius. The heretical Bogomil creed emerged in the 10th century, opposing church organization, rituals, and saints. It spread across the Balkans and remained a popular religion for about 500 years. The divisions caused by the Bogomil movement played a role in the downfall of the First Bulgarian Kingdom in 1014, at the hands of the Byzantine Empire.

Defeat under King Samuil (1014 A.D.)

The decisive defeat of the Bulgarians occurred during the reign of King Samuil, concluding a 14-year war. King Samuil’s army fell into an ambush near the Struma River, resulting in the capture of around 15,000 Bulgarians. The Byzantine emperor, Basil II, ordered the captives to be blinded, with every hundredth man receiving this harsh punishment in only one eye. The 150 one-eyed men guided their blinded comrades back to Bulgaria. Witnessing his army’s pitiful return, King Samuil fell dead, marking the end of the First Bulgarian Kingdom.

The Rise and Fall of the First Bulgarian Kingdom

Expansion under King Simeon I (893-927 A.D.)

The First Bulgarian Kingdom reached its peak during the rule of King Simeon I, who took the throne in 893. King Simeon defended Bulgaria against Byzantine attacks, leading to a war. The Bulgarians besieged Byzantium, but they couldn’t capture it. The reigns of King Boris and his son King Simeon are considered the golden age of the Bulgarian people, marking the firm establishment of their national identity.

Decline after King Simeon’s Death (927 A.D.)

After King Simeon’s death in 927, the First Bulgarian Kingdom went into decline. Bulgaria was worn out from two centuries of conflict with the Byzantine Empire. Byzantine influences separated the Bulgarian aristocracy from the common people by encouraging the adoption of oriental luxury. Byzantine Christianity became the religion of the elite City Tour Istanbul, while the common people followed the teachings of Father Paisius. The heretical Bogomil creed emerged in the 10th century, opposing church organization, rituals, and saints. It spread across the Balkans and remained a popular religion for about 500 years. The divisions caused by the Bogomil movement played a role in the downfall of the First Bulgarian Kingdom in 1014, at the hands of the Byzantine Empire.

Defeat under King Samuil (1014 A.D.)

The decisive defeat of the Bulgarians occurred during the reign of King Samuil, concluding a 14-year war. King Samuil’s army fell into an ambush near the Struma River, resulting in the capture of around 15,000 Bulgarians. The Byzantine emperor, Basil II, ordered the captives to be blinded, with every hundredth man receiving this harsh punishment in only one eye. The 150 one-eyed men guided their blinded comrades back to Bulgaria. Witnessing his army’s pitiful return, King Samuil fell dead, marking the end of the First Bulgarian Kingdom.

The Rise and Fall of the First Bulgarian Kingdom

Expansion under King Simeon I (893-927 A.D.)

The First Bulgarian Kingdom reached its peak during the rule of King Simeon I, who took the throne in 893. King Simeon defended Bulgaria against Byzantine attacks, leading to a war. The Bulgarians besieged Byzantium, but they couldn’t capture it. The reigns of King Boris and his son King Simeon are considered the golden age of the Bulgarian people, marking the firm establishment of their national identity.

Decline after King Simeon’s Death (927 A.D.)

After King Simeon’s death in 927, the First Bulgarian Kingdom went into decline. Bulgaria was worn out from two centuries of conflict with the Byzantine Empire. Byzantine influences separated the Bulgarian aristocracy from the common people by encouraging the adoption of oriental luxury. Byzantine Christianity became the religion of the elite City Tour Istanbul, while the common people followed the teachings of Father Paisius. The heretical Bogomil creed emerged in the 10th century, opposing church organization, rituals, and saints. It spread across the Balkans and remained a popular religion for about 500 years. The divisions caused by the Bogomil movement played a role in the downfall of the First Bulgarian Kingdom in 1014, at the hands of the Byzantine Empire.

Defeat under King Samuil (1014 A.D.)

The decisive defeat of the Bulgarians occurred during the reign of King Samuil, concluding a 14-year war. King Samuil’s army fell into an ambush near the Struma River, resulting in the capture of around 15,000 Bulgarians. The Byzantine emperor, Basil II, ordered the captives to be blinded, with every hundredth man receiving this harsh punishment in only one eye. The 150 one-eyed men guided their blinded comrades back to Bulgaria. Witnessing his army’s pitiful return, King Samuil fell dead, marking the end of the First Bulgarian Kingdom.