Kormesiy of Bulgaria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kormesiy (Bulgarian: Кормесий) was a ruler of Danubian Bulgaria in the first half of the 8th century. Western chronicles name Kormesij "the third ruler over the Bulgarians", and he is sometimes considered the direct successor of Tervel.

The Namelist (Imennik) of Bulgarian rulers contains traces of two damaged records between the entries for Tervel and Sevar, and the second of these lost names is generally taken to be that of Kormesij. According to the Imennik, Kormesij would have reigned for 28 years and was a descendant of the royal Dulo clan. According to the chronology developed by Moskov, Kormesij would have reigned 715–721, and the longer period reflected in the Imennik would have indicated the duration of his life or would have included a period of association with his predecessors. Other chronologies date the reign of Kormesij to 721–738 but cannot be reconciled with the data of the Imennik.

The name of Kormesij is encountered in relation to the events surrounding the peace treaty between Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire between 715 and 717. According to the Byzantine chronicler Theophanes the Confessor the treaty was signed by Kormesij as ruler of the Bulgarians. The Byzantine chronicles seem to indicate that Tervel was still Bulgaria's ruler as late as c. 718 or 720, but this may be an inference on their part, based on the later writer's assumption that Tervel was still alive. Otherwise it would have to be assumed that Kormesij shared the throne with Tervel and signed the treaty as his co-ruler. The name of Kormesij is also found in the inscriptions around the Madara Rider monument. The surviving part of the text speaks of an annual gold tribute that Kormesij received from the Byzantine Emperor - it seems as if the peace treaty was re-established during his rule. The end of the inscription mentions a worsening of Bulgarian relations with the Byzantine Empire. However, this inscription could possibly be referring to the later Bulgarian rulers Kormisoš or Krum.

The 17th century Volga Bulgar compilation Ja'far Tarikh (a work of disputed authenticity) represents Kermes (i.e., Kormesij) as the son of Tarvil (i.e., Tervel), and as the successor of Tarvil's brother Ajjar (otherwise unknown, but possibly the first of the lost names of the Imennik). The Ja'far Tarikh alleges that Kermes was deposed by the nobility and replaced on the throne by his son Sevar.

Kormesij is not mentioned in any other historical context. The fact that there is no record of wars between Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire during his reign, however, implies that he sustained the peace between the two countries.

[edit] References

Mosko Moskov, Imennik na bălgarskite hanove (novo tălkuvane), Sofia 1988.
Jordan Andreev, Ivan Lazarov, Plamen Pavlov, Koj koj e v srednovekovna Bălgarija, Sofia 1999.
(primary source), Bahši Iman, Džagfar Tarihy, vol. III, Orenburg 1997.