List of Bulgarian monarchs

Monarchy of Bulgaria
Former Monarchy
Royal Coat of arms
Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
First monarch Asparukh
(as Khan)
Last monarch Simeon II
(as Tsar)
Style His Majesty
Monarchy started 681
Monarchy ended 15 September 1946
Current pretender Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

The monarchs of Bulgaria ruled the country, with interruptions, from the establishment of the First Bulgarian Empire in 681 to the abolition of monarchy in a manipulated referendum held on 15 September 1946. The Bulgarian monarchy had two periods of foreign domination: one century and a half of Byzantine rule and almost five centuries of Ottoman rule. Early Bulgarian rulers possibly used the title khan, later knyaz for a brief period, and subsequently tsar.

The title tsar, the Slavic form of the Latin caesar, meaning emperor,(the tsars of the Third Bulgarian State however are descirbed as kings in international relations unlike the tsars of the First and Second Bulgarian Empires who are described as emperors) was first adopted and used in Bulgaria by Simeon I, following a decisive victory over the Byzantine Empire in 913. It was also used by all of Simeon I's successors until the fall of Bulgaria under Ottoman rule in 1396. After Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottomans in 1878, its first monarch Alexander I adopted the title knyaz. However, when de jure independence was proclaimed under his successor Ferdinand in 1908, the title was elevated to the customary tsar once more. The use of tsar continued under Ferdinand and later under his heir Boris III until the abolition of monarchy in 1946.

In the few surviving medieval Bulgarian royal charters, the monarchs of Bulgaria styled themselves as “In Christ the Lord Faithful Emperor and Autocrat of all Bulgarians” or similar variations, sometimes including “... and Greeks”.

Contents

List of Bulgarian monarchs

This list does not include the mythical Bulgar rulers and the rulers of Old Great Bulgaria listed in the Nominalia of the Bulgarian khans as well as unsuccessful claimants to the throne who are not generally listed among the Bulgarian monarchs.

Image Title Name Reign Notes/Death

First Bulgarian Empire (681-1018)
Dulo dynasty (681-753)
Khana[›] Asparukh 681-700 Son of Khan Kubrat, ruler of Old Great Bulgaria. After the victory in the battle of Ongal in 680 he formed the modern country Bulgaria. Died in 700 in battle against the Khazars.[1]
Khan Tervel 700-721 Received the title Caesar in 705.[2][3] Tervel was called by his contemporaries the Saviour of Europe referring to the decisive Bulgarian blow against the Arabs in the siege of Constantinople (717-718). Died in 721.[4]
Khan Kormesiy 721-738 Unknown date of death.[5]
Khan Sevar 738-753 Last ruler of the Dulo dynasty. Died of natural death or was dethroned in 753.[6]
Vokil clan (753-762)
Khan Kormisosh 753-756 Beginning of a period of internal instability. Deposed in 756.[7]
Khan Vinekh 756-762 Murdered in 762.[8]
Ugain clan (762-765)
Khan Telets 762-765 Murdered in 765.[9]
Non-dynastic (765-766)
Khan Sabin 765-766 Might have been of Slavic origin. Deposed by a People's Council in 766, fled to the Byzantine Empire.[10]
Vokil clan (766)
Khan Umor 766 Ruled for only 40 days. Deposed in 766 and fled to the Byzantine Empire.[11]
Non-dynastic (766-803)
Khan Toktu 766-767 Killed in the forests of the Danube in 767 by the opposition.[12]
Khan Pagan 767-768 Murdered by his servants in the region of Varna.[13]
Khan Telerig 768-777 Fled to Constantinople in 777 and baptised.[14]
Khan Kardam 777-803 End of the internal crisis. Stabilization and consolidation of the country. Unknown date of death.[15]
Krum/Dulo dynasty (803-977)b[›]
Khan Krum 803-814 Famous for the battle of Pliska in which the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros I perished and for his laws. Died of natural death (very likely from stroke) on 13 April 814. There are several theories on his death.[16]
Great Khan (Kanasubigi)[17],
Ruler of the many Bulgarians[18]		 Omurtag 814-831 Known for his construction policy, the administrative reform and the persecution of the Christians.[19]
Khan Malamir 831-836 Third and youngest son of Omurtag. Died of natural death at early age.[20]
Khan Presian I 836-852 Almost the whole of Macedonia was included in Bulgaria.[21]
Khan/Prince (Knyaz)c[›] Boris Id[›] 852-889 Christianization of Bulgaria; adoption of Old Bulgarian as the official language of the State and the Church; recognition of an autocephalous Bulgarian Church.[22] Abdicated in 883, died on 2 May 902, aged around 80.[23] Proclaimed a Saint.
Prince Vladimir 889-893 Eldest son of Boris I. Tried to restore Tengriism. Deposed and blinded by his father in 893.[24]
Prince/Emperor (Tsar)
Emperor of the Bulgarians and the Romans (claimed)[25]
Emperor of the Bulgarians (recognized)[26]		 Simeon I 893-927 Third son of Boris I, prepared for a cleric but enthroned during the Council of Preslav. Bulgaria reached its apogee and greatest territorial extend. Golden age of the Bulgarian culture. Died of heart attack on 27 May 927, aged 63.[27]
Emperor
Emperor of the Bulgarians[28]		 Peter I 927-969 Second son of Simeon I. His 42-year rule is the longest in Bulgarian history. Abdicated in 969 and died as a monk on 30 January 970.[29] Proclaimed a Saint.
Emperor Boris II 970-971 Eldest son of Peter I. Dethroned by the Byzantines in 971. Accidentally killed by the Bulgarian border guards in 977 when he tried to return to the country.[30]
Emperor Roman 977-991 (997) Second son of Peter I. Castrated by the Byzantines but escaped to Bulgaria in 977. Captured in battle by the Byzantines in 991 and died in prison in Constantinople in 997.[31]
Cometopuli dynasty (997-1018)
Emperor
Emperor of the Bulgarians[32]		 Samuel 997-1014 Co-ruler and general under Roman between 976 and 997. Officially proclaimed Emperor of Bulgaria in 997. Died of heart attack on 6 October 1014, aged 69-70.[33]
Emperor Gavril Radomir 1014-1015 Eldest son of Samuel, crowned on 15 October 1014. Murdered by his cousin Ivan Vladislav in August 1015.[34]
Emperor Ivan Vladislav 1015-1018 Son of Aron and nephew of Samuel. Killed in the siege of Drach.[35] His death brought the end of the First Bulgarian Empire which was annexed by the Byzantine Empire.

Proclaimed monarchs during the Byzantine rule (1018–1185)
Cometopuli dynasty
Emperor Peter II Delyan 1040-1041 Claimed to have been descendent of Gavril Radomir. Led an unsuccessful uprising against Byzantine rule.[36]
Emperor Peter III 1072 Named Constantine Bodin and Descendent of Samuel, he was proclaimed Emperor of Bulgaria after the sainted emperor Peter I during the Uprising of Georgi Voiteh.[37] Between 1081 and 1101 he ruled as King of Duklja.

Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1396)
Asen dynasty
Emperor Peter IV 1185-1190 Named Theodore, he was proclaimed Emperor of Bulgaria as Peter IV during the successful Uprising of Asen and Peter. In 1190 he gave the throne to his younger brother.[38]
Emperor Ivan Asen I 1190-1196 Younger brother of Peter IV. A successful general, he ruled until 1196 when he was murdered by his cousin Ivanko.[39]
Emperor Peter IV 1196-1197 Murdered in 1197.[38]
Emperore[›]
Emperor of Bulgarians and Vlachs		 Kaloyan 1197-1207 Third brother of Asen and Peter. Expanded Bulgaria and concluded a Union with the Catholic Church. Murdered by plotters during the siege of Salonica.[40]
Emperor Boril 1207-1218 Son of a sister of Kaloyan. Deposed and blinded in 1218.[41]
Emperor
Emperor of the Bulgarians and the Greeks[42]		 Ivan Asen II 1218-1241 Eldest son of Ivan Asen I. The Second Bulgarian Empire reached its apogee. Died of natural death on 24 June 1241, aged 46-47.[43]
Emperor Kaliman I Asen 1241-1246 Son of Ivan Asen II. Born in 1234, he died or was poisoned in 1246, aged 12.[44]
Emperor Michael II Asen 1246-1256 Son of Ivan Asen II. Murdered by his cousin Kaliman.[45]
Emperor Kaliman II Asen 1256 Murdered in 1256.[46]
Emperor Mitso Asen 1256-1257 Fled to the Nicaean Empire in 1261.[47]
Emperor
In Christ the Lord Faithful Emperor and Autocrat of the Bulgarians[48]		 Constantine Tikh Asen 1257-1277 Bolyar of Skopie. Murdered in 1277 by the peasant leader Ivaylo.[49]
Emperor Ivan Asen III 1279-1280 Eldest son of Mitso Asen. Fled to Constantinople with the treasury.[50]
Non-dynastic
Emperor Ivaylo 1277-1280 Leader of a major peasant uprising. Fled to the Golden Horde but was murdered by the Mongol Khan Nogai.[51]
Terter dynasty (1280–1292)
Emperor George Terter I 1280-1292 Bolyar of Cherven. Fled to the Byzantine Empire in 1292, died Bulgaria in 1308-1309.[52]
Non-dynastic (1292–1300)
Emperor Smilets 1292-1298 Bolyar of Kopsis. Murdered or died of natural death in 1298.[53]
Emperor Chaka 1299-1300 Son of the Mongol Nogai Khan. Deposed and strangled in prison in 1300.[54]
Terter dynasty (1300–1322)
Emperor Theodore Svetoslav 1300-1321 Son of George Terter I. Spent his youth as a hostage in the Golden Horde. His rule marked a revival of Bulgaria. Died of natural death in the late 1321, aged 50-55.[55]
Emperor George Terter II 1321-1322 Son of Theodore Svetoslav. Died of natural death in the late 1322.[56]
Shishman dynasty (1323–1396)
Emperor Michael III Shishman 1323-1330 Bolyar of Vidin. Mortally wounded in the battle of Velbazhd on 28 July 1330 against the Serbs.[57]
Emperor Ivan Stephen 1330-1331 Son of Michael III Shishman. Deposed in March 1331 and fled to Serbia.[58] Might have died in 1373.
Emperor
In Christ the Lord Faithful Emperor and Autocrat of all Bulgarians[59] and Greeks[60]		 Ivan Alexander 1331-1371 Bolyar of Lovech. Descended of the Asen, Terter and Shishman dynasties. Second Golden Age of Bulgarian culture. Died of natural death on 17 February 1371, leaving Bulgaria divided among his sons.[61]
Emperor
In Christ the Lord Faithful Emperor and Autocrat of all Bulgarians and Greeks[62]		 Ivan Shishman 1371-1395 Fourth son of Ivan Alexander. Beheaded by the Ottomans on 3 June 1395. [63]
Emperor
Emperor of the Bulgarians[64]		 Ivan Sratsimir 1356-1396 Third son of Ivan Alexander. Ruled in Vidin. Captured by the Ottomans in 1396 and imprisoned in Bursa where he was strangled.[65]

Principality of Bulgaria and Kingdom of Bulgaria (1878–1946)
House of Battenberg
Prince Alexander I 29 April 1879 - 7 September 1886 Resigned due to Russian pressure. Died on 23 October 1893 in Graz.
House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Prince/King (Tsar) Ferdinand I 7 July 1887 - 3 October 1918 Became Tsar (internationally recognized as King) after the official proclamation of independence on 22 September 1908. Abdicated on 3 October 1918 after the defeat in World War I. Died on 10 September 1948 in Coburg.
King (Tsar) Boris III 3 October 1918 - 28 August 1943 Died on 28 August 1943 in unclear circumstances.
King (Tsar) Simeon II 28 August 1943 - 15 September 1946 Monarchy abolished by the Communists. He served as the 47th Prime Minister of Bulgaria between 24 July 2001 and 17 August 2005.

See also

References

Notes

^ a: In the Nominalia of the Bulgarian khans the title of Asparukh is the Slavic Knyaz (Prince). The title Khan is not used in the manuscript.[66]
^ b: There are sources which suggest that Krum descended from those Bulgars who settled in Pannonia and lived under the rule the Avars. Some historians assume that Krum was from the Dulo dynasty and that with his ascension the old ruling dynasty was restored.[67][68] According to Zlatarski, Krum was the founder of a new dynasty.[69]
^ c: In the Ballshi Inscription, the title of Boris I is Archon of Bulgaria. The Byzantine title archon is usually translated with ruler. Contemporary Bulgarian sources used the title Knyaz, while during the Second Bulgarian Empire he was referred to as Tsar.[70]
^ d: When Boris I was baptised he received the Christian name Michael, after his godfather, the Byzantine emperor Michael III. He is often called by the historians Boris-Michael.[71]
^ e: During the negotiations with Pope Innocent III, Kaloyan insisted that the Pope should recognize him as Imperator, the title equal to Tsar and based his claims on the imperial recognition of the monarchs of the First Bulgarian Empire. He was only crowned as Rex (King) but in his later correspondence with Innocent III, Kaloyan sent him his gratitude for his recognition as Imperator and used that title.[72]

Citations

  1. ^ Andreev, p. 19
  2. ^ Andreev, p. 23
  3. ^ Whittow, p. 273
  4. ^ Andreev, p. 27
  5. ^ Andreev, p. 29
  6. ^ Andreev, p. 30
  7. ^ Andreev, p. 32
  8. ^ Andreev, p. 33
  9. ^ Andreev, p. 35
  10. ^ Andreev, p. 36
  11. ^ Andreev, p. 38
  12. ^ Andreev, p. 39
  13. ^ Andreev, p. 40
  14. ^ Andreev, p. 42
  15. ^ Andreev, p. 44
  16. ^ Andreev, pp. 53-54
  17. ^ "Tarnovo Inscription of Khan Omurtag" (in Russian). http://www.history.kemsu.ru/oldversion/ISV/1bolg.htm. Retrieved 14 March 2011. 
  18. ^ Andreev, p. 62
  19. ^ Andreev, pp. 61-62
  20. ^ Andreev, pp. 67-68
  21. ^ Andreev, p. 70
  22. ^ Whittow, p. 284
  23. ^ Andreev, pp. 85-86
  24. ^ Andreev, p. 89
  25. ^ Stephenson, p. 23
  26. ^ Stephenson, p. 22
  27. ^ Andreev, pp. 103-104
  28. ^ Whittow, p. 292
  29. ^ Andreev, p. 112
  30. ^ Andreev, p. 118
  31. ^ Andreev, p. 121-122
  32. ^ Whittow, p. 297
  33. ^ Andreev, p. 127
  34. ^ Andreev, pp. 129-130
  35. ^ Andreev, p. 133
  36. ^ Andreev, p. 136
  37. ^ Andreev, p. 142-143
  38. ^ a b Andreev, pp. 146-147
  39. ^ Andreev, pp. 157-158
  40. ^ Andreev, p. 173
  41. ^ Andreev, p. 184
  42. ^ Laskaris, p. 5
  43. ^ Andreev, p. 193
  44. ^ Andreev, p. 197
  45. ^ Andreev, p. 205
  46. ^ Andreev, p. 208
  47. ^ Andreev, p. 211
  48. ^ Ivanov, pp. 578-579
  49. ^ Andreev, p. 229
  50. ^ Andreev, p. 233
  51. ^ Andreev, p. 136
  52. ^ Andreev, p. 239
  53. ^ Andreev, p. 240
  54. ^ Andreev, p. 244
  55. ^ Andreev, p. 251
  56. ^ Andreev, p. 254
  57. ^ Andreev, p. 263
  58. ^ Andreev, p. 267
  59. ^ Ivanov, p. 584
  60. ^ Ivanov, pp. 590-591
  61. ^ Andreev, p. 263
  62. ^ Ivanov, pp. 602-608
  63. ^ Andreev, p. 286
  64. ^ Miletich, L.. "Daco-Romanians and their Slavic Literacy. Part II" (in Bulgarian). p. 47. http://www.promacedonia.org/lm/lm_6a.htm#g1. Retrieved 14 March 2011. 
  65. ^ Andreev, p. 298
  66. ^ "Nominalia of the Bulgarian Khans" (in Bulgarian). http://www.omda.bg/bulg/hystory/imennik.html. Retrieved 14 March 2011. 
  67. ^ Andreev, p. 45
  68. ^ Runciman, p. 51
  69. ^ Zlatarski, pp. 321-322
  70. ^ Bakalov, pp. 144, 146
  71. ^ Andreev, pp. 71, 75
  72. ^ Andreev, pp. 163-165

Sources

External links

Bulgarian monarchs
First Empire (681–1018)
Asparukh · Tervel · Kormesiy · Sevar · Kormisosh · Vinekh · Telets · Sabin · Umor · Toktu · Pagan · Telerig · Kardam · Krum · Omurtag · Malamir · Presian I · Boris I · Vladimir · Simeon I · Peter I · Boris II · Roman · Samuil · Gavril Radomir · Ivan Vladislav · Presian II
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