Vinekh of Bulgaria

Vinekh (also spelled Vineh; Bulgarian: Винех) was ruler of Bulgaria in the mid-8th century.

According to the Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers, Vinekh reigned for 7 years and was a member of the Uokil clan (which may be the same family as that of his predecessor). According to the chronology developed by Moskov, Vinekh would have reigned 754–762. Other chronologies date the reign of Vinekh to 756–762 but do not entirely agree with the testimony of the Imennik.

Vinekh ascended the throne after the defeat of his predecessor Kormisosh by the Eastern Roman Emperor Constantine V Kopronymos, which has led some scholars to assume that he was an usurper. In c. 756 Constantine V campaigned against Bulgaria by land and sea, and defeated the Bulgarian army led by Vinekh at Marcellae (Karnobat). The defeated monarch sued for peace and undertook to send his own children as hostages. In 759 Constantine V invaded Bulgaria again, but this time his army was ambushed in the mountain passes of the Stara Planina (battle of the Rishki Pass). Vinekh did not follow up his victory and sought to re-establish the peace. This won him the opposition of the Bulgarian nobility, which had him massacred together with his family.

The 17th century Volga Bulgar compilation Ja'far Tarikh (a work of disputed authenticity) represents Bunek (i.e., Vinekh) as the sister's son of Korymdžes (i.e., Kormisosh), who turned over the throne to him peacefully.

Vineh Peak on Rugged Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after Vineh of Bulgaria.

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.