Rulers of Bulgaria · History of Bulgaria

First Bulgarian Tsardom

681–1018 · Rulers: 29

≈ — disputed or approximate dates

Later artistic depiction · 19th century — Nikolai Pavlovich (1835–1894) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Khan

Dulo

Asparuh

≈668–694

Founded Danube Bulgaria after a war with Byzantium.

Khan

Dulo

Tervel

≈694–715

Helped Justinian II regain his throne and received the title of caesar.

Not a portrait: Madara Rider; identity disputed. Illustration to the passage mentioning Kormesios. — Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Khan

Dulo

Kormesiy

≈715–721

His name is linked to the Madara Rider inscriptions; his reign dates are disputed.

Khan

Dulo

Sevar

≈721–737

One of the last Dulo rulers; his reign dates are uncertain.

Khan

Vokil

Kormisosh

≈737–754

After the Dulo rulers, power passed to the Vokil clan.

Khan

Ukil

Vineh

≈754–760

Ruled between Kormisosh and Telets during frequent changes of ruler.

Khan

Ugain

Telets

≈760–763

Ruled briefly in the eighth century, before Sabin.

Khan

First Tsardom

Sabin

≈763–765

Left Bulgaria and sought refuge in Byzantium.

Khan

Ukil

Umor

≈765

According to the rulers’ list, he ruled for only 40 days.

Khan

First Tsardom

Toktu

≈765–766

Ruled briefly in the eighth century; the exact years are disputed.

Khan

First Tsardom

Pagan

≈766–767

A ruler between Toktu and Telerig; his reign dates remain uncertain.

Khan

First Tsardom

Telerig

≈767–777

Found refuge in Byzantium after his rule ended.

Khan

First Tsardom

Kardam

≈777–803

Ruled before Krum; the end of his reign is not precisely known.

Later artistic depiction · 1344–1345 — Original: Constantine Manasses · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Khan

Krum dynasty

Krum

≈803–814

Defeated Emperor Nikephoros I’s army in 811.

Disputed rule

First Tsardom

Dukum

≈814

A possible ruler after Krum; his independent rule is unproven.

Disputed rule

First Tsardom

Ditseng

≈814–815

Sometimes placed after Dukum; whether he was a ruler remains disputed.

Later artistic depiction · 12th century — John Skylitzes · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Khan

Krum dynasty

Omurtag

814–831

His stone inscriptions tell of building works and government.

Not a portrait: Column with an inscription about his campaigns. Omurtag’s son, who ruled before Presian I. — Litev · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Khan

Krum dynasty

Malamir

831–836

Omurtag’s son, who ruled before Presian I.

Not a portrait: Philippi inscription from his reign. Ruled before Boris I, under whom Bulgaria adopted Christianity. — Anton Lefterov · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Khan

Krum dynasty

Presian I

836–852

Ruled before Boris I, under whom Bulgaria adopted Christianity.

Traditional identification: Boris I · 12th century — Constantine of Preslav · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Knyaz

Krum dynasty

Boris I Michael

852–889

Bulgaria adopted Christianity during his rule.

Not a portrait: Restored section of Constantinople’s walls. Illustration to the passage mentioning Vladimir. — en:User:Bigdaddy1204 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Knyaz

Krum dynasty

Vladimir Rasate

889–893

Boris I’s son, deposed before his brother Simeon took the throne.

Tsar

Krum dynasty

Simeon I

≈893–927

Preslav became a major literary centre under him, and he took the title of tsar.

Contemporary portrait, 10th century — Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Krum dynasty

Peter I

927–969

Made a long peace with Byzantium after Simeon.

Manuscript miniature · later depiction · detail — Unknown medieval illuminator; Madrid Skylitzes · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Krum dynasty

Boris II

≈969–971

Lost his throne after Byzantium captured Preslav in 971.

Not a portrait: Miniature of the return of Peter I’s sons. 14th century; full scene, no face isolated. — Unknown illuminator; Manasses Chronicle · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Krum dynasty

Roman

977–997

Peter I’s son; Samuil led the struggle against Byzantium during his reign.

Not a portrait: Samuel’s inscription, 992–993. Erected in memory of his parents and brother. — Fyodor Uspensky · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Cometopuli

Samuil

997–1014

Long resisted Byzantium; his army was defeated at Kleidion in 1014.

Tsar

Cometopuli

Gavril Radomir

1014–1015

Succeeded his father Samuil, but ruled for less than a year.

Tsar

Cometopuli

Ivan Vladislav

1015–1018

Continued the war with Byzantium and died at Dyrrhachium.

Not a portrait: Stone inscription associated with Presian II. Museum exhibit, not an image of a face. — Eceheh · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Disputed rule

Cometopuli

Presian II

≈1018

Continued resistance after his father Ivan Vladislav, then surrendered to Basil II.

Byzantine rule

1018–1185 · Rulers: 3

≈ — disputed or approximate dates

Byzantine rule

1018–1185

Manuscript miniature · 12th century · later depiction · detail — Unknown medieval illuminator; chronicle by John Skylitzes · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Peter II Delyan

1040–1041

Proclaimed tsar during the 1040 uprising against Byzantium.

Medieval miniature · later depiction · detail — Unknown illustrator · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Cometopuli

Alusian

1041

Briefly took over the leadership of Peter Delyan’s uprising.

Illustration · 19th century · later depiction · detail — Unknown illustrator · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Vojislavljević

Peter III Constantine Bodin

1072

Constantine Bodin was proclaimed Tsar Peter during the 1072 uprising.

Second Bulgarian Tsardom

1185–1396 · Rulers: 31

≈ — disputed or approximate dates

Depiction on a coin · 12th century · detail — Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Asen

Peter IV

≈1185–1197

With his brother Asen, led an uprising that restored the Bulgarian state.

Later artistic depiction · 1860 — Nikolai Pavlovich · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Asen

Ivan Asen I

≈1189–1196

With his brother Peter, restored the state centred on Tarnovo.

Not a portrait: Remains of Adrianople’s walls. Defeated the Latin army at Adrianople in 1205. — Dosseman · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Asen

Kaloyan

≈1197–1207

Defeated the Latin emperor Baldwin at Adrianople in 1205.

Not a portrait: Copy of Boril’s Synodikon. Succeeded Kaloyan; the Synodikon of Boril was compiled during his rule. — Vaskots7 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Asen

Boril

1207–1218

Succeeded Kaloyan; the Synodikon of Boril was compiled during his rule.

Depiction on a coin · 13th century · detail — Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Asen

Ivan Asen II

1218–1241

Won at Klokotnitsa in 1230; Bulgaria extended its influence.

Tsar

Asen

Kaliman I Asen

1241–1246

Succeeded his father Ivan Asen II while still a child.

Fresco · detail — Unknown medieval painter · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Asen

Michael II Asen

1246–1256

A younger son of Ivan Asen II, who succeeded his half-brother Kaliman.

Tsar

Asen

Kaliman II Asen

1256

Ruled very briefly after Michael II Asen.

Claimant to the throne

Rurikids

Rostislav Mikhailovich

≈1256

Claimed the Bulgarian throne; he was not a generally recognised tsar of Tarnovo.

Tsar

Asen (by marriage)

Mitso Asen

1256–1257

Ivan Asen II’s son-in-law, who challenged Konstantin Tih even after losing the throne.

Contemporary portrait, 1259 — Unknown author · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Tih-Asen

Konstantin Tih Asen

1257–1277

His long reign ended with Ivaylo’s uprising.

Claimant to the throne

Second Tsardom

Jacob Svetoslav

≈1269–1276

A lord in the northwest who also claimed the title of tsar.

Tsar

Tih-Asen

Michael Asen

1277–1279

Konstantin Tih’s young son held the title of tsar under his mother Maria’s care.

Tsar

Second Tsardom

Ivaylo

≈1278–1279

A peasant uprising leader who reached the throne.

Tsar

Asen

Ivan Asen III

≈1279–1280

Mitso Asen’s son, who took the throne with Byzantine support.

Not a portrait: Coin from his reign. It depicts Dandolo and St Mark. — CNG Coins · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Terter

George I Terter

≈1280–1292

Founded the Terter dynasty; Smilets ruled after him.

Tsar

Smilets

1292–1298

Ruled between two members of the Terter dynasty.

Tsar

Smilets

Ivan Smilets

1298–1299

Succeeded his father Smilets as a child; his mother governed in his name.

Disputed rule

Borjigin

Chaka

≈1299–1300

Came to Tarnovo with Theodore Svetoslav; whether he was Bulgarian tsar is disputed.

Depiction on a coin · 14th century · detail — Unknown coin engraver; reproduction in History of Bulgaria, vol. 3 (1982) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Terter

Theodore Svetoslav

≈1300–1322

George I Terter’s son, who brought his dynasty back to the Tarnovo throne.

Claimant to the throne

Asen

Michael Asen, son of Ivan Asen III

≈1304–1305

Ivan Asen III’s son, a rival of Theodore Svetoslav for the throne.

Tsar

Terter

George II Terter

1322–1323

Theodore Svetoslav’s son, the last tsar of the Terter dynasty.

Tsar

Shishman

Michael Shishman

1323–1330

Came from Vidin; died after the battle of Velbazhd in 1330.

Painting · 19th century · later depiction · detail — Unknown painter · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Shishman

Ivan Stefan

1330–1331

Michael Shishman’s son, who ruled briefly before Ivan Alexander.

Tsar

Sratsimir

Ivan Alexander

1331–1371

Commissioned the richly illustrated Gospels of 1355–1356.

Depiction on a coin · 1331–1355 · detail — Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons

Co-ruler

Sratsimir

Michael Asen IV

≈1332–1355

Ivan Alexander’s son, crowned co-tsar while his father was alive.

Co-ruler

Sratsimir

Ivan Asen IV

≈1337–1349

Ivan Alexander’s son, who held an imperial title as a co-ruler.

Co-ruler

Sratsimir

Ivan Asen V

≈1356–1388

A co-tsar from Ivan Alexander’s family; the end of his role in government is disputed.

Later artistic depiction · late 19th century — Alexander Shukshin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Sratsimir

Ivan Sratsimir

≈1356–1396

Ruled in Vidin while his half-brother Ivan Shishman ruled in Tarnovo.

Tsar

Sratsimir

Ivan Shishman

1371–1395

Tsar of Tarnovo; after its fall in 1393, continued ruling from Nikopol.

Not a portrait: Outer walls and towers. Illustration to the passage mentioning Constantine. — Elena Chochkova · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Disputed rule

Sratsimir

Constantine II Asen

≈1397–1422

Ivan Sratsimir’s son; whether he ruled Vidin after the Ottoman conquest is disputed.

Ottoman rule

1396–1878

Revival and Liberation

18th–19th centuries · Rulers: 1

≈ — disputed or approximate dates

Contemporary portrait, 1881 — Konrad Dielitz · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Prince

Battenberg

Alexander I of Battenberg

1879–1886

The first prince after 1878; supported the Unification of 1885.

Regency of 1886–1887

1886–1887

20th century

1901–2000 · Rulers: 3

≈ — disputed or approximate dates

Photograph · 1912 · detail — Unknown photographer · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

Ferdinand I

1887–1918

Prince from 1887; became tsar when independence was proclaimed in 1908.

Photographic portrait · 1918–1919 — Dimitar Karastoyanov · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Tsar

Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

Boris III

1918–1943

Succeeded Ferdinand at the end of the First World War; died during the Second.

Tsar

Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

Simeon II

1943–1946

Became tsar at six; regents governed until the republic was proclaimed.

Regency Council 1943–1944

1943–1944

Regency Council 1944–1946

1944–1946