History of BulgariaHistory of Bulgaria
Later artistic depiction · 1344–1345
Later artistic depiction

First Bulgarian Tsardom · Khan

Krum

≈Dates disputed: 803–814

Defeated Emperor Nikephoros I’s army in 811.

See the sources for the dating evidence.

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Krum ruled Bulgaria in the early ninth century. In 811 Emperor Nikephoros I invaded and captured Pliska. During the withdrawal, Bulgar forces blocked the route with timber barriers. Theophanes is a major source, writing from a Byzantine perspective. Led resistance to the campaign of 811. The Byzantine army was defeated during its retreat. The later Suda attributes laws to him. The account of the victory and the later account of his laws are different evidence.

Sources · 51

Open · Krum

Achievements

  • Led resistance to the campaign of 811
  • The Byzantine army was defeated during its retreat
  • The later Suda attributes laws to him

In our stories

Sources

  1. John R. Martindale (editor); King’s College London Old Bulgarian Rulers Prosopography of the Byzantine Empire I (641–867). Ashgate, 2001; KCL online edition. · 2001
  2. Ian S. R. Mladjov Bulgaria (Bălgarija): kings and emperors of the Bulgarians; princes of Bulgaria and kings of the Bulgarians Ian Mladjov’s Resources, Chronologies. Author’s working chronology, updated March 2024, 6 pp. · 2024
  3. Kirił Marinow A scorched earth: The fate of the Bulgarian economic background during the expedition of Nikephoros I Genikos of 811 Balcanica Posnaniensia. Acta et studia · 2020 · 27 · 17-46
All sources (53)
  1. Unknown fourteenth-century illuminator; scan from Ivan Dujcev, Miniatures from the Manasses Chronicle (1962) File:50-manasses-chronicle.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  2. Francesco Bini File:Monete bizantine della collezione di louise riancourt, 41 niceforo I.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  3. Unknown fourteenth-century illuminator; scan from Ivan Dujcev, Miniatures from the Manasses Chronicle (1962) File:51-manasses-chronicle.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  4. Svilen Enev File:Ruins in Pliska Palace 9.JPG Wikimedia Commons
  5. www.bdmundo.com File:National Historical and Archaeological Preserve Pliska (23607833594).jpg Wikimedia Commons
  6. Anonymous compilers; Milan printers Demetrios Chalkokondyles, Joannes Bissolus and Benedictus Mangius; digitisation via Gallica File:SudaArist.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  7. Десислава Найденова Историческата достоверност на Лексикона „Суда“ като източник за законодателството на хан Крум PDF Старобългарска литература. Институт за литература, БАН · 2006 · 167-180
  8. Leonora Neville Chronicle of 811 Guide to Byzantine Historical Writing. Cambridge University Press · 2018 · 81-84
  9. Ангел Николов Хан Крум във византийската традиция: страшни слухове, дезинформация и политическа пропаганда PDF Щрихи към балканското средновековие: Изследвания в памет на проф. Николай Кочев. София: Институт по балканистика, БАН / Парадигма · 2009 · Studia balcanica 27 · 107-116
  10. OpenStreetMap contributors Pliska outer city OpenStreetMap
  11. Prosopography of the Byzantine Empire, King’s College London Krum 1 Prosopography of the Byzantine Empire
  12. Регионален исторически музей – Шумен НИАР „Плиска“ РИМ – Шумен, official site
  13. Steven Runciman A History of the First Bulgarian Empire. Book II, Chapter I: An Emperor’s Skull London: G. Bell & Sons · 1930 · 57, 69-70
  14. Anonymous Byzantine compilers; translated by Kiril Galev; edited by David Whitehead Suda: Bulgars Suda On Line, University of Kentucky · 2012 · Adler beta 423
  15. Theophanes Confessor; ed. Carl de Boor Theophanis chronographia Leipzig: B. G. Teubner · 1883 · I · AM 6303
  16. Wikimedia geographical database contributors Varbitsa Pass Wikidata
  17. Веселин Бешевлиев Прабългарски епиграфски паметници София: Издателство на Отечествения фронт · 1981 · 50–66
  18. Nora Dimitrova Inscriptions and Iconography in the Monuments of the Thracian Rider Hesperia · 2002 · 71 · 209–229
  19. Slavi Donchev The Madara Horseman PDF Monumentum · 1981 · 23–24 · 41–46
  20. Павел Георгиев Плиска — Българският Метрополис от края на „тъмните векове“ PDF НАИМ–БАН, CARARE digital repository · 12–13 (PDF)
  21. Национален археологически институт с музей – БАН; редактори: Методи Даскалов, Снежана Горянова, Милена Райчева, Галина Грозданова Езическа България. Власт и общество / Pagan Bulgaria. Power and Society PDF Национален археологически музей. Каталози. София: НАИМ–БАН · 2017 · V · 166–167
  22. Регионален исторически музей – Шумен Национален историко-археологически резерват „Плиска“ РИМ–Шумен, официален сайт
  23. UNESCO World Heritage Centre Madara Rider. World Heritage List no. 43 UNESCO World Heritage List
  24. Republic of Bulgaria / UNESCO World Heritage Centre Madara Rider: inscribed property map UNESCO World Heritage Centre · 2009 · 1
  25. Wikimedia geographical database contributors Pliska — Great Basilica area: geographical record Wikimedia geographical database
  26. Sarah T. Brooks Byzantium (ca. 330–1453) Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art · 2001
  27. Corpus Nummorum project (institutional numismatic research portal; no individual byline on page) Coin Typology of Mesembria Corpus Nummorum
  28. Wikimedia geographical database contributors Nessebar Archaeological Museum Wikidata
  29. Wikimedia geographical database contributors Christ Pantocrator Wikidata
  30. Wikimedia geographical database contributors St Sophia — the Old Bishopric Wikidata
  31. Wikimedia geographical database contributors St Stephen — the New Bishopric Wikidata
  32. Museum Ancient Nessebar History of Nessebar Museum Ancient Nessebar — official museum website
  33. Museum Ancient Nessebar The Archaeological Museum Museum Ancient Nessebar — official museum website
  34. Museum Ancient Nessebar The Christ Pantokrator Church Museum Ancient Nessebar — official museum website
  35. Emanuel Petac; Aurel Vîlcu About the Diobols Hoard of Apollonia Pontica and Mesembria Discovered in 1911 in Constanţa (Ancient Tomis) PDF Notae Numismaticae – Zapiski Numizmatyczne · 2019 · XIV · 43–58
  36. Photographer uncredited; ancient object: Mesambria mint, Alexander type Monnaie - Statère aux types d'Alexandre le grand, Mesembria, Thrace - btv1b10060926f (1 of 2).jpg Bibliothèque nationale de France / Wikimedia Commons
  37. Hermann Junghans Mesembria Diobol Av.JPG Wikimedia Commons
  38. Hermann Junghans Mesembria Rv.JPG Wikimedia Commons
  39. Japus; watermark removal by Beao Nesebar-panorama-day.JPG Wikimedia Commons
  40. Chrumps; sharpening by Jacek Halicki Church of Christ Pantocrator Nesebar.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  41. Museum Ancient Nessebar The Archaeological Museum: Hall Two — Messambria, the Pontic Polis Museum Ancient Nessebar — official museum website
  42. Museum Ancient Nessebar Basilica Saint Sofia Museum Ancient Nessebar — official museum website
  43. Museum Ancient Nessebar The Saint Stephen Church Museum Ancient Nessebar — official museum website
  44. Balkan Heritage Foundation (project with Bulgarian Centre for Underwater Archaeology) Submerged Heritage of Nessebar Excavation Project Balkan Heritage Foundation · 2019
  45. UNESCO World Heritage Centre Ancient City of Nessebar, World Heritage List no. 217 UNESCO World Heritage List
  46. Museum Ancient Nessebar Fortification Walls Museum Ancient Nessebar — official museum website
  47. Rasho Rashev; Yanko Dimitrov Pliska – 100 years of archaeological excavations Book, online English transcription; III.2 Architectural monuments · 1999
  48. Roland Filzwieser; Andrey Aladzhov; Jona Schlegel; Alois Hinterleitner; Nives Doneus; Hannes Schiel; Janko Dimitrov; Martin Gamon; Falko Daim; Wolfgang Neubauer Pliska – integrated geophysical prospection of the first Early Medieval Bulgarian capital Bulgarian e-Journal of Archaeology · 2019 · 9 · 229–261
  49. Valentin Neikov The Grand Palace in Pliska: Conservation and Presentation PDF Monumentum (ICOMOS) · 1981 · 23–24 · 29–33
  50. Vislupus Pliska Fortress 030.jpg Wikimedia Commons · 2016

Images

Later artistic depiction

Original: Constantine Manasses · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Later artistic depiction · 1344–1345

Open source

Full attribution

Original: Constantine Manasses / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain. Later artistic depiction · detail