The following timeline has been carefully recreated to represent an accurate historical record of the Bulgarian people. Dates and events have been collected from various European and Asian sources.
150 - 200
The Bulgars, an Iranian people originating around modern Afghanistan, migrated northwest into Europe, settling along the northwest coast of the Black Sea, east of the Axiacus River (modern Ukraine).
354
In the Anonymous Roman Chronograph and the Armenian "Chronicler Movses Horenatzi", Bulgaria's border in the south is marked along the Caucasian ridge.
361
Huns take Pannonia from Rome, forcing Germanics into Roman territory where they would come into conflict with the Romans. Huns were either of Mongolian or Turkish descent, but assimilated several tribes between Central Asia and Europe, so they were not likely a homogenous ethnogroup. The Bulgars were one of the tribes that joined the Huns in these raids, while remaining a separate distinct group within the Hunnic alliance.
377 - 453
The alliance between the Bulgars and the Huns is backing the Huns hegemony in Central Europe for nearly one century. Attilla's combat power consists mostly from mounted Bulgarian troops. Attila's dynasty is continued by the Bulgars of the Dulo dynasty.
395
Latin anonymous chronograph: the name of ancient Bulgars is used for the ancient Bactrians, living in territory near Pamir and Hindukush. More specifically, in the Armenian geography "Ashharatsuytsu", Bulgars are located precisely where western ranges of Pamir and Hindukush meet northern ranges of Zeravshan ridge of the Pamir.
400
Alans and Bulgars live between river Itil and Don.
434
Aybat (Eur. Mundzuk) (390-434) dies. His son Attila becomes Yabgu of W. Huns (Kara Bulgar). His son Bleda becomes ruler of E. Huns (Ak Bulgar).
442
Paulus Diaconus and Fredegarius: the Battle between Bulgars and Langobards in Northern Carpathians.
450 - 502
The Bulgars invade and conquer all of Thrace installing their supremacy in Balkans.
454
Several Hunno-Bulgar uluses outside of three main Hunnic hordes joined with Byzantines with obligation of military services, and were given land to settle as protectors against their northern cousins.
455
Tingiz and Bel-Kermek lead Bulgars, on way from Pannonia to estuary of Buri-chai (Dnieper) are attacked by Gallidjians (Scandinavians). Tingiz is killed. Bel-Kermek raises red flag of Asses and breaks through to lower Dnieper.
455
Bel-Kermek, 3rd son of Atilla, leads Bulgars to settle between Crimea and estuary of Buri-chai (Dniepr), and proclaims a beylik of Altynoba, with Bel-Kermek as Baltavar (Lord of Beys).
460
Bulgar tribes Ultinzur, Bittugur and Bardor of Pannonia join Altynoba, with Bel-Kermek as Baltavar (Lord of Beys). Huns adopt name Bulgars, Bulgars adopt Hun's language.
465
Bulgars led by Bel-Kermek control lands of Akacirs and asked for a union with Byzantium.
468
Bulgar Kutigurs fight Byzantine (468-469). Bysantine's Anagast procured Khan Dengizik's head after he was killed and sent it to Constantinople where it was displayed atop of a spear. Kutrigurs never forgot Utigur Hernach's refusal of help.
481
Ioanes Antiochenus: First written agreement of Byzantium emperor Zeno (474-475,476-491) with Bulgars' Djurash Masgut (465-505), allying them in war against Ostrogoths Goths of Theodoric (493-526), son of Triarius.
486
Bulgars fight against Goths as allies of Byzantium.
488
Bulgars settle in Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia after expelling Theodoric Ostrogoths.
488
Bulgars fought again against Goths as allies of the Gepids. The Bulgars had been regarded as a brave and invincible in war people
492
Kutigur Bulgars invade Thrace, defeat Byzantine army and kill their leader Julian.
502
Altynoba's Djurash Masgut Kutigur Huns Bulgars plundered all of Thrace.
505
Altynoba's Djurash Masgut (465-505) dies, Tatra (505-) becomes Bulgarian Baltazar subordinated to Avar overlordship.
516
Slavs raid Macedonia and Illiria.
527
Bulgars, Slavs, and western Antae ravaged Illyricum and Thrace, perhaps the first historically certain attack by the Slavs, in force and in large numbers, upon the Empire.
537
Goths siege of Rome. To help Belisarius came army of Altynoba's Tatra Bulgars, Sklavens and Antes. Byzantines drive Goths from Rome with help of Bulgar troops (537-538).
540
Altynoba's Tatra Kutigur Bulgars take and plunder not only rural areas, but take forts (539-540). In Illyrium alone, in 540, Kutigur Bulgars seized 32 forts.
551
Boyan Chelbir Kutriguri Bulgars break through Antian border guard into Byzantine.
551
Zachariah Ritor: Bulgars and Alans are mentioned once as settled populations with towns, and once as nomads. Bulgarians towns were in territory immediately next to Caspian gates, while nomads - in steppes north of Caucasus.
558
Bulgars living along lower Dniepr and Don are Kuturgur Huns. Bulgars living along Kuban are Uturgur Huns. Kuturgurs raid Byzantium's Thracia, Byzantium incites Uturgurs to fight with Kuturgurs.
558
Slavic warriors may have taken part in a Bulgar invasion to Greece.
Avar Kaganate extended from Itil to mouth of Danube. Bolgars are split, with Kuturgur Huns (also listed are Onogundurs (10 Oghur Confederation), Hunnogurs, Sabirs belonging to Avar Kaganate, and Utugur Huns (30 Oghur) and Khazars loyal to W. Kaganate
559
Kutugur Bulgars under Zabergan, with Avars, made a treaty with Sklavins, cross Danube on ice, raid Byzantine, in three directions. Via Macedonia to Ellada to Thermopile, to Thracian Chersones, under Zabergan through a break in Long Wall to Constantinop.
559 - 560
Invading Avars attack Hunno-Bulgars. Utiguri, Kutriguri, and Sabiri are conquered.
562
Last incursion by Kutigur Bulgars into Byzantium, stopped by Byzantium's instigating internecine wars between two most powerful branches, Kutigur and Utigur.
565
After defeat of their forces by Avars, Khazars took lead in Sabir-Khazar federation. Part of Sabirs move north, to Middle Itil region, among settled there Bulgarian tribes. Their main city Suvar is a great center of Itil Bulgaria.
568
Lombardian King Alboin led a host of Lombards, Gepids, Sarmatians and Bulgars from Pannonia to Italy. Others, amongst them Bavarians, Saxons and Taifali, joined invasion en route.
As Lombardian King Alboin advanced, vacuum left behind them was filled by Avars, Bulgars and Slavs.
576
Bulgars of lower Itil and Kuban are loyal to Goktürkish dynasty Ashina.
578
Regions along lower Danube were in 6th and 7th centuries inhabited by Sclavinae, Antes and Bulgars. Moldavia and northeastern Muntenia were populated by Slavic tribe of Antes.
582
Kuturgur Hun Bulgars settle in Bessarabia and Wallachia, from which they will move to Moesia under pressure from Magyars, and make it Bulgaria.
582 - 602
Rule of Byzantine Emperor Maurice. First mention of Khazars in Byzantine lands.Noted their coming from Bersilia, supposedly in Caspian steppe.
589
Western Goktürk Kaganate campaign against Persia in Caucasus, with Khazars but without Bulgars. Both Khazars and Bulgars are confederated (jointed voluntarily, not as conquered) into Western Goktürk Kaganate.
594
Theophanes Confessor and Constantinus Porphyrogeneus explicitly state that Bulgarians, settled on Balkans, had been called earlier Unogundurs.
594
Byzantine patriarch Nicephorus calls ruler of Great Bulgaria khan Kubrat "Ruler of Unogundurs”.
610
Marquart: Leader of Unugurs (Unogundurs) Organa, founder of the Bulgarian dynasty Dulo, uncle of Kubrat Dulo, related to Ashina by female line, of most-western ulus, is baptized in Constantinople.
610 - 620
Avar Slavs raided Thessalia, Hellas, Aegean Islands, Achaia, and Epirus.
623
Slavs attacked Crete.
627
Series of revolts against Avars start among subjugated tribes. Uprising of western Slavs, led by Samo, a Frankish merchant, resulted in founding of a Slavic state on territory of present-day Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Birth of Samo state, first political formation of Slavs, first mentioned in writing in 623
630
Sibir-Khan recognized independence of Bulgaria under Kubrat of Dulo dynasty.
631
Samo Slavs in 631 beat Frank Army of King Dagobert near Vogatisburg and gain their independence from Franks and Avars.
633
Kubrat unites Bulgar Kuturgur and Uturgur tribes and liberated from Western Goktürk Kaganate.
635
Kubrat sent embassy to Constantinople and received title of Patrician. Kubrat's Bulgaria joins Byzantium as Federatae. Byzantium becomes a bordering state with Khazaria of Western Goktürk Kaganate, controlling former Khazar territories.
636
Bulgaria hostile with Khazars of Western Goktürk Kaganate on East, with Avars on West, with Byzantium on South.
642
Kubrat supports the widow of his personal friend, Byzantium emperor Heraclius, Martina and their children, in their battle for the throne.
651
After Kubrat's death, the Bulgarian state is divided between his five sons - the youngest, Asparukh establishes the new Bulgarian capital in the South of the delta of Danube.
658
Great Bulgaria is divided into two - Western Kara Bulgar and Eastern Ak Bulgar Yorty, separated by river Shir (Don).
Kara Bulgar extended from estuary of (Danube) to Shir (Don). Ak Bulgar Yorty extended from Shir (Don) to estuary of Itil (Volga). Border went by river Aksu, including aul Kharka (current Kharkov). Bulyar was included as semi-autonomous beylik.
Great Bulgaria's capital Bandja, renamed fron Onoguria (Gr. Phanagoria). Summer stan is Khorysdan or Batavyl ( Lord's stan), present Putivl. In between are two more stans, Tiganak and Baltavar, present Poltava.
660
Kubrat's first son Bayan (Batbayan) is elected Baltavr and remains in Great Bulgaria, confederated with Khazars
The second son of Kubrat, Kotragh moves to the North-East and sets up the Volga Bulgaria (capital Bulgar, nowadays Kazan in Tatarstan, Russia).
665
With death of Prince Samo first Slavic state is re-intrgrated into Avar Kaganate.
667
Some 150 000 Kumans, Turkmens, Gok-Oguses and Kyrgises, confederated with Khazars, cross river Itil from the east. Bulgars flee to Bashtu, present Kiev.
669
Split of Kara Bulgar into West and East of Dniepr. West is controlled by Shambat and Asparukh, and East (including Bulyar), by Baltavar Bat-Boyan.
670
Bat-Boyan Bulgars are defeated by Khazars. Khazars recover territory with east Bulgar (Utugur) and Alan populations.
Khazars under Alp-Ilitver defeat Bulgars.
675
Bulgars arrive on Danube under Asparukh.
680
The "Miracles of St Demetrius" states that, circa 680 AD, Kuber (brother of Asparukh) had a fallng out with the Avar khagan, and after repelling an Avar attack, led his followers of around 70 000 Bulgar people, from Srem and to Macedonia. The Byzantines initially called his people Sermisianoi (after their former settlement - Sirmium), and later the Keramisians (after their new place: the Keramissian plain in Greater Macedonia).
681
First Bulgarian Kingdom headed by Asparukh, who spread the rule over vast territories north and south of the Danube river, is recognised by Byzantium that agreed to pay an annual tax guaranteeing its borders.
Asparukh 680 treaty with Slavs recognizes their self-government and territory. Slav princes participate in people assembly along with Bulgarian nobles.
Slav's obligation to Bulgars is to pay tribute and supply military contingents. State capital established in Pliska in Moesia.
700 - 718
Under the reign of Tervel, Bulgaria expands in territory and ascents to a higher political standing. It is now one of Europe's most influential countries.
718
Tervel defeats the Arabs in the Second Siege of Constantinople, ending their attempts to penetrate into Europe via Balkans. He is given the title "The Savior of Europe" and crowed as Caesar - the only such case of a barbaric ruler in medieval European history.
763
Bulgaria seizes southern Thrace. Bulgars loose battle of Anchiel. Telets is murdered by hostile Boils for his failure.
772
War between Greeks and Danube Bulgars.
777
Danube Bulgaria Khan Telerig is replaced by Kardam.
792
Franks met with little resistance on their second campaign in area of Austria and Slovenia because of Avar, Bulgar and Slav drought and famine.
796
Theophanes: Emperor Constantine VI (780-797) led army in a raid on Bulgaria. After battle in July 796 near fortress Markella in Eastern Thrace, he signed peace treaty with Danube Bulgaria Khan Kardam (777-803) to pay annual tribute.
803 - 814
Krum releases Slav population in Balkans from Byzantium repression - westward he sets up Pest (part of present Budapest, capital of Hungary) to stop the advance of Charlemagne’s Empire, eastward Bulgarian troops besiege Constantinople.
Krum establishes Europe's first civil laws.
796
Avar state, weakened by internal dissent, is destroyed by a combined Frankish and Bulgars attacks.
The Avar Empire ends.
804
Bulgaria's Krum's army has 30 000 chain armored heavily armed cavalry vs. Byzantium's less than 400.
Krum venture to become independent suzerain, lays off federatae status, become Tzar, and absorbs Slavic and Avar territories and populations. Policy program for next half century.
813
Bulgars take Adrianopole.
Krum led a large army of Slavs and Avars against Byzantium and besieged Constantinople without success.
On April 13, 814, while preparing another attack against Byzantines, Krum (age 38) bursts a blood vessel and dies.
818
Danube Bulgars thrust to north as far as Kiev (818-820).
821
Preslav is completed as the new Bulgarian capital. It becomes one of Europe's main centers.
827
Danube Bulgars and Franks war.
832
Danube Bulgars and Franks sign peace treaty.
836 - 852
Bulgaia's Presian controls Danube Bulgaria extending from Panonnia, Transilvania, Wallachia, Moldavia, Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia, to Donets with numerous inhabitants (Slavs, Thracians (Vlach, Wallach, Dacian, Get).
865
Bulgaria's Boris I (852-889) overcomes the internal rejection and adopts Christianity as official state religion. Under his request, the Cyrillic alphabet is established in order to translate the Bible for all Bulgarians and Slavs.
893 - 927
The "Golden Age of Bulgaria" under Tsar Simeon the Great (893-927) achieves the greatest cultural achievements and territorial power with an outlet to the three seas - the Aegean, Black and Adriatic; he is titled "Tsar (Emperor) of all Bulgarians and Byzantines".
The Bulgarians besiege Constantinople.
921
The king of Volga Bulgaria Almus invites a mission from the Caliph of Baghdad al-Muktadir for explaining Islamic laws. Ibn Fadlan heads the mission and presents the king with gifts; the account of his journeys with the embassy, Risala; and the legend of the trip, the "13th Warrior", is born (as adapted by the Hollywood blockbuster).
970
Mass migration of East European Bulgars headed by Bilu, Boksu and Hesen join Danubian Bulgarians.
976 - 1014
Tsar Samuel, pushes Bulgaria's borders further to the South and to the West, and make Ohrid the new capital (the third Bulgarian capital after Pliska and Preslav).
1018
After long lasting wars Bulgaria is included into the Byzantium Empire.
1040
Peter Delyan, grandson of Samuel is proclaimed Bulgarian Tsar in Belgrade (present capital of Serbia). After liberating Bulgarian lands, he is treacherously blinded by one of his relatives.
1054
Break of relations between the two main centres of Christianity: Constantinople and Rome. Bulgaria is increasingly isolated in the acute rivalry between East and West.
1072
Georgi Voiteh is proclaimed Bulgarian Tsar in the town of Skopje (present capital of Macedonia). After two years of fighting the revolt is put down by the Byzantine.
1185
The brothers Asen and Petar declare the establishment of Second Bulgarian Kingdom with Turnovo as a capital city thus ending the Byzantium rule. The Bulgarians are free again.
1197 - 1207
Tsar Kaloyan restores the mighty power of Bulgaria, which stands out again as a major power in Europe. The Crusader army of the Latin emperor Baldwin of Flanders is crushed near Adrianople (1204) and he is taken as a prisoner in Turnovo.
1218 - 1241
Under Tsar Ivan Assen II Bulgaria reaches it's highest efflorescence establishing political supremacy in East Europe, expanding its borders, pushing forward economical and cultural development.
1223
The king of Volga Bulgaria Gabdula Chelbir defeats the Mongol hordes of Ghengis Khan nearby Samarskaya Luka.
This is the first time that the Mongols are defeated.
1277
Suffering at the hands of Mongols ("Tartar's Golden Horde") Bulgarian peasants rise in massive mediaeval peasant war - beating off the Tartars and imposing their leader Ivailo on the throne.
1237
Capture of Bulgar city and Voronej by Batu Tataro-Mongols, and subjugation of Bulgar population.
1330
Tsar Michael Shishman dies in a disastrous battle against Serbia. Aggressive Serbian imperialism destroys the unity of Christian states in Balkans. The Ottoman Turks take great advantage of this conflict, invading and spreading rapidly over Balkans.
1396
Bulgaria tumbles down under the oppressive Ottoman domination for almost 5 centuries.