Editing Bulgars (section)

=== Subsequent migrations ===
{{Further|Volga Bulgaria|First Bulgarian Empire}}
[[File:Bulgar necropolises on lower Danube.jpg|thumb|300px|Map of the Bulgar necropolises on the Lower Danube (8–9 century AD.)]]

It is unclear whether the brothers' parting ways was caused by the internal conflicts or strong Khazar pressure.{{sfn|Golden|1992|p=245}}{{sfn|Golden|2011|p=145}} The latter is considered more likely.{{sfn|Golden|2011|p=145}} The Bulgars led by the first two brothers [[Batbayan]] and [[Kotrag]] remained in the Pontic steppe zone, where they were known as ''Black Bulgars'' by Byzantine and Rus sources, and became Khazar vassals.{{sfn|Golden|1992|pp=245–246}}{{sfn|Bowersock, Brown, Grabar|1999|p=354}}<ref name="Saltovo">{{cite book |author=D. Dimitrov |date=1987 |chapter=The Proto-Bulgarians and the Saltovo-Majack culture |title=Prabylgarite po severnoto i zapadnoto Chernomorie |chapter-url=http://www.kroraina.com/p_bulgar/p_bulg5.htm |place=Varna}}</ref> The Bulgars led by Kotrag migrated to the middle [[Volga]] region during the 7th and 9th centuries, where they founded [[Volga Bulgaria]], with [[Bolghar]] as its capital.{{sfn|Bowersock, Brown, Grabar|1999|p=354}}<ref name="Saltovo"/>

According to [[Ahmad ibn Rustah]] (10th century), the Volga Bulgars were divided into three branches: "the first branch was called Bersula (Barsils), the second [[Esegel]], and the third Bulgar".<ref name="Barsils">{{cite book |author=D. Dimitrov |title=Prabylgarite po severnoto i zapadnoto Chernomorie |date=1987 |place=Varna |chapter=Sabirs, Barsils, Belendzheris, Khazars |chapter-url=http://www.kroraina.com/p_bulgar/p_bulg1b.htm}}</ref> In 922 they accepted [[Islam]] as the official religion.{{sfn|Golden|1992|pp=245, 253–258}}{{sfn|Bowersock, Brown, Grabar|1999|p=354}} They preserved their national identity well into the 13th century by repelling the first [[Mongol invasion of Volga Bulgaria|Mongol attacks]] in 1223. They were eventually subdued by the Mongols in 1237.{{sfn|Waldman, Mason|2006|p=107}} They gradually lost their identity after 1431 when their towns and region were captured by the Russians.{{sfn|Waldman, Mason|2006|pp=107–108}}

The third and most famous son, [[Asparukh of Bulgaria|Asparukh]], according to Nikephoros I:

{{Blockquote|crossed the river Danapros and Danastros, lived in the locale around the Ister, having occupied a place suitable for settlement, called in their language ογγλον (ogglon; Slav. ''o(n)gl'', "angle", "corner"; Turk. ''agyl'', "yard"<ref>{{cite book |author=D. Dimitrov |date=1987 |chapter=The migration of the Unogundur-Bulgars of Asparukh from the lands of Azov to the Lower Danube |title=Prabylgarite po severnoto i zapadnoto Chernomorie |chapter-url=http://www.kroraina.com/p_bulgar/P_bulg10.html |place=Varna}}</ref>)... The people having been divided and scattered, the tribe of the Khazars, from within Berulia ([[Bessarabia]]), which neighbors with Sarmatia, attacked them with impunity. They overran all the lands lying behind the Pontos Euxeinos and penetrated to the sea. After this, having made Bayan a subject, they forced him to pay tribute.{{sfn|Golden|1992|p=246}}}}

Asparukh, according to the ''Pseudo''–Zacharias Rhetor, "fled from the Khazars out of the Bulgarian mountains". In the Khazar ruler Joseph's letter is recorded "in the country in which I live, there formerly lived the Vununtur (< Vunundur < Onoğundur). Our ancestors, the Khazars warred with them. The Vununtur were more numerous, as numerous as the sand by the sea, but they could not withstand the Khazars. They left their country and fled... until they reached the river called Duna ([[Danube]])".{{sfn|Golden|1992|p=246}}

This migration and the foundation of the Danube Bulgaria (the [[First Bulgarian Empire]]) is usually dated c. 681.{{sfn|Golden|1992|p=246}}{{sfn|Golden|2011|p=145}} The composition of the horde is unknown, and sources only mention tribal names Čakarar, Kubiar, Küriger, and clan names [[Dulo]], [[Uokil|Ukil/Vokil]], Ermiyar, Ugain and Duar.{{sfn|Golden|1992|p=247}} The ''Onglos'' where Bulgars settled is considered northern [[Dobruja]], secured to the West and North by Danube and its [[Danube Delta|Delta]], and bounded to the East by the [[Black Sea]].{{sfn|Fiedler|2008|p=152}} They re-settled in North-Eastern Bulgaria, between [[Shumen]] and [[Varna, Bulgaria|Varna]], including [[Ludogorie]] plateau and southern Dobruja.{{sfn|Fiedler|2008|p=154}} The distribution of pre-Christian burial assemblages in Bulgaria and Romania is considered as the indication of the confines of the Bulgar settlement.{{sfn|Fiedler|2008|pp=154–156}}[[File:Old_Great_Bulgaria_and_migration_of_Bulgarians.png|left|thumb|The Bulgar migrations and settlements after the decline of Old Great Bulgaria in the 7th century.]]In the Balkans they merged with the Slavs and other autochthonous Romance and Greek speaking population, like the [[Thracians]] and [[Vlachs]],{{sfn|Waldman, Mason|2006|p=108}} becoming a political and military elite.{{sfn|Golden|2011|p=145, 158, 196}} However, the influence of the pre-Slavic population had relatively little influence on the Slavs and Bulgars, indicating their population was reduced in previous centuries.{{sfn|Fine|1991|p=68}} The hinterlands of the Byzantine territory were for years occupied by many groups of Slavs.{{sfn|Fiedler|2008|p=154}} According to Theophanes, the Bulgars subjugated the so-called [[Seven Slavic tribes]], of which the [[Severians]] were re-settled from the pass of Beregaba or Veregava, most likely the [[Rish Pass]] of the [[Balkan Mountains]], to the East, while the other six tribes to the Southern and Western regions as far the boundary with the Pannonian Avars.{{sfn|Fiedler|2008|p=154}} Scholars consider that the absence of any source recording the Slavic resistance to the invasion was because it was in their interest to be liberated from the Byzantine taxation.{{sfn|Sedlar|2011|p=16}}{{multiple image
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 220
| footer            = 
| image1            = 52-manasses-chronicle.jpg
| alt1              = A page of a medieval manuscript
| caption1          = Khan [[Krum]] defeats the Byzantine Emperor [[Nicephorus I]] in the [[battle of Pliska|battle of the Varbitsa Pass]], ''[[Constantine Manasses|Manasses Chronicle]]''
| image2            = 51-manasses-chronicle krum crop.png
| alt2              = A page of a medieval manuscript
| caption2          = Khan Krum feasts with the skull cup of Nicephorus after the victory at the Varbitsa Pass, ''Manasses Chronicle''
}}

It is considered that the Slavic tribal organization was left intact, and paid tribute to the ruling Bulgars.{{sfn|Fine|1991|pp=67–69}}{{sfn|Fiedler|2008|p=154}}{{sfn|Waldman, Mason|2006|p=109}} According to Nikephoros I and Theophanes, an unnamed fourth brother, believed to be [[Kuber]], "having crossed the river Ister, resides in Pannonia, which is now under the sway of the Avars, having made an alliance with the local peoples". Kuber later led a revolt against the Avars and with his people moved as far as the region of [[Thessaloniki]] in Greek [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]].{{sfn|Golden|1992|p=245}} The fifth brother, reported by Nikephoros I and Theophanes, "settling in the five [[Ravenna]]te cities became a subject of the Romans". This brother is believed to be [[Alcek]], who after a stay in Avar territory left and settled in Italy, in [[Sepino]], [[Bojano]] and [[Isernia]]. These Bulgars preserved their speech and identity until the late 8th century.{{sfn|Golden|1992|p=245}}

[[File:Varangian_routes.png|thumb|300x300px|Trade routes of the Black Sea region, 8th–11th centuries]]

The First Bulgarian Empire (681–1018) had a significant political influence in the Balkans. In the time of [[Tervel of Bulgaria|Tervel]] (700–721) the Bulgars helped Byzantines two times, in 705 the Emperor [[Justinian II]] to regain his throne, and 717–718 defeating the Arabs during the siege of Constantinople.{{sfn|Golden|1992|pp=247–248}} [[Sevar of Bulgaria|Sevar]] (738–753) was the last ruler from the Dulo clan, and the period until c. 768–772 was characterized by the Byzantino-Bulgar conflict and internal crisis.{{sfn|Golden|1992|p=248}} In the short period followed seven rulers from the Uokil and Ugain clan.{{sfn|Golden|1992|p=248}} [[Telerig of Bulgaria|Telerig]] (768–777) managed to establish a pacific policy with Byzantium, and restore imperial power.{{sfn|Golden|1992|p=248}}

[[File:Europe 814.svg|thumb|Europe in 814]]

During the reign of [[Krum]] (803–814), the Empire doubled its size, including new lands in Macedonia and [[Principality of Serbia (early medieval)|Serbia]].{{sfn|Waldman, Mason|2006|p=108}} He also successfully repelled the invading force of the Byzantines, as well defeated the Pannonian Avars where additionally extended the Empire size.{{sfn|Waldman, Mason|2006|p=108}}{{sfn|Golden|1992|p=248}} In 865, during the reign of Khan [[Boris I of Bulgaria|Boris I]] (852–889), the Bulgars accepted Christianity as the official religion, and Eastern Orthodoxy in 879.{{sfn|Waldman, Mason|2006|p=108}} The greatest expansion of the Empire and prosperity during the time of [[Simeon I of Bulgaria|Simeon I]] (893–927) is considered as the Bulgarian [[Golden Age of medieval Bulgarian culture|Golden Age]].<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/creees/content/outreach/fulbright/final_projects/hart.pdf |last=Hart |first=Nancy |title=Bulgarian Art and Culture: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives |page=21 |publisher=[[University of Texas at Austin]] |access-date=2007-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810191242/http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/creees/content/outreach/fulbright/final_projects/hart.pdf |archive-date=August 10, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{sfn|Waldman, Mason|2006|p=108}} However, from the time of [[Peter I of Bulgaria|Peter I]] (927–969) their power declined. The Hungarians, [[Kievan Rus']] Slavs, as well [[Pechenegs]] and [[Cumans]] held many raids into their territory,{{sfn|Waldman, Mason|2006|p=108}} and so weakened were eventually conquered in 1018 by the Byzantine Empire.{{sfn|Waldman, Mason|2006|p=108}}