Editing Sliven (section)

=== Antiquity ===
[[File:Saint-Dimitrius-church-in-Sliven.jpg|thumb|[[Saint Demetrius]] church in Sliven, built 1831]]
[[File:Hadji Dimitar.JPG|thumb|The monument of [[Hadzhi Dimitar]] in Sliven]]
Remains of the oldest settlements on the territory of Sliven date back to around 6000 BCE of the [[Neolithic]]. Ruins of a [[Thracians|Thracian]] settlement dating to around 5th–3rd century BCE as well as [[Thrace|Thracian]] ceramics and [[Hellenistic]] coins have been discovered in the area of Hisarlaka — a small hill in Sliven. In antiquity it was known as ''Selymnos (Σήλυμνος in [[Greek language|Greek]])''. The area occupied by present-day Sliven has in the past been settled by the [[Thracians|Thracian]] tribes Asti, Kabileti and Seleti. These tribes held their independence until time of [[Philip II of Macedon]] and [[Alexander the Great]] who conquered them.

The 2nd century BCE marked the beginning of the Roman conquests of northeastern [[Thracia]]. Sliven was conquered by [[Rome]] around 72–71 BCE when the [[Thracians|Thracian]]<ref>Fol, Aleksandar. The Thracian Royal city of Kabyle. - In: Settlement Life in Ancient Thrace. IIIrd International Symposium “Cabyle”, 17–21 May 1993 Jambol. Jambol, 53-55.</ref> [[Kabile]] and later [[Greece|Greek]]<ref>An Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis: An Investigation Conducted by The Copenhagen Polis Centre for the Danish National Research Foundation by Mogens Herman Hansen,2005,Index</ref> cities of [[Kabile]] and [[Sozopol|Apolonia]] are conquered. With the emergence of the [[Roman Empire]] the region of the city became part of the [[Thrace|Thracian]] province of the [[Roman Empire]].

A new stage in the city's history began around 2nd-4th century. The first written records of the settlement's name, [[Tuida]]/Suida/Tsuida date to this period. This name is most likely of [[Thracian language|Thracian]] origin. Its etymology is currently not understood. It is also mentioned by [[Hierocles (Stoic)|Hierocles]], who identifies it as one of the four cities in the province of [[Haemimontus]], established as part of the [[Diocese of Thrace]] under [[Diocletian]] and also by [[Procopius of Caesarea]]. The Roman road from Anchialos (today [[Pomorie]]) along the [[Tundzha]] to [[Serdika]] was built.

In a written record from the 3rd century, the settlement was called <nowiki>''</nowiki>Tarzhishte" and most likely belonged to the territory of the city of Augusta Traiana (today [[Stara Zagora]]).

The fortress avoided the [[Gothic War (376–382)|Gothic War]], but was destroyed in the Huns' raid in the 5th century. During the reign of Emperor [[Anastasius I Dicorus]], it was rebuilt, which retained the previous one's plan, but was considerably fortified.

In the ancient fortress' interior and near its eastern wall, are excavated the remains of a basilica with a baptistery, which functioned in the 5th-6th centuries.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Dimitrov |first1=Dimitŭr Alekseev |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/893974801 |title=Khristii︠a︡nskite khramove po bŭlgarskite zemi (I-IX vek) |last2=Димитров |first2=Димитър Алексеев |date=2013 |isbn=978-954-2972-17-4 |edition=Pŭrvo izdanie |location=Sofii︠a︡ |pages=50–51 |oclc=893974801}}</ref> It was likely destroyed by the Huns and rebuilt under [[Justinian I]]. A larger church was founded in the south of the fortress, built in the 5th century and enlarged in the 6th century. This indicates that the settlement was not limited to the territory of the fortress, but also expanded in the surrounding area.<ref name=":0" />

The city of Tuida/Tsuida was the seat of a bishop, subordinate to the Metropolitanate of Adrianople. Until that time the bishop seat was in [[Cabyle]]. In the 4th century, most likely due to the proximity of the two cities, which were in different provinces, Cabyle was abandoned and its population moved to [[Yambol|Diospolis]]. The seat of the bishop, however, for unknown reasons, was moved to Tuida, which very likely marked the beginning of the proverbial rivalry between Sliven and Yambol.

Tuida ceased to exist around 598-599, when it was again destroyed, most likely by the [[Pannonian Avars|Avars]] and [[Slavs]]. There is a theory that this happened as part of a major battle between the Avars and the Byzantine general Comentius.