Table of Contents
Where did the Bulgars come from?
The Bulgars (also Bolgars or proto-Bulgarians) were a semi-nomadic people of Turkic descent, originally from Central Asia, who from the 2nd century onwards dwelled in the steppes north of the Caucasus and around the banks of river Volga (then Itil).
Was Bulgaria part of the Ottoman Empire?
Its boundaries were not finalized until after World War I. Bulgaria became independent of the Ottoman Empire on October 5, 1908, after which its reigning Prince, Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg, proclaimed himself Tsar.
Are Bulgarians descended from Thracians?
Bulgar, also called Bulgarian, member of a people known in eastern European history during the Middle Ages. A branch of this people was one of the primary three ethnic ancestors of modern Bulgarians (the other two were Thracians and Slavs).
How long were Bulgarians enslaved?
During the Ottoman occupation, which all Bulgarians, including Boykan, refer to as “the 500 years of slavery” Sofia was of prominence due to its location as the midpoint between Constantinople and Belgrade. Like so much of Eastern Europe, Sofia was a “used to” place.
Who were the original inhabitants of Bulgaria?
From the indigenous Thracian people certain cultural and ethnic elements were taken. Other pre-Slavic Indo-European peoples, including Dacians (if distinct from Thracians), Celts, Goths, Romans, Ancient Greeks, Sarmatians, Paeonians and Illyrians also settled into the later Bulgarian land.
Who are the Armenians in Bulgaria?
Armenians are one of the largest ethnic minorities in Bulgaria, numbering about 6,600 or 0.1\% of the population in 2011 compared to 11,000 in 2001. They have lived in the territory of modern Bulgaria since the 5th century and have played an important role in the country’s history.
Where do most Bulgarians live in the world?
Most Bulgarians live in Bulgaria, where they number around 6 million, constituting 85\% of the population. There are significant Bulgarian minorities in Serbia, Turkey, Albania, Romania (Banat Bulgarians), as well as in Ukraine and Moldova (see Bessarabian Bulgarians).
Do modern Bulgarians have any pre-Slavic heritage?
Some pre-Slavic linguistic and cultural traces might have been preserved in modern Bulgarians (and Macedonians).