After Khan KUBRAT’S death in the middle 60s of the 7th century, GREAT BULGARIA KUBRAT gradually disintegrates under the blows of the Hazars. Only the first son of Kubrat – BAYAN – remains in the lands of GREAT BULGARIA as a vassal to the Hazars.
The second son – KOTARG, together with parts of the Bulgarian people, settles along the middle reaches of the Volga where, some time later, still another state of the ancient Bulgarians is born – VOLGA BULGARIA, which is also to play an important role in the mediaeval world.
The third son – ASPARUH – started west to meet the mightiest empire of the time Byzantium. Crossing the rivers Dnepr and Dnestr, he finally settles in the Ongul (southern Besarabia), in immediate proximity to Byzantine borders. It was these Bulgarians, lead by ASPARUH, that were destined to play a decisive role in the foundation of DUNAVIAN BUlGARIA, which outlived the empires of the time and exists even today.
“The Name List of Bulgarian Khans” has it that Khan ASPARUH ascends the throne the year “Vereni alem” (the year of the Dragon, month – first) according to the ancient calendar of the Bulgarians, and his rule lasted for 61 years. His name can be met under different forms in historical sources – as ASPARUH, ISPERIH, ESPERERIH, and in an apocryphal manuscript of the 11^th century he is called ISPOR. Most probably the origin of the name is Iranian. At the beginning it sounded as ASPARHRUK, which can be translated “White horse” or “The white horseman.”
The appearance of Khan ASPARUH in the Ongul is met with animosity by Byzantium because the ancient Bulgarians had been attacking its territories for years. In 680, after concluding peace with the Arabs, Emperor Constantine IV Pogonat undertakes an impressive march by sea and by land against the Bulgarians. The Byzantines suffer a crushing defeat. The Bulgarians cross the Danube and enter the province of Lower Misis (today Northern Bulgaria). Khan ASPARUH attracts on his side the Slavic tribes and continues the war with Byzantium. In 681 the Emperor is forced to conclude a peace treaty with Khan ASPARUH and Byzantium has to pay yearly taxes to the Bulgarians. Practically the treaty recognizes the right of Khan ASPARUH to rule the conquered lands in Northern, Bulgaria.
DUNAVIAN BULGARIA is a continuation of the powerful state tradition of OLD GREAT BULGARIA of KUBRAT on a, new territory.
Khan ASPARUH proves to be a far-sighted statesman and gives the Slavs the opportunity to live with him on the principle of internal political autonomy. All citizens of the state, however, are obliged to defend together the new acquisitions of the country. A special place among the Slavs occupies the Seven who agree to guard of the eastern passage of the Balkans. The ancient Bulgarians concentrate in northeastern Bulgaria where the fortress PLISKA becomes the capital of the state. Chronicle tradition without any hesitation connects the erection of the capital with the name of ASPARUH.
Spreading on a large territory, from the Carpatian mountains to the north, the Balkan mountains to the south, from the river Dnestr and the Black sea to the north-east and east, and to the Timok river to the west, DUNAVIAN BULGARIA is a well organized political and military power from the very beginning.
Unfortunately but perfectly understandable the evidence of Byzantine chroniclers very scarce and we do not know much about the fate of the founder of the Bulgarian state. An old memory, reflected in the Apocryphal Bulgarian chronicles of the 11″‘ century shows that Khan ASPARUH probably died in battle against the Hazars in the north-east His successor in “The Name List” is his son TERVEL.

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Khan TERVEL, supreme commander and gifted diplomat, ruled the country for years and occupied the Khan’s throne in the year Teku Chitem (the year of the Horse month – third) according to the ancient Bulgarian calendar. Energetic and far-sight TERVEL is an equal to his father. Taking advantage of the internecine about the emperor throne in Byzantium, he is successful in acquiring still more territories for the Bulgaria State. Emperor Justinian II, who received help from the Bulgarians to regain his crown, yielded to them the region of Zagore in Eastern Thrace. What is more Khan TERVEL awarded the tile of CEASAR and many presents. Byzantine chroniclers write about the event: “Under Emperor Justinian the ruler of the Bulgarians TERVEL was at the peak of the prosperity. He put his shield upside down and his whip too, with which he mastered horse, and poured money (this means the defeated Byzantines) until they were fully conquered…He gave out money to the soldiers, distributing gold with his right hand, and silver with his left hand.” Byzantium looked with awe at the superb military mastership of Bulgarians. It is not strange then that in 717 it turns to Bulgaria for help, not for the first time. The capital of the empire – Constantinople, was under siege by the Arabs and fall of the Byzantines was only a matter of time. At that critical moment Emperor Leo III turns to Khan TERVEL for help. The clever diplomat considers the benefit of save Byzantium and keeping it as a neighbor against the prospect of having the Arabs neighbors 30 000-strong heavy cavalry of Bulgarians, clad in mail from head to foot appears in the rear of the Arabs and strikes a mortal blow. According to mediaeval chronicles more than 20 000 Arabs fell on the battlefield.
This victory has a decisive role in the future (ate of south-eastern and central Europe The menacing march of the Arabs, coming through Spain and Southern Italy to Western Europe, that could wipe Byzantium off the continent, was cut to the root. The name BULGARIA spreads far and wide in the civilized world. Once more it establishes its authority and shows to the world that there exists in Eastern Europe a power, which everybody must treat with respect.

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