Volga Bulgaria
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| History of Russia |
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| Early East Slavs |
| Khazars |
| Kievan Rus' |
| Volga Bulgaria |
| Mongol invasion |
| Golden Horde |
| Muscovy |
| Khanate of Kazan |
| Khanate of Astrakhan |
| Siberia Khanate |
| Crimean Khanate |
| Imperial Russia |
| Revolution of 1905 |
| Revolution of 1917 |
| Civil War |
| Soviet Union |
| Russian Federation |
Volga Bulgaria or Volga-Kama Bolghar, is a historic state that existed between the 7th and 13th centuries around the confluence of the Volga and Kama rivers in what is now the Russian Federation. Today, Republics of Tatarstan and Chuvashia are considered to be descendants of Bulgaria in terms of territory and ethnicity.
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Origin
Information on Volga Bulgaria is rather sparse. As no authentic Bulgarian records have survived, we should take most of the information from contemporary Arabic, Persian, or Russian sources.
It is thought that the territory of Volga Bulgaria was originally settled by the Finno-Ugric peoples. The Turkic Bulgars moved into the area in about 660, commanded by Kotrag Khan, Kubrat's son. Some Bulgarian tribes, however, continued westward and after many adventures settled along the Danube River, in what is now known as Bulgaria proper.
Most scholars agree that the Volga Bulgarians were subject to the great Khazarian Empire. Sometime in the late 9th century unification processes started, and the capital was established at Bolğar (also spelled Bulgar) city, located 160 km south from modern Kazan. Most scholars doubt, however, that the state could assert independance from the Khazars until the latter were annihilated by Svyatoslav of Rus in 965.Manara.jpg
In order to promote unity among warring tribes and to obtain a powerful ally in his struggle with the Khazars, Almas Khan of Bulgaria wrote a letter to the Khalif asking him for learned men and priests who could read Quran and build mosques. On May 11, 922 the khan welcomed the Baghdad missionary Ahmad ibn Fadlan, and 4 days later a tribal assembly proclaimed Islam the official religion of their state.
Heyday
A large part of Bulgarian population was Turkic. Modern Chuvashes and Kazan Tatars descend from the Volga Bulgars, although linguistic evidence suggests that the Chuvashes represent an earlier Turkic ethnos, which may be connected to the Huns. Another part comprised Finnic and Magyaric tribes, from which Bisermäns probably descend.
Commanding the Volga River in its middle course, the state controlled much of trade between Europe and Asia prior to the Crusades (which made other trade routes practicable). The capital, Bulgar, was a thriving city, rivalling in size and wealth the greatest centres of Islamic world. Other major cities included Bilär, Suar (Suwar), Qaşan (Kashan) and Cükätaw (Juketaw). Modern cities Kazan and Yelabuga were founded as Bulgaria's border fortresses.Bulgarmosque.jpg
It is Russian principalities to the west that posed the only tangible military threat. In the 11th century, the country was devastated by several Russian raids. Then, at the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries, the rulers of Vladimir (notably Andrew the Pious and Vsevolod III), anxious to defend their eastern border, systematically pillaged Bulgarian cities. Under Slavic pressure from the west, the Bulgarians had to move their capital from Bulgar to Bilär.
Decline
Main article: Mongol invasion of Volga BulgariaIn 1223, an advance guard of Genghis Khan's army entered Bulgaria but was fought back. In 1236, the Mongols returned but it took them 5 years to subjugate the whole country. Thenceforth Volga Bulgaria became a part of the Ulus Jochi, later known as the Golden Horde. It was divided into several principalities; later each of them became a vassal of the Golden Horde and received some autonomy. By the 1430s, the Khanate of Kazan was established as the most important of these principalities.
History of Tatarstan
Onogur | Volga Bulgaria | Golden Horde | Khanate of Kazan
Kazan guberniya | Idel-Ural State | Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic | Tatarstan
Related articles
bg:Волжска България de:Wolgabulgaren ru:Волжская Булгария tt:Bolğarlar