The insignia of the Medieval Bulgarian rulers: Crowns, scepters, finials, weapons, clothing, jewelery
Language: Bulgarian with a summary in English

Table of contents

I. Introduction

II. Sources

II.1. Frescoes

II.2. Miniatures

II.3. Coins and seals

II.4. Written sources

II.5. Archaeological sources

III. Regalia, attire and religious beliefs of the first Bulgarian khans

III.1. Khan Kubrat (c. 635—665) and patrician Organa (c. 615—635)

III.2. Khan Asparuh (681—700), Kuber and Altzek

III.3. Tervel (700—718) — khan of Bulgaria and Byzantine Caesar

III.4. Pagan khans: Krum (803—814) and Omurtag (814—831)

IV. Insignia and attire of the rulers of the First Bulgarian kingdom after the conversion to Christianity (864—1018)

IV.1. Saint Boris I — Mihail (852—889)

IV.2. Tsar Simeon The Great (893—927)

IV.3. Tsar Peter I (927—970)

IV.4. Tsar Boris II (970—971) and Roman I (977—997)

IV.5. Tsar Samuil (997—1014) and the last rulers of the First Bulgarian kingdom

V. Insignia and attire of the Bulgarian rulers during the period of the Second kingdom (1185/6—1396/1422)

V.1. Tsar Peter IV (1185/6—1197) and Tsar Assen I (1186—1195/6)

V.2. Tsar Kaloyan (1197—1207)

V.3. Tsar Boril (1207—1218)

V.4. Tsar Ivan Assen II (1218—1241)

V.5. Heirs apparent to Tsar Ivan Assen II (between 1241 and 1277)

V.6. Insignia of the Terter dynasty (between 1280 and 1322)

V.7. Mihail-Shishman (1323—1330)

V.8. Tsar Ivan Alexander (1331—1371) and his successors (between 1371 and 1422)

VI. Conclusions

VII. Appendices

VII.1. Insignia and attire of the wives of the Medieval Bulgarian rulers

VII.2. Insignia and attire of the Bulgarian high ranking dignitaries in the Middle Ages

VII.3. About the treasure of Preslav and the insignia and the adornments of the noblest Bulgarian aristocrats during the Middle Ages

VII.4. About the Byzantine prototypes of the Bulgarian ruler’s insignia in the Middle Ages