Bulgaria History Timeline

Bulgaria, located in southeastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, has a long and rich history that dates back to ancient times. The region has been influenced by the Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, and the Ottoman Empire, and it has played a significant role in European politics and culture for centuries. From the establishment of the First Bulgarian Empire in the 7th century, through centuries of Ottoman rule, and its eventual independence in the late 19th century, Bulgaria has experienced periods of both prosperity and hardship. The 20th century brought challenges, including involvement in two world wars, the establishment of a communist regime, and the eventual transition to democracy and integration into the European Union. This timeline outlines the key events in Bulgaria’s history, charting its evolution from ancient times to the present day.

Ancient and Early Medieval Bulgaria (Before 681 CE)

Thracian Civilization (3000 BCE – 46 CE)

• 3000 BCE: The earliest known inhabitants of modern-day Bulgaria were the Thracians, an ancient Indo-European people. Thracian tribes were known for their warrior culture, advanced metallurgy, and artistic craftsmanship.
• The Thracians built significant settlements such as Seuthopolis and developed their own distinct culture, but they were often fragmented and politically decentralized.

Roman and Byzantine Rule (46 CE – 681 CE)

• 46 CE: The Thracian territories were conquered by the Roman Empire, becoming part of the provinces of Moesia and Thrace.
• Roman influence brought urbanization, the construction of roads, and the spread of Christianity. Cities such as Serdica (modern Sofia) became important Roman centers.
• 330 CE: With the establishment of Constantinople as the new capital of the Roman Empire, the region’s strategic importance grew as a border province of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.
• Throughout the early medieval period, the region saw numerous invasions by Goths, Huns, and Avars, which weakened Byzantine control over the Balkans.

The First Bulgarian Empire (681 – 1018)

Founding of the First Bulgarian Empire (681)

• 681: The First Bulgarian Empire was established when Khan Asparuh, leader of the Bulgars, a semi-nomadic Turkic people, settled in the region south of the Danube River. After defeating Byzantine forces, the Byzantines recognized Bulgaria’s independence.
• The new Bulgarian state was a fusion of Slavic and Bulgar elements, and it quickly expanded its territory, becoming a major power in southeastern Europe.

The Reign of Khan Krum (803 – 814)

• Khan Krum strengthened the empire through military conquests, defeating the Byzantines in several battles and expanding Bulgaria’s borders to the south and west.
• Krum’s reign was marked by the codification of the first written laws in Bulgaria, focusing on justice and state organization.

Christianization of Bulgaria (864)

• 864: Under the rule of Boris I, Bulgaria officially adopted Christianity as its state religion. Boris sought to strengthen the unity of the diverse Slavic and Bulgar populations through a common faith.
• 886: The adoption of the Cyrillic alphabet, developed by the disciples of Saints Cyril and Methodius, played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity and literacy among the Slavs, helping to establish Bulgaria as a center of Slavic culture.

The Golden Age of Bulgaria (893 – 927)

• The reign of Tsar Simeon I (893–927) marked the height of the First Bulgarian Empire. Under Simeon, Bulgaria became the most powerful state in the Balkans, waging successful campaigns against Byzantium and expanding its territory to the Adriatic and Aegean seas.
• Simeon’s rule saw a flourishing of Bulgarian culture, literature, and art, often referred to as the “Golden Age” of medieval Bulgaria.

Decline and Byzantine Conquest (927 – 1018)

• After Simeon’s death, Bulgaria began to decline due to internal strife, invasions by neighboring tribes, and repeated wars with the Byzantine Empire.
• 1018: The First Bulgarian Empire was conquered by Byzantine Emperor Basil II, known as “the Bulgar Slayer.” Bulgaria was incorporated into the Byzantine Empire, ending its independence for nearly two centuries.

The Second Bulgarian Empire (1185 – 1396)

Reestablishment of the Bulgarian State (1185)

• 1185: The Second Bulgarian Empire was founded after a successful revolt led by brothers Asen and Peter against Byzantine rule. The capital was established at Veliko Tarnovo.
• The new empire quickly expanded under Tsar Kaloyan and later under Tsar Ivan Asen II, regaining much of the territory lost to the Byzantines and becoming a dominant power in the Balkans.

The Reign of Ivan Asen II (1218 – 1241)

• Tsar Ivan Asen II’s reign is considered one of the most prosperous periods in Bulgarian history. Bulgaria enjoyed military victories, economic growth, and diplomatic successes during this time.
• The Bulgarian Orthodox Church was recognized as independent by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, further solidifying Bulgaria’s religious and political authority in the region.

Decline and Ottoman Conquest (14th Century)

• The 14th century saw the gradual decline of the Second Bulgarian Empire due to internal divisions, weak leadership, and pressure from neighboring powers, including Serbia and the Byzantine Empire.
• 1396: The Ottoman Empire conquered Bulgaria, incorporating it into its rapidly expanding domain. The fall of Bulgaria marked the beginning of nearly five centuries of Ottoman rule.

Ottoman Rule and the National Awakening (1396 – 1878)

Bulgaria under Ottoman Rule (1396 – 19th Century)

• Under Ottoman rule, Bulgaria lost its independence and became part of the Rumelia province. The Ottoman system of governance included heavy taxation and the devshirme, a practice in which Christian boys were taken to become soldiers (Janissaries) or bureaucrats.
• Despite the hardships of Ottoman rule, Bulgarian culture, traditions, and religion persisted, especially in rural areas and through the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, which helped preserve a sense of national identity.

The Bulgarian National Awakening (18th Century – 19th Century)

• The Bulgarian National Awakening was a cultural and political movement that emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries as Bulgarian intellectuals, clergy, and merchants sought to revive national consciousness.
• Prominent figures such as Paisius of Hilendar (who wrote the “Slav-Bulgarian History” in 1762), Georgi Rakovski, Vasil Levski, and Hristo Botev played key roles in fostering Bulgarian national identity and advocating for independence from Ottoman rule.
• The period saw the establishment of schools, the development of Bulgarian literature, and the resurgence of Bulgarian Orthodox Christianity, culminating in the recognition of the independent Bulgarian Exarchate in 1870.

The April Uprising (1876)

• 1876: The April Uprising was a major revolt against Ottoman rule, led by Bulgarian revolutionaries seeking national liberation. Although the uprising was brutally suppressed by Ottoman forces, it garnered significant international attention and sympathy for the Bulgarian cause.
• The atrocities committed during the suppression of the uprising, known as the “Bulgarian Horrors,” fueled calls for European intervention against the Ottoman Empire.

Liberation and Independence (1878 – 1946)

Russo-Turkish War and the Treaty of San Stefano (1877 – 1878)

• 1877 – 1878: The Russo-Turkish War was fought between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, with the goal of liberating Bulgaria from Ottoman rule.
• March 3, 1878: The Treaty of San Stefano was signed, granting Bulgaria full independence and creating a large Bulgarian state that included most of Macedonia and Thrace. However, the treaty was later revised by the Great Powers.

Treaty of Berlin and the Division of Bulgaria (1878)

• 1878: The Treaty of Berlin, signed after the Congress of Berlin, reduced the size of the new Bulgarian state. It divided Bulgaria into three parts:
  • The Principality of Bulgaria, an autonomous region under nominal Ottoman suzerainty.
  • Eastern Rumelia, which remained an autonomous province within the Ottoman Empire.
  • Macedonia, which was returned to direct Ottoman control, leading to future conflicts over its status.

Unification of Bulgaria (1885)

• 1885: The Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia were united following a successful coup in Plovdiv. The unification, although initially opposed by some of the Great Powers, strengthened the Bulgarian state and increased its political and military influence in the Balkans.

The Balkan Wars (1912 – 1913)

• 1912 – 1913: Bulgaria joined forces with Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro in the First Balkan War against the Ottoman Empire, successfully capturing significant territories, including parts of Macedonia.
• 1913: Disputes over the division of these territories led to the Second Balkan War, in which Bulgaria was defeated by its former allies (Serbia and Greece) and Romania, resulting in the loss of much of its territorial gains.

World War I and Its Aftermath (1914 – 1918)

• 1915: Bulgaria entered World War I on the side of the Central Powers, hoping to regain lost territories in Macedonia.
• 1918: After the defeat of the Central Powers, Bulgaria was forced to sign the Treaty of Neuilly, losing territory and facing significant economic and political challenges in the post-war period.

Interwar Period and the Rise of Authoritarianism (1919 – 1941)

• The 1920s and 1930s were marked by political instability, economic struggles, and growing authoritarianism. King Boris III, who came to power in 1918, gradually consolidated his authority, steering Bulgaria toward closer ties with Nazi Germany.

World War II and Communist Rule (1941 – 1989)

Bulgaria in World War II (1941 – 1944)

• 1941: Bulgaria joined the Axis powers during World War II but maintained a relatively non-combatant stance in the early years of the war, focusing on the occupation of territories in Yugoslavia and Greece.
• Bulgaria refused to deport its Jewish population to Nazi concentration camps, despite pressure from Germany, and thus saved nearly 50,000 Bulgarian Jews from the Holocaust.
• 1944: As the war turned against the Axis, Soviet forces invaded Bulgaria, and the pro-German government was overthrown. Bulgaria switched sides and declared war on Germany in the final months of the war.

Establishment of Communist Rule (1946 – 1989)

People’s Republic of Bulgaria (1946)

• 1946: After the war, Bulgaria was transformed into a one-party communist state under the influence of the Soviet Union. A communist government, led by the Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP), was established under Georgi Dimitrov.
• The monarchy was abolished, and Bulgaria became the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, aligned closely with Soviet policies during the Cold War.

Industrialization and Repression

• During the communist period, Bulgaria underwent rapid industrialization and collectivization of agriculture, transforming its largely agrarian economy into one based on heavy industry.
• The government, led by long-time communist leader Todor Zhivkov (1954 – 1989), implemented strict political repression, suppressing dissent and maintaining tight control over the population through the secret police.

Post-Communist Bulgaria (1989 – Present)

Fall of Communism and Transition to Democracy (1989 – 1991)

• 1989: The collapse of communist regimes across Eastern Europe, along with mounting domestic pressure, led to the resignation of Todor Zhivkov and the end of communist rule in Bulgaria.
• 1990: Bulgaria held its first free multiparty elections since World War II, leading to the establishment of a democratic government.
• 1991: A new democratic constitution was adopted, establishing Bulgaria as a parliamentary republic and guaranteeing political freedoms.

Economic Reforms and Challenges (1990s)

• The transition from a state-controlled economy to a market economy in the 1990s was difficult, with widespread unemployment, inflation, and corruption. Economic reforms, privatization, and the influx of foreign investment gradually helped stabilize the economy.
• Bulgaria sought to integrate into European and transatlantic institutions, marking a shift away from its Cold War alignment with the Soviet Union.

NATO and EU Membership (2000s)

• 2004: Bulgaria joined NATO, signaling its commitment to security and military cooperation with the West.
• 2007: Bulgaria officially became a member of the European Union, marking a major milestone in its post-communist transformation. EU membership brought increased foreign investment and political stability, although Bulgaria continued to face challenges related to corruption, judicial reform, and economic inequality.

Political Developments and Social Issues (2010s – Present)

• In the years following EU accession, Bulgaria experienced political instability, with frequent changes in government and widespread protests over corruption, low wages, and declining living standards.
• Despite these challenges, Bulgaria’s economy has grown steadily, and the country has become an important player in the Balkans, benefiting from its strategic location and EU funding.