Bolyarka Stoyanka of Blagarsko Tsarstvo (Bulgaria)

Inspired by this very relaxing music: Pilence Pee - Bulgarian Women Choir conducted by Ilia Mihaylov



Modern Bulgaria is home to one of the emerging regional economic and technological power in the Balkan region, one of the few that managed to do so after the fall of the communist bloc in the late 20th century. This could be reflected with the birth of the Bulgarian Empires that existed in the middle ages from their humble origin as nomadic tribes originated form Volga-Ural region. The first one being the nomadic Old Bulgaria Khanate, followed by the migration of Bulgars to the West after its disintegration, settling down in the area between the lower Danube and Balkan, forming the first proper Bulgarian State that laid the foundation for the modern day Bulgaria. It was one of the powerful state in the region that interacted with the Byzantine Empire and contributed greatly in the history of the Balkan region



I've always wanted to experiment on making my drawing more and more immerse and with such very limited skills, I'm trying to include more detailed background to give the setting or the scenery more feeling into it (at least, in my opinion). Still not perfect as it is, and it's a long way to go to reach the professional quality like that of the legendary or professional illustrators. But hey, all journey begins with small steps, no?

This is my interpretation of what warriors of the first Historical Bulgarian Empire would have looked like. Bolyarka Stoyanka is depicted in a combination of mail and lamellat armor, with feathered conical helmet. Although somewhat similar to that of their Byzantines neighbor, I used bits of anachronism to portray her 2 bodyguards/captain. Do note that her armor was indeed extremely expensive, only nobles like her would have been able to afford it. Historically speaking, Women warriors within the Bulgarian culture are somewhat rare, but there was a record on which, during the reign of Khan Krum of Bulgaria in late 9th century, he mobilized women to fight for his war at the battle of Pliska against the Byzantine forces. He ultimately won a decisive victory by crushing the Byzantime Army, including killing the emperor Nicephorus.






The term Bulgars is coined by historian to denote of its mixed Scytho-Sarmatian, Samartian-Alan, Oghuz and Turkic element in its culture. Wether or not this could be the subject of another discussion, the Bulgars shared their origin as nomadic equestrians in the Volga-Ural region. Some of them became part of the Western Turkic Khaganate, but eventually when most of the Bulgars settled down in the pontic-caspian steppe, they merged into a united polity, known as the Old Great Bulgaria in early 7th century. This was a time of short prosperity, as by mid 7th century another regional power, the Khazar kept on pressurizing the unity until they finally disintegrated. Under the leadership of Khan Asparuh, some of the Bulgars, numbering about 30,000 to 50,000 sought home elsewhere to the west, crossing the Danube and settling down south of the river which led them into conflict with the Byzantine empire. After the victory at the battle of Ongal, The Bulgars secured their land south of Danube and established their first Bulgarian Empire, gaining recognition by the Byzantine Empire themselves as an independent state. There, they adopted the Slavic culture and writing system, as well as Christianity, establishing a firm foothold in the area as regional power called the first Bulgarian Empire, before being conquered by the Byzantines in the early 11th century.

As for the other Bulgars, or what the history refer to as Eastern Bulgars, they migrated to the area of Volga and Kamal Rivers, and settled amongst the Finno-Ugrian people and became the dominant population there. These is probably the origin of the Volga-Bulgars which is distinct but related to the Bulgarian proper, but I haven't done a lot of reasearch into it. The Volga Bulgars soon converted into Islam in the late 10th century, and established their statehood further in the region, before being destroyed by the Mongol Invasion in the 13th century. It was estimated (although disputed) by the historian that almost 80% of the Volga-Bulgars population were killed during the invasion, with the rest relocated northwards while the original area being settled down by the nomadic Mongols and Kipchaks.

Another Bulgarian power emerged, succeeding the first Bulgarian Empire, called the second Bulgarian Empire. Though, throughout the 11th century, the Bulgarians staged numerous revolt against the Byzantines, these were met with failures. It was not until the 12th century, where the Byzantine lost its dominance over the Balkan due to internal stability and successive rule by incompetent emperors, that the Bulgarian staged a massive revolt lead by Peter and Ivan Asen, out of which, Peter proclaimed himself to be the Tsar Peter IV to denote his claim on ruling the 2nd Bulgarian Empire. Although the fighting continued with the byzantines, the Bulgarian created its distinct cultures, literature and architectural style in this period, becoming once again, a dominant power in the Balkan region.

However, constant attacks done by the Tatars, and the rising power of Hungary, Serbs and the Byzantines in the 13th century, coupled with internal Instability and revolts, divided the second bulgarian empire into numerous independent principalities and states. The end of them came in the 14th Century, when the Ottomans invaded the region and conquered the remaining Bulgarian territory to be included as part of the Ottoman Empire's conquest. It was not until about 5 centuries later that the Bulgarian formed into a semi-independent state as Principality of Bulgaria in the late 19th century, as a de facto independent vassal of the Ottoman Empire.