Bulgars relations with Bizantine and Franks during Krum Han and Omurtag

Abstract

The subject of the article is the relationship of Bulgarian Turks with Byzantium and Franks during the reign of the two important khans of the Danube Bulgarian Khanate Kurum Khan and his son Omurtag. After he came to the throne, Kurum Khan taking advantage of the result of the war between the Franks and the Avars, in 805 he annexed the last remaining lands of the Avar Khanate. In this way, it became a border with Byzantium and Franks. He banned the bad habits that brought the end of the Avars in his Khanate and in this way prevented their end from being the same. He proclaim the new laws In order for living together with any problem, for the people of Slavic and Turkish origin in Bulgarian Khante. By killing Nicephorus I Genikos he went even further in his relations with Byzantium and almost reached the gate of Constantinople. After his death and after a short period of turmoil ascended his son Omurtag Khan the throne. Without thinking, in order to manage his father’s heritage more easily, he signed a 30- year agreement with Byzantium and tried to straighten his relations with the Franks. He started a war, when was ignored by the Franks, with whom he could not get along. After signing a peace settlemen with the Franks about the border line, he made efforts for the developing of his state. He reworked the old salt mines and strengthened his country economically.

Key words: Turk, Bulgar, Awar, Byzantium, Franks, border, Charles the Great, Kurum, Omurtag,

Nicephorus I Genikos.