The historical development of the Bulgarian lands and the people that inhabited them in the antiquity has been determined by one major factor - their crossroads situation between Europe and Asia. The waves of settlers that swept from both continents into the South or into the North at different times, quite often turned the plains of Thrace, Mizia, Macedonia and the Balkan mountains into an arena of fierce clashes. Prior to the settlement of the Bulgarians about fifteen hundred years ago, this most contended land of the European civilization had seen other people's cultures, with markedly impressive presence in the history of humankind on the planet Earth come, evolve and then, tragically go.
The earliest traces of human life on the Bulgarian lands date back to Palaeolithic and Mesolithic times. The brilliant drawings in some Bulgarian caves and the flint labour tools are the only remains of the primitive man, the homo sapiens forbearer.

THE THRACIANS
The boundaries of the Thracian ethnos comprise not only the territory of present-day Bulgaria but also the land of present-day Romania, Eastern Serbia, Northern Greece and North-Western Turkey. According to the Greek historian Herodotus (5th century BC) the Thracians were the most numerous people in Europe and came second in the world after the Indians (obviously the world Herodotus knew).
Regrettably, during their 2000-year-long history the Thracians have not created an alphabet of their own. The reconstruction of the past of this people - builder of one of the pillars of the ancient European civilization, has been based on the scanty information available in the literary tradition of Hellenians and Romans and, naturally, on the results obtained from the particularly large-scale archaeological excavations carried out over the past three - four decades.

ROMAN PERIOD
Within the borderlines of the Roman empire most of the Thracian lands were structured in two big provinces - Mizia and Thrace. Apparently, both names have outlived the Thracians and even nowadays two of the three major Bulgarian historic regions (Mizia, Thrace and Macedonia) are still called by these names. The bloody decades of seizure of the Thracian lands were followed by peace and calm, and by years of construction. Soon the Thracians were declared fully-fledged citizens of Rome. Agriculture and cattle-breeding remained as the basis of livelihood in these lands and the manufacturing sector stayed in the hands of free farmers. The enormous latifundia of Italy employing tens of thousands of slaves were a phenomenon unknown in the Thracian lands.
During the first two centuries of their rule in the lands of ancient Thrace, the Romans embarked on the construction of well-designed roads. Some of these routes do indeed coincide with the European highway network of the modern times. Dozens of well-planned and well-built towns with well-developed craft industry (its social basis being again the free artisan association), cultural enterprises and a highly developed urban infrastructure, cropped up one after the other. The Thracians penetrated the state machinery, some of them reaching high administrative and military positions. They even made their way to the emperor's throne. The line of Thraco-Roman emperors began with the name of Mixjminus (235-238), a Thracian farmer who climbed up the career ladder from the dagger of a tyro in the Roman legions to the warder of the Divine Augustus very fast.

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Bulgaria is a small but great country in the Eastern Europe.
It has a long and glorious history.

Based in 680 year from the great pro Bulgarians khan Asparuh after the crumble of Old Great Bulgaria.
Khan Asparuh is the fifth child of khan Kubrat. Guided by his people to the south, after passing the Danube river he have done an alliance with the "League of the seven Slav clans".
He sets up the metropolis Plasma.
In 681, after a few victories over the Byzantine emperor, a covenant of peace has been concluded and Byzantium begins to pay taxes to Bulgaria. The historians say that this is the beginning of the new country.
After Asparuh's death (701), his child khan Tervel (701 - 718) helped Byzantium in its war against the Arabian where Tervel had a glorious victory (in year 718 , 20 000 Arabians died).
The next few khans are not blessed with a leadership qualities but the Byzantine emperor was still afraid of Bulgaria.
Khan Krum (803 - 814) has been named "The Terrific" from Byzantines. He was a very good soldier.
He made Bulgaria one of the greatest countries in the world on one level with Byzantium, the Franks empire and the Harun al Rashid's Arabian empire.
In 811 the Byzantine emperor Nikifor I Genik has suddenly invaded Bulgaria, reached Pliska, destroyed and killed many people. At this time khan Krum wasn't in Pliska.
Helped by his non destroyed army (including the women) he blocked the mountain defiles and in the "Varbishki Prohod" defile the emperor who was coming back to Constantinople was killed (during the night of July 26th, 811).
Then khan Krum cut the emperor's head, turned the scull it to a bowl and drank from it for a glorious victory.
Khan Omurtag (814 - 831), the son of khan Krum, performed a large construction of castles, fortresses, etc.
On a pillar that ages those times the great words were written:
"Even if man has a good life, he dies and other people are born and let the latest one remember the builder, when he looks at this".
During the reign of khan Malamir (831 - 836) and khan Presian (836 - 852) Bulgaria saves its greatness.
Khan Boris (852 - 893) is one of the most popular kings in the Bulgarian history.
In 864 khan Boris converts himself and his people to Christians. This is a very important act. Then khan Boris became "king".
The grand Bulgarian boyars tried to resist the conversion. Then Boris ordered his loyal people to kill 52 boyars and all theirs families.
After 885 three scholars of the Slav brothers Cyril and Methodius arrived in Bulgaria and started to learn the Bulgarians their new created alphabet.
The King Simeon Veliki (893 - 927) was the best king of Bulgaria. The people named him "Veliki (The Great)". After his glorious reign Bulgaria reaches three seas. All Bulgarian neighbours were afraid and terrified of him. The Byzantine emperors and cardinals had even disgraced themselves pleading him to stop the wars.
In 893 he moves his metropolis from Pliska to Preslav.
One year later a war with Byzantium starts and Simeon was the absolute winner. In 904 Simeon took the nowadays Albania and the south Makedonia and reached Solun (Thessalonica).
In 913, king Simeon reached Constantinople and then he sets his title to "Emperor of Bulgarians and Byzantines".
Even the Franks' emperor Karl (the Great) didn't set himself in one level with the Byzantine emperor. Simeon sets himself over the byzantine emperor.
The war was rekindled with a new power. August 26th, 917 near the Aheloi river, the Byzantine army has been absolutely destroyed. This battle is one of the bloodiest battles of Bulgarian - Byzantine wars.
Half a century later an European voyager went to that place and saw the bones of the dead men.
And many more other wars during the time when Simeon ruled mark Bulgaria as the strongest country in the region.
Simeon developed the literature, arts, handcraft, etc. This was a "Zlaten Vek" (The Golden Century) for Bulgarian culture.
His son, emperor Peter I (927 - 970) wasn't as good as his father. So all the older enemies rose in revolt.
In 968 and 970 the king of Kiev - Svetoslav invaded into Bulgaria, reached Preslav and conquest it.
In the meantime the Byzantine emperor invaded south Bulgaria and conquest it.
Then the four sons of warden Nikola began the war against Byzantium.
Soon only the smallest son- Samuil (978 - 1014) remained alive.
On August 17th, 986 there was a deadly battle and the Byzantine army was destroyed. The Bulgarians took a big booty gold.
The Byzantine emperor Vasilii II ran as disgraced himself.
In 998 Samuil conquest Serbia.
In 1001 Vasilii II started a new large war and took many fortresses.
In 1014 near the Kljuch village Vasilii II surrounded and captured the Bulgarian army (20 000 men). In the meantime the Samuil's son Gavril Radomir and his army destroyed and killed the army of Byzantine Teofilakt Votaniat. When Vasilii II understood this he commanded that the Bulgarian army to be blinded and to let go. When Samuil saw his blinded army he died from a heart attack.
The next few years are the end of First Bulgarian Kingdom.
In 1018 Vasilii II conquest the last parts of Bulgaria. This was one of the most terrible period in Bulgarian history.
In 1185 the monk Vasilii announced in town Tarnovo himself as a archbishop and crowned the boyar Peter (1185 - 1190) for a Bulgarian king.
This is start of the revolt of the third brothers Peter, Asen and Kalojan.
1187 Bulgarians and Byzantines sets contract of peace.
1190 Peter voluntary gives the crown to his younger brother Asen (1190 - 1196).
Asen was been better leader than his older brother. He wins in many battles. 1196 was killed from his cousin Ivanko.
Year later Peter was killed. The crown took Kalojan (1197 - 1207).
1199 king Kalojan began mass offensive against Byzantium. For short time he conquest many lands.
Meanwhile Kalojan starts a large discussion with the Pope.
In 1202 Kalojan made a peace contract by the Popes intercession.
On April 14th, 1204 near Odrin the invincible Latin army was destroyed by the Bulgarian army and the Latin emperor Baldwin I was captured. He ends his live like prisoner in "Baldwin's tower" in Tarnovo.
The king Kalojan was named the Roman killer by his people.
At the siege of Solun Kalojan was killed(1207). The throne has been taken by Boril (1207 - 1218). At first Boril started a war but the Pope stopped his actions.
1213 - 1214 Boril made a piece contract with the Latin empire and the Hungary kingdom.
King Ivan Asen II (1218 - 1241), the son of Peter was one of the greatest kings of Bulgaria. During his govern Bulgaria reached three seas and was the most powerful kingdom in the region.
At first he made a peace contract with the Hungary kingdom and married the Hungarian princess.
Near the village of Klokotnitza (March 9th, 1230) Ivan Asen II wins in battle against Byzantines. The enemy army was destroyed. The captured soldiers had been set free. This generous act makes very good impression to everyone.
His diplomacy compels all other countries to conform with him.
After his death the throne has been contested between few boyars in the meantime the Byzantium and Hungary conquest many fortresses and castles. The Ivan Asen's son Koloman (1241 - 1246) has been crowned for a short time. During 1242 he accepted to be a vassal to Tatar’s khan.
In 1246 he was killed from Mikhail II Asen (1246 - 1257) - the son of Ivan Asen II from his first wife.
After his death (1257) the boyar Konstantin This was crowned and changed his name to Konstantin Asen and married to Ivan Asen's wife Irina. Soon after he was crowned he got a lame.
In 1277 the revolt of the peasant Ivailo started. After few battles in 1278 Ivailo has been crowned. While Ivailo was fighting against the Tatars, the boyar Georgi Terter (1281 - 1292) took the throne. In a short time later Ivanko has been killed by the khan of Tatars.
Soon the king accepts to be a vassal to the Tatars khan and his son Teodor Svetoslav was been taken like a Tatars' prisoner.
In 1292 promoted from Tatars the boyar Smiletz (1292 - 1300) made subversion to them and took the throne. Georgi Terter ran to Byzantium.
1300 Teodor Svetoslav come back from Tatars with the Tatars' prince Chaka. Smiletz resigned and for a short time the throne took Chaka. Few months later Theodor Svetoslav (1300 - 1321) killed Chaka. The new king at first consolidated the murmuring boyars.
1304 - 1307 war between Bulgaria and Byzantium.
1304 near the Skafida river Teodor Svetoslav destroyed the Byzantine army.
In 1322 Georgi Terter II ( the son of Teodor Svetoslav ) died and the boyars chose as a new king the Vidin's boyar Mikhail III Shishman (1323 - 1330).
He had many wars between Byzantium and Serbia and died in a Serbian's battle (1330).
The boyars chose Ioan Alexander (1331 - 1371) for a new king.
1341 in a contract Byzantium gave nine towns to Bulgaria.
At the second half of 14 century Bulgaria was crumbled to a few kingdoms.
After Ioan Alexander's death to the throne went his 20 year old son Ivan Shishman (1371 - 1395).
Meantime the Ottomans empire has been converted to the most powerful empire in the near and Middle East.
This is the start of the end.
One by one the fortresses and castles has been captured.
1382 the Ottomans conquest one of the most powerful castles Sofia (Sredetz).
The Ottomans used the gun powder in this battle. The defence of each of the fortress was very hard but that's not enough.
King Ivan Shishman died as prisoner (1395).
The last conquest was the Vidin’s kingdom (1396).
This is the end of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.
Followed by 5 centuries of bondage fraught with heroic defence and terrible periods and battles.

During all time of the conquest the Bulgarians didn't forget their Bulgarian identity and the next few centuries were full with many rebellions stamped out in blood.
Russian - Turkey's war (1877 - 1878) frees Bulgaria and the Third Bulgarian Kingdom was born.
The Berlin's contract divided Bulgaria into tree parts: Macedonia, Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia.
The First Great Parliament chose for a new king Alexander Battenberg (1878 - 1887). They chose Sofia for a capital.
In the intricate East Balkan Question during 1885 king Battenberg proclaimed the annexing of Eastern Rumelia to Bulgaria.
This was a very risky act and the reaction of the other countries came soon. Serbia, promoted by Austro-Hungary's empire invaded Bulgaria (1885). The Bulgarian army moved meanwhile near the Turkey’s border, in a very short time and very cool winter was moved to the west border. The Serbian's army has been losing battle after battle and Austro-Hungary's empire was forcing the Bulgarian king to stop the war. Then the two enemy sides made a peace contract. This was a glorious victory. Few years later the political differences between Russian emperor and Alexander Battenberg lead to revolution and Battenberg abdicate (26th August 1886).
The parliament chose as a new king Ferdinand Saks-Koburg Gotski (1887 - 1918).
The long time rule of the premier Stambolov leads Bulgaria only in few years to the most industrial country of the region.
But finally Bulgaria went down into a political crisis.
On September 22nd, 1908 king Ferdinand proclaimed the independence of Bulgaria.
The national interests impel Ferdinand to make a contract with Serbia and Greece for a corporative war against Turkey.
On 5th October, 1912 began The First Balkan War. The general battles are near Ohrid and the Bulgarian army is the winner. During the discussions about a peace with Turkey, the different national craving between allies lead to a Second Balkan War (June1913). Turkey, Greece and Serbia attacked Bulgaria and soon Bulgarians lost the war.
A few years later began The First World War.
Following its national interests Bulgaria chose Germany for ally.
On 14th October, 1915 Bulgaria proclaimed a war to Serbia, later to Greece and Romania. Until the beginning of 1918 Bulgarian army had the military priority in the war.
On 14th September 1918 on a Solun's (Thessalonica) front the allied army of Greece and Entente breaks the Bulgarian line. The heroic defence didn't stop the attackers and on 29th September Bulgaria proclaimed its surrender.
The balance-sheet from the last three wars is: Bulgaria had to pay lots of reparations, the country was destroyed, lost a lot of lands, too many people were dead, the national doctrine was unreal for a long time.
On 3rd October 1918 Ferdinand abdicated. Two days later his son Boris III (1918 - 1944) has been crowned.
The following years had the character of strengthening of democratic processes. The country had a strengthened industrial production.
At the end of 30's Germany and his allies accelerated their pressure to Boris III. The settings of the Europe, the destiny of France and Poland were tragic. These and many other facts predestined the Bulgarian position. On 1st of March 1941 the prime minister Bogdan Filov subscribed the adding of Bulgaria to the Pact.
On 20th April 1941 the Bulgarian army conquest the West Trakia and East Macedonia, the all old Bulgarian area were free.
Bulgaria keeps relative neutrality - its army are only on its old lands. Hitler persists more intensive actions. Finally they found a compromise - the Bulgarian forces went to Eastern Serbia. The revulsion of the war and the sudden death of Boris III threw Bulgaria to the side of the losers. September 5th, 1944 Russia proclaimed a war to Bulgaria. The orders of the Bulgarian prime minister are: don't resist to the Russian army.
The communists promoted from Russia done subversion (9th September 1944). The government was changed. A few years later Bulgaria was proclaimed as a republic.
The following 45 years the country was under the rule of the socialist regime.
On November 10th 1989 the bloodless subversion has been made and the socialist regime was overthrown.