Bulgarian Empire
  • Блъгарьско цѣсарьствиѥ
  • българско царство
681–1018
First Bulgarian Empire in 850[1][2][3]
First Bulgarian Empire in 850
Capital
  • Pliska(681–893)
  • Preslav(893–968/972)
  • Skopje
  • Ohrid
  • Bitola(until 1018)
Common languages
  • Bulgar
  • Proto-Slavic
  • Byzantine Greek
  • Balkan Romance
  • Old Bulgarian(official from 893)
Religion
  • Tengrism, Slavic paganism(681–864)
  • Orthodox Christianity(state religion from 864)
GovernmentAbsolute monarchy
Monarch 
• 681–700(first)
Asparuh
• 1015–1018(last)
Ivan Vladislav
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Asparuh arrives and defeats Eastern Rome at the Battle of Ongal
680
• New Bulgarian state recognized by Eastern Rome
681–1018
• Christianisation
864
• Adoption of Old Bulgarian as a national language
893
• Simeon I assumes the title of Tsar (Emperor)
893
• Theme Bulgaria established in Byzantine Empire
1018
Area
850400,000 km2(150,000 sq mi)
950240,000 km2(93,000 sq mi)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Byzantine empire
Old Great Bulgaria
Byzantine EmpireFlag placeholder.svg
Today part ofBulgaria, Greece, Romania, Serbia, Kosovo, Hungary