Bulgaria’s Ancient Capital (681-893 AD)
It was only after one of the bloodiest battles of the entire Middle Ages – The Battle of Anchialos – that the Bulgarians were able to rightfully settle in the area of territory known today as the country of Bulgaria. Initially, the area was known as the First Bulgarian Empire, and the first capital city was established by the Bulgarians’ ruler – Khan Asparukh.
The capital of Pliska was constructed in an area of 23 square kilometers, and had a moat and ramparts surrounding the outer walls. Refusing to take any chances against Byzantine invaders, even the inner walls of the capital were over 2.5 meters thick, and were built to about 12 meters high! The careful attention to stability, longevity, and strategic detail when it was built have caused the city to still be considered as one of the most impressive monuments of early Medieval architecture today.
Pliska was ahead of the neighbors in plenty of ways – the city had a functioning sewage system that was modeled on Roman sewers, and the heating systems throughout the entire city ensured that the people were kept safe and warm throughout the harsh winters. Fortress walls surrounded the city, both inner and outer, and at each corner there was a cylindrical-shaped tower for lookouts and nightly watchmen.
The interior of the city contained a palace for a later ruler, the Khan Omurtag, and this ‘Grand Palace’ contained a throne room and an adjacent Small Palace which served as the private residence of the Khans while they were in power.
In 811 AD, the city was sacked by the Byzantine army – but the Khan Krum was able to rid the city of its invaders after a short period. In an effort to help improve the city after its brief attack – and to maintain morale among the people – the next Khan actually hired and brought in several hundred artisans and craftsmen for the sole purpose of improving the city!
Pliska would see changes in its governmental structure, and in 865 AD, Christianity was adopted as the primary religion under Prince Boris. He constructed the Grand Basilica as a place of worship for the public, and in 886 AD, he established the Pliska Literary School in order to help ensure that the people were intelligent and well educated! However in 892 AD, the king’s son Vladimir revolted against the established changes, attempting to re-establish paganism as the official religion of Bulgaria.
Naturally, he was punished by his father – Vladimir’s eyes were “put out”, ie. blinded – and his younger brother Simeon was made ruler of Bulgaria. The period which followed has often been referred to by Medieval historians as the “Golden Age” in Bulgaria’s history. However, since the population and territory was growing – not to mention that Pliska still seemed to have deep-rooted pagan influences – Simeon soon moved Bulgaria’s capital from Pliska to Preslav, which was another fortified town in the same general area.
The importance of Pliska in the Bulgarian Empire gradually waned over the course of the 10th century, as Preslav saw a concentration of resources and governmental power. Two attacks by Byzantine raiders in 969 and 972 AD destroyed many portions of Pliska, and due to the shift of power into Preslav, the city was not rebuilt after the second raid.
Although the ancient Bulgarian capital is in ruins today, the city of Pliska is still greatly admired by historians as an example of some of the finest early Medieval architecture ever created.
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