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Kubrat

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For the Bulgarian town, seeKubrat (town).
Kubrat
Khan
Reignc. 632 – c. 650/665?[1]
PredecessorGostun
SuccessorBatbayan
Born606
Died665
Old Great Bulgaria
Burial
Pereshchepina(now in Ukraine)
HouseDulo
TamgaKubrat's signature

Kubrat(Greek:Κροβατον, Kούβρατος;Bulgarian:Кубрат[koˈbrat]) was the ruler of theOnogur–Bulgars,credited with establishing the confederation ofOld Great Bulgariain ca. 632.[2]His name derived from theTurkicwordsqobrat— "to gather", orqurt,i.e. "wolf".[a]

Origin

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In theNominalia of the Bulgarian khansKubrat is mentioned asKurt(Коуртъ), being a member of theDulo clanand reigning for 60 years having succeededGostunof theErmi clan.

Bulgars were Turkic nomadic people,[3]who participated in the 5th-century Hunnic confederation. Upon Attila's death, the tribes that later formed the Bulgars had retreated east into theBlack Sea-Caspian Steppe. The western Bulgar tribes joined theAvar Khaganate,while the eastern Bulgars came under theWestern Turkic Khaganateby the end of the 6th century.[4]

Theophanes the Confessorcalled him "king of the Onogundur Huns".[5]PatriarchNikephoros I(758–828) called Kubrat "lord of the Onuğundur"[6]and "ruler of the Onuğundur–Bulğars".[7]John of Nikiu(fl.696) called him "chief of the Huns".[6]D. Hupchick identified Kubrat as "Onogur",[4]P. Golden as "Oğuro-Bulğar",[6]H. J. Kim as "Bulgar Hunnic/Hunnic Bulgar".[8]According to H. J. Kim the Onogundur/Onogur were evidently part of the Bulgar confederation.[9]

History

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Old Great Bulgaria and migration of Bulgarians

Kubrat spent his early life at theByzantine Empireimperial palace inConstantinople.As the 7th-century Byzantine historianJohn of Nikiunarrates:

This project is concerned with Kubratos, chief of the Huns [sic], the nephew ofOrgana,who was baptized in the city of Constantinople, and received into theChristiancommunity in his childhood and had grown up in the imperial palace. And between him and the elderHeracliusgreat affection and peace had prevailed, and after Heraclius's death he had shown his affection to his sons and his wifeMartinabecause of the kindness [Heraclius] had shown him. And after he had been baptized with life-giving baptism he overcame all the barbarians and heathens through Virtue of holy baptism. Now touching him it is said that he supported the interests of the children of Heraclius and opposed those ofConstantine.[10]

Whether he was a child or a young adult during his time in Constantinople is unclear. The exact time of this event is also unknown but probably coincided with the reign of EmperorHeraclius(r. 610–641). His or Organa's conversion toChristianityis placed circa 619 AD.[7][11]It seems that young Kubrat was part of the pre-planned coalition, initiated by Heraclius or Organa, against the Sasanian–Avar alliance.[12]This coincides with other alliances by Heraclius with steppe peoples, all in the interest of saving Constantinople.[7][11]

Kubrat, in 635, according toNikephoros I,"ruler of theOnoğundur–Bulğars, successfully revolted against theAvarsand concluded a treaty with Heraclius ".[11]The stateOld Great Bulgaria(Magna Bulgaria[11]) was formed. Kubrat died "when Konstantinos was in the West", somewhere during the reign ofConstans II(641–668).[11]

According to Nikephoros I, Kubrat instructed his five sons (Batbayan,Kotrag,Asparukh,two others unmentioned are considered to beKuberandAlcek[7]) to "never separate their place of dwelling from one another, so that by being in concordance with one another, their power might thrive".[7][11]However, the loose tribal union broke up under internal tensions and especiallyKhazarspressure from the East.[7][11]

Kubrat's death

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ThePereshchepina Treasurewas discovered in 1912 by Ukrainian peasants in the vicinity ofPoltava,in village Malo Pereshchepyne.[13][14]It consists of diverse gold and silver objects of total weight of over 50 kg from themigration period,including three rings with monograms, which led scholars to identify the site as Kubrat's grave.[13][14]The ring A was inscribed in Greek XOBPATOY and ring C was inscribed XOBPATOY ПATPIKIOY,[15]indicating the dignity ofPatrikios(Patrician) that he had achieved in the Byzantine world.[16]The treasure indicates close relation between the Bulgars and Byzantines, e.g. the bracelets were influenced or made by a Byzantine goldsmith.[17]The first treasure coins were issued after 629, by Heraclius, and the last c. 650 AD, by Constans II, which can be associated with the upcoming Khazar conquest.[13]

Kubrat is mentioned in theNominalia of the Bulgarian khans,according which his birth is given the sign of the ox (shegor vechem) in theBulgar calendar.It also says his rule was 60 years.[18]Presuming lifespan is meant, this would place his death in 653 or 665 AD.[18]Thus, the date of Kubrat's death according historical and archaeological sources is placed between 650 and 665 AD.[18]Correspondingly his birth could have been between 590 and 615 if Somogyi's theory is correct.

Legacy

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Kubrat KnollonLivingston Islandin theSouth Shetland Islands,Antarcticais named after Kubrat of Great Bulgaria.[19]

Kubrat was portrayed byVasil Mihaylovin the 1981 Bulgarian movieAszparuh,directed byLudmil Staikov.[20]

See also

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Annotations

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  1. ^
    Also renderedKubratos,Cubratus,Kuvrat,Qubrat,Qobrat,Xubraat,Xubratoy;possibly derived from Turkicqobrat/quvrat,"to gather".[6][21]Kurt(Коуртъ) is derived from Turkicqurt,"wolf"[22][23]
    2. .The rings of Pereschepina treasure have been deciphered in 1984 by the German archaeologustJoachim Werner (archaeologist).[15]

References

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  1. ^Kiril Petkov, The Voices of Medieval Bulgaria, Seventh-Fifteenth Century: The Records of a Bygone Culture East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 450-1450, BRILL, 2008,ISBN9047433750,p. 1.
  2. ^Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500-1250, Florin Curta, Cambridge University Press, 2006,ISBN0521815398,p. 78.
  3. ^Golden 2011,p. 239.
  4. ^abHupchick 2017,p. 8.
  5. ^Kim 2013,p. 138.
  6. ^abcdGolden 1992,p. 244.
  7. ^abcdefGolden 1992,p. 245.
  8. ^Kim 2013,pp. 16, 101.
  9. ^Golden 1992,p. 252.
  10. ^"The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu".Translated byRobert Charles.London:Williams and Norgate.1916.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. ^abcdefgGolden 2011,p. 145.
  12. ^Golden 1992,p. 244–245.
  13. ^abcSomogyi 2008,p. 128.
  14. ^abFiedler 2008,p. 152.
  15. ^abKardaras 2018,p. 99-100.
  16. ^Vachkova 2008,p. 343.
  17. ^Lippitz-Deppert, Barbara (1993)."A Group of Late Antique Jewelry in the Getty Museum".Studia Varia from the J. Paul Getty Museum.Getty Publications.pp. 119–120.ISBN9780892362035.
  18. ^abcSomogyi 2008,p. 104.
  19. ^Kubrat Knoll.SCARComposite Antarctic Gazetteer
  20. ^Khan Asparuh (1981) Full Cast & Crew - IMDB
  21. ^Golden 2011,p. 144.
  22. ^Stratos 1978,p. 96.
  23. ^Kim 2013,p. 243.

Sources

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Further reading

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  • Mingazov, S. (2012)."Кубрат — правитель Великой Болгарии и Кетрадес — персонаж Иоанна Никиусского"[Kubrat – the ruler of Great Bulgaria and Qetrades – John of Nikiu character]. Kazan: Институт истории АН РТ.{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
  • Львова, З.А., 2000. Погребения в Малой Перешчепине и Вознесенке и Кубрат, каган Великой Болгарии. Stratum plus, 5, pp. 145–160.
  • Lambrev, K., Легендата за кан Кубрат и неговите синове. Исторически Преглед.
  • Георгиев, П., 2001. Столицата на хан Кубрат. Трудове на катедрата по История и богословие (Шуменски университет), 4, pp. 17–39.
  • Вернер, И., 1985. Захоронение в Малом Перещепине и Кубрат, хан болгарский. Софийские новости (газета), 5.
  • Семёнов, И.Г., 2013. К истории Унногундурского государства. Византийский временник, 72, pp. 45–67.
  • Комар, О.В., 2001. Кубрат "і" Велика Булгарія ": проблеми джерелознавчого аналізу. Сходознавство.–2001.–Вип, pp. 13–14.
  • Zalesskaia, V.N., 2006. Zlatoto na khan Kubrat. Pereshchepinskoto săkrovishte.
  • Todorov-Berberski, H., 1997. Great Bulgaria under Khan Kubrat-Some disputed issues from a linguistic perspective (9th century Bulgaria). BULGARIAN HISTORICAL REVIEW-REVUE BULGARE D HISTOIRE, (2-3), pp. 180–204.
  • Baba, S.M., 2013. Origin and History of Volga Bulghars: A Study of the Journey from Central Asia to Volga-Ural Region and the Formation of Volga Bulgharia. Journal of Asian Civilizations, 36(1), p. 189.
  • 1983: Kurt, Kubrat ili Kurt Kubrat [Kurt, Kubrat oder Kurt Kubrat]. In: Bälgarski Ezik 33. S. 341-342.
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