Old Great Bulgaria

Old Great Bulgaria was a state in Russia and the Steppe (Europe) that lasted from c. 632 to 668 CE, about 36 years. Its people spoke Turkic languages (Gokturk, Uyghur, Seljuk, Ottoman, Kazakh, Tatar).

Khan Kubrat threw off Avar overlordship and united the Bulgars north of the Black Sea. After his death the Khazars scattered his sons, one founding Danube Bulgaria and another Volga Bulgaria.

See Old Great Bulgaria on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 632 to 668 CE

Duration

36 years

Type

State

Region

Russia and the Steppe, Europe

Language family

Turkic

Capital

Phanagoria

Came from

• Kutrigurs and Utigurs c. 460 to 632 CE

Became

• First Bulgarian Empire 681 to 1018 CE
• Volga Bulgaria c. 700 to 1236 CE

Neighbours in Europe

• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE
• Kingdom of Wessex c. 519 to 927 CE
• Kingdom of Mercia c. 527 to 918 CE
• Khazar Khaganate c. 650 to 969 CE
• Merovingian Kingdom 481 to 751 CE
• Avar Khaganate c. 567 to 822 CE
• Lombard Kingdom 568 to 774 CE
• Visigothic Kingdom of Toledo 507 to 711 CE
• San Marino c. 301 CE to the present
• Kingdom of Gwynedd c. 450 to 1216 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
• Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Tiwanaku c. 400 to 1000 CE, South America
• Sasanian Empire 224 to 651 CE, Middle East
• Tang dynasty 618 to 907 CE, East Asia
• Umayyad Caliphate 661 to 750 CE, Middle East
• Rashidun Caliphate 632 to 661 CE, Middle East

Questions