VOLGO- KAMA     BULGARIA  was  the state of  the Bulgarians of  Volga- Kama, Finno-Ugric peoples and others ,  in  Volga Region and Kama Region .

Content : Capitals of the Bulgarians. Trade with the Arab Caliphate, Byzantium, eastern Slavs, etc. A military and commercial rivalry with Kiev Russia later Vladimir -Suzdal' principality. It is subjugated by Mongolian- Tatars to 1240. Was decomposed into the Bulgarian and Zhukotinsk'  principalities .

Part I. Main role in the formation of Volgo-Kama Bulgaria : in  the political strengthening, for the iconomy and  the cultural advance of the state have been done of the Proto-Bulgarians.In the  middle of  7 Century, afterward deviding   the Great  Bulgaria of  Khan Kubrat  from  Khazars,   frequent  part  from the Proto-Bulgarian tribes with the common name KOTRAGI, whose chief  was Khan Kotrag traveled to the North , crossing  Don river and  was fixed into the direction of  Volgo- Kama region .

                                                 Volgo - Kama  Bulgaria : X - XII Century

The medieval state in the territory of the Volga Region and Kama Region played important role in the process of ethnogeny of contemporary Kazan' Tatars, Chuvashs, mordvy, Udmurts, mari and Komi. Was called its name from the stock-breeding unification of tyurko-language nomads, who were moved into the Volga- Kama region from the Azov steppes into 7 Century. Under the effect of the local agricultural Finno-Ugric tribes the Bulgarians pass to the settled means of life. The appearance of state first written Proceedings about Volgo-Kama' Bulgaria  relate to  10  Century. After  the formation of the Bulgarian state it is sure that it's center  became the town of Bulgar.

 The process of unification began in 922 year , the time ,when  khan Almas was the lord of the city .Bulgaria relate to head the young state fell depending on powerful Khazar' khaganate. For strengthening of his position the Bulgarian  chan Almas turned for the support to the Arab caliphate, as a result of which Bulgaria  accepted the Islam as the state of religion. The decomposition of  Khazar'  khanate after its crushing defeat by Kiev prince  Svyatoslav I Igorevich into 965 secured actual independence of  Bulgaria. At the time of it's  bloom the Protomongol' Bulgaria  becomes the strongest state in the Volga Region, whose welfare was ensured due to its advantageous geographical position at the intersection of aqueous and land commercial ways, and also because of the abundance of fertile soils. Bulgaria  became the center of production and removal of wheat, furs, cattle, fish, honey... There was numerous  articles of different crafts (cap, boots, known in the east as "bulgari", article made of the metal and the skin).

 However, the basic evolution of the  Bulgarian  merchants composed commercial transit between the East and the West, furthermore, the capital Bulgar was noted for its market for the slaves, who were brought from Russian soils and North Volga Region. For the realization of commercial operations , about  10 Century  Bulgaria  stamped her own coin - "dirkhem". The lively trade contributed to the development of cities. Besides Bulgar, were known other cities, such, as Suvar, Bilyar (Bulyar), Oshel, etc. 12  Century  include the base on the shore of the river the city of the Kazan (old Kazan). At the end of 14 Century it was postponed by contemporary place. Cities were not only administrative and commercial centers, but also powerful  fortresses. The need for protection from the raids of nomads from the adjacent steppes forced the Bulgarians  to raise defensive shafts and ditches, which frequently reached in the length of several kilometers. In the defense of state big  role played also the numerous strengthened  farmsteads of the Bulgarian Aristocrats. The adoption of Islam contributed to the familiarizing of  the Bulgarians with the culture of  the Moslem world. Ancient Turks' runic letter was changed into Arab.Were opened elementary schools and medrese. The archaelogical findings of articles of daily life with the inscriptions testify about the wide acceptance of literacy among the Bulgarian  population.

 In Bulgaria appear its own scientists: jurists, theologians, physicians, historians, astronomers. In 1212 from  poets of Coulomb- Galya was created in  Bulgarian  language the poem "Kyssa and Yusuf", widely known in the  literature of the time. Realizing itself by the advance post of Islam, Bulgaria  contributed to its penetration into the adjacent ground. Thus, on the legend, into 986 Bulgarian  preachers ( on the arrival into Kiev )  proposed to  prince Vladimir I Svyatoslavovich to accept Islam. The wealth of the  Bulgarians, its tendency to monitor trade with the East led to the frequent attacks of neighbors. If the fight of the Bulgarians  with the nomad - Polovets was sufficient successful, the collisions with the Russian princes caused to Bulgaria considerably larger damage. 

Already into 985 prince Vladimir completed successful march to Bulgaria, and in 12 Century , with the elevation of  Vladimir -Suzdal'  principality, which was attempting to extend its influence in the Volga Region, the fight between two neighbors sharpened. A constant military threat forced bulgar to transfer its capital into the depth of the country  into city Bilyar ( now - Bilyarsk ). For the Bulgarians was possible into 1219 to take and to ransack Ustyug.The superiority over the Russians was on the side of the Bulgarians. 

But  , from one heavy defeat  suffered the Bulgarians into 1220, when by Russian guards was undertaken Oshel, etc. Kama cities. Rich ransom allowed the Bulgarians to avoid the destruction of the capital. After this, was established  the peace , confirmed into 1229 . Appearance in the Eastern European steppes of Mongolian- Tatar hordes made it necessary to be reconciled old rivals. In 1223 the Mongolians  destroyed Russian- Polovets army in the battle on Kalke, but on the way back they were strongly worn by the Bulgarians. In 1229 and 1232 the Bulgarians succeed in reflecting the raids of Mongolians. 

In 1236 Batiy, after gathering significant forces, is begun the largest march to the West. Its first victim  became Bulgaria. In autumn the same years the town of  Bilyar and other cities were seized and ruined, after which the Mongolians moved to Russia. However, resistance yet was not broken finally, and into 1240 Bulgaria  again underwent the destruction of nomads. 

                                                            Part II.

Bulgaria fall into the clutches of  the  Gold horde into 1243 , when Batiy it established in the range of Mongolian empire. One of  the  provinces of this big state  became Bulgaria. In spite of the loss of its independence, it used a certain autonomy, its rulers became the vassals of the Gold horde' khan . They paid to it tribute and were supplied soldiers to the Horde's  army.

The high culture of the Bulgarians became the most important component  of the culture of the Gold horde. The curtailment of the ruinous raids of nomads, the restoration of commercial connections  helped to revive the economy of Bulgaria. It achieved the highest bloom in first half  of 14 Century , to what contributed the assertion of Islam as  state  religion of the Gold horde. Bulgaria during this period protrudes as the conductor of  Islam for the adjacent peoples of Mordvy, Votyaks,  Bashkirs. 

Furthermore, Bulgar city becomes the temporary  residence of the Gold horde' khan. City drew by its brick and white-stone construction. Many palaces, mosques, caravan- saraies, and also public baths, paved streets, underground water pipe testified about the rich culture of Bulgaria. Bulgaria  first in Europe mastered melting cast iron, from which poured off the boilers. Their metalware, adornments, ceramics received wide acceptance in medieval Europe and Asia.

 The decomposition of state  in 14 Century and  the home policy situation in the Gold horde was complicated. Bitter struggle for the khan throne begins; separative tendencies are strengthened. In 1361 the prince Bulat  - Temir tore away from the Gold horde extensive territory in the Volga Region, including Bulgaria. The  khans of the Golden horde only for one short period succeed in again combining their state, where the process of splitting and detachment of separate territories everywhere continues. Bulgariia is decomposed into two actually independent principalities : Bulgarian and Zhukotinian , with the center in the city Zhukotin (Dzhuketau). In second half of 14 Century , heads of 15  Century  these principalities undergo the constant military pressure of Russia. Its protege into 1370 occupies the Bulgarian throne, and into 1376 in the city of  Bulgar appear the Russian clerks, in responsibility of whom entered the control of the trade.

  The larger loss on the Bulgarians brought the frequent attacks of Ushkuyniks, which robbed their cities. Heavy impact on Bulgarii was substituted into 1431 by Moscow army of prince Fedor , after which Bulgaria  was deprived of the southern territories , which passed into the subordination of Moscow. Independence preserved only northern territories, center of which was Kazan. 

Specifically, on the base of these ground began formation in the Volga Region of the new state of Kazan' khaganate and  one new ethnos . Afterward the crushing defeat of Bulgaria the  culture  heritage of this great people are the  Chuvashy, which are  considered from the science and from themselves as  descendants of Proto-Bulgarian ethnos.

                                                                                                             George Genoff - PhD

Literature:

Fahrutdinov R.G. Ocherky po Istoriy Voljskoy Bulgariy . M., 1984. 

Smirnov A. P. Volzhskiye bulgary. M., 1951.

Kazakov E.I. Cultura ranney Voljskoy Bolgariy.Etapay ethnoculturnoy Istoriy. M., 1992.

Davletshin G.M. Voljskaya Bulgariya.Duhovnaya kultura.Domongolskiy period : X  - nachale

 XVII v. Kazan , 1990.

Macedono - Bulgarian  Review  " Vardar " , Toronto

Volume VIII , Issue 9 , December 2001 - January 2002 , pp. 17 - 23 .