Krum
Khan of Bulgaria
Krum gathers his people.
Reign	803 - 13 April 814
Died	13 April 814
Predecessor	Kardam of Bulgaria
Successor	Omurtag of Bulgaria
Consort	unknown
Issue	Omurtag of Bulgaria Budim of Bulgaria
Royal House	Dulo
Father	Toktu of Bulgaria
Mother	Alan of Bulgaria

Krum (Bulgarian: Крум) (died April 13, 814) was ruler of Bulgaria, from after 796/ before 803 to 814. Image File history File links Krum_gathers_his_people_The_Chronikon_of_Ioannis_Skylitzes. ... Events Nicephorus I and Charlemagne settle their imperial boundaries. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... Events Louis the Pious succeeds Charlemagne as king of the Franks and Emperor. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... Events Louis the Pious succeeds Charlemagne as king of the Franks and Emperor. ... Kardam (Bulgarian: ) was the ruler of Bulgaria 777–after 796/before 803. ... Omurtag or Omortag (Bulgarian: ) was ruler of Bulgaria from 814 to 831. ... Omurtag or Omortag (Bulgarian: ) was ruler of Bulgaria from 814 to 831. ... The Dulo Clan or the House of Dulo was the name of the ruling dynasty of the early Bulgars. ... Toktu (Bulgarian: ) was the ruler of Bulgaria 766–767. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... Events Louis the Pious succeeds Charlemagne as king of the Franks and Emperor. ...

Establishment of new borders

According to some accounts, Krum's family may have come from Pannonia, where it had been in Avar service. In c. 805, Krum took advantage of the defeat of the Avar Khaganate to destroy the remainder of the Avars and to expand his authority across the Carpathians over Transylvania and along the Danube into eastern Pannonia. This resulted in the establishment of a common border between the Frankish Empire and Bulgaria, which would have important repercussions for the policy of Krum's successors. Position of the Roman province of Pannonia Pannonia is an ancient country bounded north and east by the Danube, conterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia. ... Map showing the location of Avar Khaganate, c. ... Map showing the location of Avar Khaganate, c. ... Satellite image of the Carpathians. ... Map of Romania with Transylvania in yellow Transylvania (Romanian: or Transilvania; Hungarian: ; German: ; Serbian: / Transilvanija or Ердељ / Erdelj) is a historical region in central and western Romania. ... The Danube (ancient Danuvius, ancient Greek Istros) is the longest river of the European Union and Europes second-longest[3] (after the Volga). ... For other uses, see Franks (disambiguation). ...

Conflict with Nikephoros I

Krum engaged in a policy of liberating the Slavic tribes in Balkans and incorporating them into the Bulgaro – Slavic Federation. In 807 the Bulgarian forces defeated the Byzantine army in the Struma valley. In 809 Krum besieged and forced the surrender of Serdica (Sofia), slaughtering the Byzantine garrison in spite of his promise of safe conduct (Siege of Serdica, 809). This provoked the reaction of the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I, who proceeded to settle Anatolian populations along the frontier to protect it. He also attempted to retake and refortify Serdica, although this enterprise ultimately failed. Balkan peninsula with northwest border Isonzo-Krka-Sava The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe a region of southeastern Europe. ... Struma was a ship chartered to carry Jewish refugees from Romania to British-controlled Palestine. ... Position of Sofia in Bulgaria Coordinates: Country Bulgaria Province Sofia-City Mayor Boyko Borisov Area    - City 1,310 km²  - Land (?) km²  - Water (?) km² Elevation 550 m Population (15 September 2006)  - City 1,246,791  - Density 907/km²  - Metro 1,377,761 Time zone EET (UTC+2)  - Summer (DST) EEST (UTC... Combatants First Bulgarian Empire Byzantine Empire Commanders Krum Unknown Strength Unknown c. ... This is a list of Byzantine Emperors. ... Nikephoros I and his son and successor, Stauracius. ...

In early 811, Nikephoros I undertook a massive expedition against Bulgaria, and advanced to Marcellae (near Karnobat). Here Krum attempted to negotiate on July 11, 811, but Nikephoros was determined to continue with his advance. His army managed to avoid the Bulgarian ambushes in the Balkan Mountains and defeated an army of 12,000 that tried to block their advance into Moesia. Another hastily assembled army of 50,000 was defeated before the walls of the Bulgarian capital Pliska, which fell to the emperor on July 20. Here Nikephoros, who had been a financial minister before becoming emperor, helped himself to the treasures of Krum, while setting the city afire and turning his army on the population. A new diplomatic tentative from Krum was rebuffed. Karnobat, a city in the Bourgaska State, Karnobat Municipality of Bulgaria. ... July 11 is the 192nd day (193rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 173 days remaining. ... Events July 26 - Battle of Pliska: Nicephorus I is defeated by the Bulgar khan Krum, and is succeeded by Stauracius as Byzantine emperor. ... Stara Planina, Rhodope, Rila and Pirin Mountains The Balkan mountain range (Bulgarian: Stara Planina, Old Mountain) is an extension of the Carpathian mountain range, separated from it by the Danube River. ... Moesia is an ancient province situated in the areas of modern Serbia and Bulgaria. ... Pliska (Bulgarian. ... July 20 is the 201st day (202nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 164 days remaining. ...

Michael the Syrian, patriarch of the Syrians Jacobites in XIIth century described in his Chronicle the brutalities and atrocities of the Roman Emperor Nikephoros I Genik. “Nicephorus, emperor of the Romanians, walked in Bulgarians land: he was victorious and killed great number of them. He reached their capital, took it over and devastated it. His savagery went to this point that he ordered to bring their small children, got them tied down on earth and made thresh grain stones to smash them.”

While Nikephoros I and his army were busy pillaging, killing women and children, devastating and plundering Bulgarian capital, Krum mobilized his people (including the women) to set traps and ambushes in the mountain passes. On his way back to Constantinople the Roman Emperor learnt about these preparations for battle. The panicked emperor repeatedly stated to his feminized companions “Even if we have had wings we could not have escaped from peril.” At dawn on July 26 the Byzantines found themselves trapped against a moat and wooden wall in the Vărbica pass. Nikephoros was killed in the ensuing battle together with many of his troops, while his son Staurakios was carried to safety by the imperial bodyguard after receiving a paralyzing wound to his neck. According to tradition, Krum had the Emperor's skull lined with silver and used it as a drinking cup. This enhanced his reputation for brutality and won him the appellation of "New Sennacherib". July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... Varbitsa (Върбица) is a river in the Eastern Rhodope mountains. ... Combatants Byzantine Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicephorus I† Krum Strength aroud 80,000 Unknown Casualties almost the whole army, including the emperor Unknown The Battle of Pliska (Battle of Vărbica pass) took place on July 26, 811, between the Byzantine Empire and Bulgaria, resulting in one of the worst defeats... Staurakios on a coin issued by his father Nikephoros I. Staurakios or Stauracius (Greek: Σταυράκιος), (d. ... It has been proposed that Sennacherib be renamed and moved to Sin-ahhe-eriba. ...

Conflict with Michael I Rangabe

Staurakios was forced to abdicate after a brief reign (he died from his wound in 812), and was succeeded by his brother-in-law Michael I Rangabe. In 812 Krum invaded Byzantine Thrace, taking Develt and scaring the population of nearby fortresses to flee towards Constantinople. From this position of strength, Krum offered a return to the peace treaty of 716. Unwilling to compromise his regime by weakness, the new Emperor Michael I refused to accept the proposal, ostensibly opposing the clause for exchange of deserters. To apply more pressure on the emperor, Krum besieged and captured Mesembria (Nesebar) in the fall of 812. Michael I on a contemporary coin Michael I Rangabe (Greek: Μιχαήλ Α΄ Ραγγαβέ, Mikhaēl I Rangabe), (died January 11, 844) was Byzantine Emperor (811 - 813). ... Thrace (Bulgarian: , Greek: , Latin: , Turkish: ) is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. ... Map of Constantinople. ... Nesebar (Bulgarian: Несебър, Nesebăr, though other transliterations are also used), previously known as Mesembria (Greek: Μεσημβρια, Mesimvria) and before that as Menebria, is an ancient city on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, located in Nesebar municipality, Burgas Province. ...

In February 813 the Bulgarians raided into Thrace, but were repelled by the emperor's forces. Encouraged by this success, Michael I summoned troops from the entire empire and headed north, hoping for a decisive victory. Krum led his army south towards Adrianople and pitched camp near Versinikia. Michael I lined up his army against the Bulgarians, but neither side initiated an attack for two weeks. Finally, on June 22, 813, the Byzantines attacked but were immediately turned to flight. With Krum's cavalry in pursuit, the rout of Michael I was complete and Krum advanced on Constantinople, which he besieged by land. Discredited, Michael was forced to abdicate and become a monk — the third Byzantine emperor undone by Krum in as many years. Edirne is a city in (Thrace), the westernmost part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. ... The Battle of Versinikia was fought in 813 between the Byzantine Empire and the Bulgarians. ... June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. ... Events June 22 - Byzantine Emperor Michael I is defeated in a war against the Bulgarians. ...

Conflict with Leo V the Armenian

The new emperor Leo V the Armenian offered to negotiate, and arranged for a meeting with Krum. As Krum arrived, he was ambushed by Byzantine archers and was wounded as he made his escape. Furious, Krum ravaged the environs of Constantinople and headed home, capturing Adrianople en route and transplanting its inhabitants (including the parents of the future Emperor Basil I) across the Danube. In spite of the approach of winter, Krum took advantage of the good weather to send a force of 30,000 into Thrace, which captured Arkadioupolis (Lüleburgaz) and carried off some 50,000 captives. The loot from Thrace was used to enrich Krum and his nobility, and included architectural elements utilized in the reconstruction of Pliska, perhaps largely by captured Byzantine artisans. Contemporary coin of Leo V. Leo V, surnamed The Armenian (775 – December 24, 820), was emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 813 to 820, after first distinguishing himself as a general in the reigns of Nicephorus I and Michael I Rhangabes. ... Basil, his son Constantine, and his second wife, emperess Eudoxia Ingerina. ... Lüleburgaz (Latin: Arcadiopolis) is a city in European Turkey. ...

Krum spent the winter preparing for a major attack on Constantinople, where rumor reported the assembling of an extensive siege park to be transported on 5,000 carts. However, before he set out, he died on April 13, 814, and was succeeded by his son Omurtag. April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... Events Louis the Pious succeeds Charlemagne as king of the Franks and Emperor. ... Omurtag or Omortag (Bulgarian: ) was ruler of Bulgaria from 814 to 831. ...

Legacy

Krum was also remembered for instituting the first known Bulgarian law code, which, in what may be the earliest example of state social policy in history, ensured subsidies to beggars and state protection to the poor of all Bulgarians. Through his laws he became known as a strict but just ruler, bringing Slavs and Bulgars into a centralized state. Drinking, slander and robbery were severely punished under Krum, an extraordinary personality that has impressed many prominent Europeans for centuries. Equality and the balancing of our interests under law is symbolised by a blindfold and weighing scales For other senses of this word, see Law (disambiguation). ...

Influence in Fiction

His legislation was paid tribute to in the works of Michel de Montaigne. François Rabelais described Krum's state as a country where there had been no treachery, slander and theft. Krum was the prototype of Prospero in The Tempest 1 by William Shakespeare, one of Grifius' characters in Germany, and Corneille's in France. Michel de Montaigne Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (IPA pronunciation: []) (February 28, 1533 – September 13, 1592) was an influential French Renaissance writer, generally considered to be the inventor of the personal essay. ... François Rabelais François Rabelais (ca. ... Prospero is the protagonist in The Tempest, a play by William Shakespeare. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

In J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, Viktor Krum is a Quidditch player from Bulgaria. It is possible that Krum's name served as an inspiration for the character's surname. Joanne Rowling, OBE (born July 31, 1965[1]) is an English fiction writer who writes under the pen name J. K. Rowling. ... Cover of the first book in J. K. Rowlings series: Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone (British/Canadian/Australian/Irish/Japanese/Taiwanese/African version) The Harry Potter books are a series of fantasy novels by English writer J. K. Rowling. ... Viktor Krum (Виктор Крум in Bulgarian, born c. ... Quidditch is a fictional airborne ballgame played on broomsticks, a sort of magical variant of football or polo. ...

See also

• History of Bulgaria
• Bulgars

The history of Bulgaria as a separate country began in the 7th century with the arrival of the Bulgars and the foundation of the First Bulgarian Empire together with the local seven Slavic tribes, a union recognized by Byzantium in 681. ... Map showing the location of Bulgars, 650. ...

Sources and references

• Andreev, Jordan; Lazarov, Ivan; Pavlov, Plamen (1999). Кой кой е в средновековна България (Who is Who in Medieval Bulgaria) (in Bulgarian). 
• Fine Jr., John V.A. (1983). The Early Medieval Balkans. 
• (primary source) Iman, Bahši (1997). Džagfar Tarihy (vol. III). 
• (primary source) Syrien, patriarch of the Syrians Jacobites, Michel le (1905). “t. III”, J.–B. Chabot: Chronique de Michel le Syrien (in French). Paris: J.–B. Chabot, p. 17. 
• Theophanes the Confessor, Chronicle, Ed. Carl de Boor, Leipzig.
• Васил Н. Златарски, История на българската държава през средните векове, Част I, II изд., Наука и изкуство, София 1970, pp.321-376.

External links

• Borders of Bulgaria during the reign of Khan Krum
• History, Rulers of Bulgaria — Khan Krum
• SCRIPTOR INCERTUS — About the Emperor Nikephoros and how he left his bones in Bulgaria