11. Bulgars plays Pope against Patriarch Early Bulgaria nomadic horsemen from Altaic Steppe called Huns in early Greek sources (Onogurs)... under the yoke of the Avars population divided into clans and tribes each led by a boyar 1
Towards a kingdom Kubrat was of the kingly Dulo clan rightful heir of the Bulgar throne. He spent his adolescence in the Byzantine Empire educated and baptize in Constantinople Chronicle of John of Nikiu he overcame all the barbarians and heathens due to life-giving baptism (630) Kubrat unifies Bulgar tribes revolts against Avars forms alliance with Herakleios Korvat s son Asparuch not so friendly The Madara Rider (ca. 710 CE), large rock relief carved on the Madara Plateau east of Shumen, northeast Bulgaria 2
War when convenient 705 Peace Treaty 756-775 War again Constantine V (iconoclasm) and Khan Asparuh Bulgarians pacified until the rise of a new leader Bulgars become more urban Pliska The Khan Krum (809-14) by all accounts, a nasty piece of work 795 Charlemagne destroys Avars Bulgars grow in power Krum kills Emp. Nikephoros I uses his skull as a drinking cup made his fellow boyars drink from it to show allegiance 3
Krum feasts with his nobles, while the servant (right) is bringing the skull of Nikephoros already made a drinking cup full of wine from the Chronicle of John Skylitzes from nomadic pastoralism to sedentary farming cultural change: need to adapt to agrarian society everything from work day to economy dislocation and disassociation with ancient sacred places in the S. Russian steppe growing importance of the Slavs longer contact w/ Christianity cultural diffusion of sophisticated Byzantines all of this weakened the Bulgar hold of paganism 4
Khan Omurtag (814 831) Khan Omurtag watches the execution of Bishop Manuel, from the Chronicle of John Skylitzes Fear of Christianity closely tied into Byzantine imperialism Competition for the souls of distant lands Manassas Chronicle Bulgaria borders both Franks and Byzantines 862 Khan Boris (r. 852-907) renews alliance w/franks 864 Emp. Michael III makes a show of force sends army and fleet Boris I surrenders 864 Boris baptized in secret in Pliska spiritual adoption (becomes Michael) Boris acknowledges sovereignty of Constantinople given the title (basileus) Consequences of Kingly Conversion Old Bulgar clans (boyars) revolt immediately attempted assassination Boris rallies and crushes rebellion 865 persuaded by Greeks priests to execute 52 boyars and all their wife and kids Photios sends letter to Boris praising him as a new Constantine DOES NOT DISCUSS A BULGAR PATRIARCH 5
Boris plays both sides deep hatred for Byzantium in Bulgaria ethnic dualism w/slavs resentment of pagan clans over brutality Boris opens negotiations with Papacy what are his motivations? seeking independence looking to up the ante Boris plays both sides 866 sends a letter w/106 questions to the Pope Nicholas I Pope responds amazingly important for understanding Pagan religious attitudes and doctrinal differences between Western and Eastern churches Formalistic ritualism of Orthodoxy? baths on Wed and Fri? communions w/ no belts? no meat by eunuchs? no laymen conduct public prayers for rain? make sign of the cross before a meal? stand in church with arms crossed over torso? 6
3? of political importance 1. How many true Patriarchs are there? 2. Which (Rome or Const.) is second? 3. Did chrism and communion need to originate from Constantinople and was from there distributed throughout the world? Nicholas answers: questions 1 and 2: yes 5 patriarchs, but Rome is #1 Constantinople not founded by an Apostle should not be even considered a Patriarchate question 3: ridiculous and contemptuous What Boris?s reveal resentment at monastic interference into political decisions indicate Byzantine universal pretensions Bulgarian difficulties assimilating to sedentary life ruling class reconciling Christian life to military culture pagan ritual and traditions 7
Pope wins round 1 866 Greek clergy expelled from Bulgaria Photios sends encyclical letter 867 Patriarch excommunicates Pope filioque 868 Michael III assassinated new emperor Basil compelled to depose Photios new Patriarch Ignatius restores communion b/w E and W churches Michael III assassinated Michael III's marriage with Eudokia Dekapolitissa was childless emperor did not want to risk a scandal by attempting to marry his mistress Eudokia Ingerina daughter of the Varangian guard leader. The solution he chose was to have Ingerina marry his favorite courtier and chamberlain Basil the Macedonian To Cuckold and Kill Basil I: Armenian family resettled in Macedonia successful boxer and horse tamer left for the capital horse taming lead to royal appointment in stables Michael III befriends him makes him co-regent Michael dies under suspicious circumstances he was killed by Basil Basil and his son Leo VI (Wise) 8
Macedonian Dynasty (867-1056) Basil I Macedonian (867-86) Leo VI Wise (886-913) Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos (913-59) Nikephoros II Phokas (963-9) Basil II Bulgar Slayer (976-1025) Michael IV Pamphagonian (1034-41) Constantine IX Monomachus (1042-55) Who has jurisdiction of Bulgarian Church? Feb. 870 Council is held to judge who should be Patriarch Ignatius or Photios Photios excommunicated will be reinstated (in a future lecture) Bulgarian delegation asks Council to choose papal delegation not prepared for the question both sides use historical precedence neutral Patriarchs side w/constantinople E. Church wins Bulgaria Byzantines tread carefully careful not to make same mistakes divide up Bulgaria into diocese w/ Bishops at first from Constantinople soon elite Bulgarian youth come to capital for education among them, Boris son Symeon Bulgarian pagans clans down, but not out... (wait and see) 9
Help from Monastic Exiles Methodios companions convert Bulgaria Clement 886 Clement sent to Macedonia succeeds in what couldn t be done in Moravia 893 Bishop of Macedonia Naum remains in NE Bulgaria founds a school in Pliska royal patronage of Boris and Symeon Old Slavonic Boris abdicates (and reclaims) throne 889 Boris abdicates throne to retire to monastery Old Bulgar clans rise up eldest son Vladamir tool of boyars pact w/king Arnulf of Germany persecutes Christians for 4 years 893 Boris comes out of retirement summons son Symeon; becomes King moves capital from Pliska to more Christian Preslav Slavonic becomes official language of the country 10