Portal:Bulgaria

Topics Culture Geography Health History Mathematics Nature People Philosophy Religion Society Technology Bulgaria (Bulgarian: България, [bɤlɡˈariɤ]), officially the Republic of Bulgaria (Bulgarian: Република България, [rɛpˈubliˌkɤ bɤlɡˈariɤ]), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the east, Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Romania to the north, mostly along the Danube. Bulgaria's civilized history dates back more than six millennia to a prehistoric time and place within the heart of its territory that marks the birth of Europe's and possibly the world's first literary culture. Though relatively small in terms of territory and population, Bulgaria's continuous historical wealth throughout prominent cyclical eras of growth, decline and medieval renaissance rivals that of the much larger and more populous countries of China, India and Egypt. The modern Bulgarian state was first established in 681 AD creating the First Bulgarian Empire. After the Empire fell to the Byzantine Empire in 1018 the Second one took its place in 1185. The Second Bulgarian Empire established much of Bulgaria's heritage we know today. The empire was completely occupied by the Ottoman Empire in 1396 and fell in 1422. The current Bulgarian state declared independence in 1878 and was completely separated from The Ottoman Empire in 1908. Part of the Eastern Bloc after World War II, today Bulgaria is a democratic, unitary, parliamentary republic, a member of the European Union and NATO. The capital is Sofia, one of the oldest capital cities in Europe. Ivan Asen II (Bulgarian: Иван Асен II, and also Йоан Асен II, Ioan Asen II, in English sometimes John Asen II) was emperor (tsar) of Bulgaria from 1218 to 1241. He was a son of Ivan Asen I of Bulgaria and Elena (religious name Evgenija). Elena, who survived until after 1235, is sometimes alleged to be a daughter of Stefan Nemanja of Serbia, but this relationship is questionable and would have caused various canonical impediments to marriages between various descendants. Ivan Asen II's father was one of the two founders of the Asen dynasty and the Second Bulgarian Empire. Under Ivan Asen II's rule, the empire would become the dominant force in the Balkans for about a decade, 1230-1241. Ivan Asen II is considered, with good reason, one of the most important and successful rulers of Bulgaria. His work included the restoration of the autocephalous Bulgarian patriarchate in 1235 (after a long hiatus since 1018), the minting of the first Bulgarian non-imitation coinage in both gold and copper, the suppression of the centrifugal forces that had plagued his predecessor's reign, and the expansion of Bulgaria's frontiers in all directions. Khan Omurtag, ruler of the First Bulgarian Empire from 814 to 831 AD. His rule saw a territorial expansion and active construction of large temples and palaces. August 29: Four men go before Hungarian court after 71 found dead in lorry June 27: Russians continue to top podium on third day of European Deaf Swimming Championships June 25: Russians top podium on second day of European Deaf Swimming Championships August 7: Deaflympics 2013: US swimmer breaks second world record June 23: One Australian male and female archer qualify for Olympics after Ogden event February 12: Anti-ACTA activists protest across Europe February 8: European cold spell kills hundreds May 15: Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest ...that Perperikon (ruins pictured), an ancient Thracian city, is the largest megalith ensemble in the Balkans? ...that an ore-miner settlement existed on the present location of Chiprovtsi since Thracian times, and was Kiprovets by the Slavs who inhabited it? ...that during the period of Communist rule, Dobrich was renamed Tolbukhin , but was renamed back to Dobrich by presidential decree in 1990? ...that Vardim Island, the third largest Bulgarian Danubian island, is a protected wetland and bird nesting area of national importance? 20px Bulgaria • Education • Religion • Sport • Health Society • Provinces • Municipalities • Cities and towns Geography • Subdivisions • Environment • Buildings and structures • Tourist attractions • Rivers • Extreme points 20px Economy • Companies • Communication • Science and technology • Tourism • Transport Culture • Arts • Cuisine • Languages • Literature • Media • Music Template:/box-header History • Thracians • Bulgars • Slavs • Bulgarians • Old Great Bulgaria • First Bulgarian Empire • Second Bulgarian Empire • History of Ottoman Bulgaria • National awakening • History of Independent Bulgaria • Balkan Wars • During World War I • During World War II • History of the People's Republic of Bulgaria • History since 1989 Geography • Provinces • Municipalities • Cities and towns • Villages • Rivers • Extreme points Politics • Government • Presidents • Prime Ministers • National Assembly • Elections • Parties • Foreign relations Culture • Music • Language • Literature • Religion • Education 20px Economy • Communications • Tourism Template:/box-header Requested articles • Bulgarian architecture • Bulgarian art • Bulgarian gardeners • Traycho Traykov • Totyu Mladenov • Alexander Tsvetkov • Nona Karadzhova • Stefan Konstantinov • Minko Gerdzhikov • Nikolay Liliev • Teodor Trayanov • Bulgarian dress • Bulgarian art • Pliska–Preslav culture • Evgeni Tanchev Expand • Dulo clan • Yantra River • Nestinarstvo • Vrana Palace • Pliska • Gate of Trajan • Georgi Ivanov • Georgi Benkovski • Ekaterina Dafovska • Name days in Bulgaria • Evlogi Georgiev • Turks in Bulgaria • Sliven • Shumen • Shishman dynasty Requested images • Klokotnitsa • Naftex Stadium • Palitsi • Vrana Palace • Dimitar Petkov Further information • WikiProject Bulgaria • Bulgarian Collaboration Project • Translation into English/Bulgarian Bulgarian Empire European Union Romania Turkey Greece Serbia Republic of Macedonia The following Wikimedia sister projects provide more on this subject: What are portals? 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