BULGARIA, LITTI,L, formerly a small kingdom, now a province of the Turkish empire, is bounded on west by Sell ia, from which it extends along the banks of the Danube, which is its northern boundary, to the Black Sea on the cast ; and is separated from Macedonia and Romania by :11ount I I mmus on the south. It is about 72 German miles in length, and 20 in breadth, except to wards the cast, where it stretches along the Black Sca nearly 40 miles. province constitutes the eastern part of the ancient Mysia, and received its present name front the Bulgarians, who settled here about the end 0! the seventh century. These barbarians, allured by the Roman wealth, left their native seats on the banks of the Volga, and ravaging with ruthless fury the countries through which they passed, broke into Thrace, and filled the whole empire with consternation. Notwithstandinr repeated checks and defeats front the Roman generals, they still continued their annual irruptions, carry ing off immense booty from the plundered provinces ; and, neat the close of the reign of Justinian (A. D. 560), Zabergan their chief, with seven thousand horse, passed the Da nube, and pitched his tents at the distance of 20 mile•, front Constantinople. The forces of the empire were employed on the distant frontiers ; crowds of clamorour, rustics surrounded the city, imploring food and protec tion ; and Justinian trembled for the safety of his capital But the arm of Belisarius was raised for the last time in its defence. At the head of 300 veterans, and a tumul tuary band of citizens and peasants, Belisarius advanced against the enemy. The shouts of the multitude dis pirited the barbarians ; and the desperate assault of the aged general and his guards threw them into confusion. The Bulgarians were routed ; and, after extorting heavy ransoms for their prisoners, and wasting the summer in the plains of Thrace, they were compelled to repass the Danube. Not discouraged by their frequent defeats, they repeated their devastations, and looked upon themselves as amply compensated for any loss they might sustain in battle, by the plunder which they collected in their march. In the reign of Constantine Pogonatus, a more numerous horde entered the Roman territories, and ra vaged at pleasure the northern provinces of the empire.
The forces of the emperor were unable to oppose them ; and Constantine at last consented to a dishonourable peace, and agreed to pay an annual tribute to his inva ders, upon condition that they should discontinue their inroads, and assist him against all his enemies. It was about this time that they settled in lower Mysia, and established the kingdom of Bulgaria—some say with the consent of Constantine, while others allege that they had formed a settlement in that province several years before the commencement of his reign. But his successor, Jus tinian II., refusing to acquiesce in the stipulated treaty, withdrew the promised tribute, and, invading their coun try, reduced them to great distress. Tit! triumph of Jus tinian, however, was but of short duration. His army was unexpectedly attacked by the Bulgarians, who gain ed a complete victory, and compelled him to confirm the treaty of his father. From that time an incessant warfare, interrupted by short intervals of precarious peace, was waged between the Romans and these restless intruders, until the beginning of the tenth cet.tury, when the Bulga rians had added to their dominions, by war or treaty, the provinces of Dardania, Thessalv, and t'n.: two Epirus's ; and the obscure town of Lvehnidus had been converted into the capital of the Bulgarian king. Their manners had been softened by their intercourse with the Greeks, and the introduction of the Christian religion; and Sime on, the heir of the throne, was educated in the schools and in the religion of Constantinople. Under his go vernment, Bulgaria began to assume a name among civi lized nations ; and his genius and valour rendered her the terror of the neighbouring kingdoms. The Romans had been dispirited by repeated defeats; Adrianople was in his power ; and preparations were making for the siege of the capital. But the progress of Simeon was arrested, by a demand for a personal conference with the Emperor Romanus. The Bulgarian dictated the condi tions of peace ; and the reconciliation was sealed by a do mestic alliance. This friendship, however, was soon dis turbed by the death of Simeon, with whom also died the glory and independence of Bulgaria. Ills feeble success ors were consumed by dissension, and presented their country an easy prey to the first invaders.