ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATA ON THE MASS AND PERMANENT SETTLEMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF TODAY’S SOUTH BULGARIA WITH A BULGARIAN POPULATION IN THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES

Abstract

Тhe analysis of the historical and, mostly, reliable archaeological data we can draw the conclusion that the long-term settlement of the Bulgarian population and the settlement of the territory of modern Southern Bulgaria by the Bulgarian state began only after the conclusion of the “Deep Peace” between Bulgaria and Byzantine empire in 864. Before that today’s southern Bulgarian lands remained a buffer zone between permanently belligerent neighbouring countries, which made the territory uncomfortable for settlement.  That is why historical sources describe it as “waste land”. After it had been given to the Bulgarian state, the region became peaceful and favourable settlement conditions were created. Thus in the second half of the 9^th century rapid “Bulgarianization” of the whole territory of modern Southern Bulgaria followed giving a strong impetus to the development of settlements. At that time Bulgaria reached to the south from Sidera to Debelt. Later on, under the rule of Tsar Simeon (893–927) – Knyaz Boris’s heir – the Bulgarian state expanded its territory to the south. The boundary began from Midiya, passed through Adrianopol to the north, past the Derventski Heights up to Mileona, crossed the Northern Rhodopes and then went down across the Mesta River, above Thessaloniki and across the Vardar reaching up to the Adriatic Sea.

It is unlikely that being the greatest power on the Balkan Peninsula in the 10^th ccentury the Bulgarian Tsardom managed to obtain and settle with Bulgarian population those vast territories. It is most certain, though, that the lands of modern Southern Bulgaria were Bulgarian and remained within the boundaries of the Tsardom up to 967.