Bulgaria History, Language and Culture

The lands of modern Bulgaria were inhabited in antiquity by the Thracians, whose kingdoms left behind elaborate tombs, gold treasures and fortified settlements. The region was gradually incorporated into the Roman Empire during the 1st century AD and later became part of the Byzantine Empire.

The First Bulgarian Empire was established in 681, traditionally regarded as the foundation of the Bulgarian state. Under rulers such as Boris I and Simeon I, medieval Bulgaria became a major power in southeastern Europe. Christianity was adopted in the 9th century, while the development and spread of the Cyrillic script became one of Bulgaria's most enduring cultural legacies.

After a period of Byzantine rule, the Second Bulgarian Empire emerged in 1185, with Veliko Tarnovo as its capital. It flourished during the 13th century before weakening through internal divisions and external pressures. By the end of the 14th century, Bulgarian territories had been absorbed into the expanding Ottoman Empire.

Ottoman rule lasted for almost five centuries. A Bulgarian cultural and national revival gathered momentum during the 18th and 19th centuries, accompanied by demands for religious and political independence. The April Uprising of 1876 was brutally suppressed but attracted international attention to the Bulgarian cause.

Following Russia's victory over the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, an autonomous Bulgarian principality was established. Bulgaria declared full independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. The country subsequently fought in the Balkan Wars and entered both world wars, experiencing significant territorial and political upheaval.

After World War II, Bulgaria became a communist state closely aligned with the Soviet Union. Todor Zhivkov dominated Bulgarian politics from 1954 until 1989, when the communist system began to collapse across Eastern Europe. Multiparty elections followed in 1990, and Bulgaria embarked on a difficult transition towards parliamentary democracy and a market economy.

Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007. Integration with the EU continued with entry into the Schengen Area: air and sea border controls were removed in 2024, followed by land border controls on 1 January 2025. Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, replacing the lev and becoming the 21st member of the euro area.

Did You Know?

• The Cyrillic alphabet developed from the literary traditions of the First Bulgarian Empire and is closely associated with the medieval Preslav Literary School. Today, Cyrillic is used by hundreds of millions of people across numerous countries.
• Bulgaria is one of the oldest states in Europe to have retained its original name since its establishment in 681.
• The Varna Necropolis, discovered near the Black Sea coast, contained some of the world's oldest known worked gold objects, dating from the fifth millennium BC.