Pagan (Bulgaria)

Khan Pagan ( Bulgarian Паган ; † 768 ) was the ruler of Bulgaria from 767 to 768.

According to the Byzantine historian Nikephoros , Pagan was, like his predecessors, a supporter of a policy of equalization with the Byzantine Empire and a member of the Bulgarian nobility ( Boil ). After he had ascended the throne, he immediately began peace negotiations with the Byzantine emperor Constantine in Thrace . In the negotiations he criticized his compatriots for the expulsion of Sabin and the ongoing anarchy within the Bulgarian empire. At the end of the negotiations, both sides agreed on peace.

But when Pagan was on his way back from Thrace, the Byzantine Emperor surprisingly attacked the Bulgarian Empire. His troops marched over the passes of the Balkan Mountains to the Bulgarian capital Pliska and devastated some villages near the city walls. Apparently, however, Constantine was satisfied with this show of force and withdrew again. However, due to his indulgent attitude towards Byzantium, Pagan was murdered by his opponents while fleeing towards Varna .

literature

• Mosko Moskov: Imennik na bălgarskite hanove (novo tălkuvane) , Sofia 1988.
• Jordan Andreev, Ivan Lazarov, Plamen Pavlov: Koj koj ev srednovekovna Bălgarija , Sofia 1999.
• Bahši Iman: Džagfar Tarihy , vol. III, Orenburg 1997.

predecessor	Office	successor
Toktu	Khan of Bulgaria 767-768	Telerig