In the medieval history of Europe, Bulgaria's status as the Bulgarian Empire (Bulgarian: Българско царство, Balgarsko tsarstvo [ˈbəlɡɐrskʊ ˈt͡sarstvʊ]), wherein it acted as a key regional power (particularly rivaling Byzantium in Southeastern Europe^[1]) occurred in two distinct periods: between the seventh and eleventh centuries, and again between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries. The two "Bulgarian Empires" are not treated as separate entities, but rather as one state restored after a short period as a self-governing theme with the Eastern Roman Empire.

The First Bulgarian Empire was established as a result of an expansion of Old Great Bulgaria to the territory south of Danube River, and is usually described as having lasted between 632 and 1018, when it was subjugated by the Byzantine Empire and Kievan Rus' despite Samuel's fierce resistance. It gradually reached its cultural and territorial apogee in the 9th century and early 10th century under Boris I and Simeon the Great, when it developed into the cultural and literary centre of Slavic Europe, as well as one of the largest states in Europe.

The medieval Bulgarian state was restored as the Second Bulgarian Empire after a successful uprising of two nobles from Tarnovo, Asen and Peter, in 1185, and existed until it was conquered during the Ottoman invasion of the Balkans in the late 14th century, with the date of its subjugation usually given as 1396 or 1422. Under Ivan Asen II in the first half of the 13th century it gradually recovered much of its former power, though this did not last long due to internal problems and foreign invasions.

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  The First Bulgarian Empire's greatest territorial extent during the reign of Tsar Simeon^[2]
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  Map of Bulgaria in its largest extension during Samuel's reign
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  The Bulgarian Empire during the reign of Ivan Asen II
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  The Second Bulgarian Empire circa 1340

• First Bulgarian Empire
• Second Bulgarian Empire
• History of Bulgaria

• Zlatarski, Vasil N. (1918). Medieval History of the Bulgarian State (in Bulgarian). Sofia: Science and Arts Publishers, 2nd Edition (Petar Petrov, Ed.), Zahari Stoyanov Publishers, 4th Edition, 2006. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/954-736-628-4 |954-736-628-4 [[Category:Articles with invalid ISBNs]]]]. ((cite book)): Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
• Бакалов, Георги (2003). Електронна издание – История на България (in Bulgarian). София: Труд, Сирма. ISBN 954528613X. ((cite book)): Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Делев, Петър (2006). История и цивилизация за 11. клас (in Bulgarian). Труд, Сирма. ((cite book)): Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Българите и България (in Bulgarian). Министерство на външните работи на България, Труд, Сирма. 2005.
• Fine, Jr., John V.A. (1991). The Early Medieval Balkans. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0-472-08149-3.

v t e Topics on the First Bulgarian Empire and Second Bulgarian Empire
State Military Culture Origin Bulgars South Slavs Old Great Bulgaria States First Bulgarian Empire (681–1018) Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1396/1422) De facto independent Bulgarian states from the Second Empire Tsardom of Vidin (1371–1396/1422) Despotate of Dobruja (Principality of Karvuna) (1337/1346–1413) Administration Aristocracy Great Boyar Council Council of Preslav Capitals: Pliska (681–893) Preslav (893–972) Skopje (972–992) Ohrid (992–1018) Tarnovo (1185–1393) Nicopolis (1393–1396) Vidin (1393–1396) Important rulers First Bulgarian Empire Asparukh Tervel Krum Omurtag Boris I Simeon I Peter I Samuel Second Bulgarian Empire Ivan Asen I Kaloyan Ivan Asen II Konstantin Tih Michael Shishman Ivan Alexander Economy Bulgarian coinage Bulgarian economy Bulgarian army Bulgarian navy Conflicts Byzantine–Bulgarian wars Croatian–Bulgarian wars Bulgarian–Hungarian wars Bulgarian–Latin wars Bulgarian–Ottoman wars Bulgarian–Serbian wars Major battles First Bulgarian Empire Battle of Ongal Siege of Constantinople Battle of Marcellae Battle of Pliska Croatian–Bulgarian battle of 854 Battle of Southern Buh Battle of Achelous Battle of the Gates of Trajan Battle of Kleidion Battle of Dyrrhachium Second Bulgarian Empire Battle of Tryavna Battle of Adrianople Battle of Klokotnitsa Battle of Skafida Battle of Velbazhd Battle of Rusokastro Battle of Chernomen Siege of Tarnovo Battle of Nicopolis Major uprisings Uprising of Peter Delyan Uprising of Georgi Voyteh Uprising of Asen and Peter Uprising of Ivaylo Uprising of Konstantin and Fruzhin Literature Bulgarian literature Glagolitic script Early Cyrillic alphabet Cyrillic script Old Church Slavonic Preslav Literary School Ohrid Literary School Royal charters Prominent writers and scholars: Saint Naum Clement of Ohrid Chernorizets Hrabar Constantine of Preslav John the Exarch Evtimiy of Tarnovo Gregory Tsamblak Art and architecture Architecture of the Tarnovo Artistic School Painting of the Tarnovo Artistic School Famous examples: Madara Rider Great Basilica Round Church Holy Forty Martyrs Church Boyana Church Tsarevets Baba Vida Cherven Religion Tengrism Slavic Paganism Christianisation Eastern Orthodox Bulgarian Orthodox Archbishopric of Ohrid Roman Catholic Bogomilism
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