Kormisosh of Bulgaria
Encyclopedia
Kormisosh was a ruler of Bulgaria
during the 8th century.
The Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers states that he belonged to the Ukil
(or Vokil
) clan and ruled for 17 years. According to the chronology developed by Moskov, Kormisosh would have reigned from 737 to 754. Other chronologies place his reign in 753–756, but cannot be reconciled with the testimony of the "Namelist" (or would require us to assume a long period of co-regency).
The "Namelist" stresses the fact that the accession of Kormisosh represents a change of dynasty, but it remains unclear whether that was done through violence. The reign of Kormisosh inaugurated a prolonged period of war with the Byzantine Empire
. The Byzantine Emperor Constantine V
Kopronymos had begun to fortify the frontier and started settling Armenians
and Syria
ns in Byzantine Thrace
. In response Kormisosh demanded the payment of tribute, perhaps constituting an increase in the traditional payments. Rebuffed, Kormisosh raided into Thrace
, reaching the Anastasian Wall
stretching between the Black Sea
and the Sea of Marmara
40 km in front of Constantinople
. Constantine V marched out with his army, defeated the Bulgarians and turned them to flight. It is sometimes supposed that this defeat brought the reign of Kormisosh to its end through a palace coup, but the next ruler Vinekh
may have been from the same royal house.
The 17th century Volga Bulgar compilation Ja'far Tarikh (a work of disputed authenticity) represents Korymdžes (i.e., Kormisosh) as the maternal grandson of Ajjar of Bulgaria
(otherwise unknown, but possibly the first of the lost names of the "Namelist"). According to the same work, Komisosh had been chosen as ruler on the deposition of Sevar and at the end turned abdicated in favor of his own sister's son Bunek (i.e., Vinekh).
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
during the 8th century.
The Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers states that he belonged to the Ukil
Uokil
Uokil is one of Yuezhi tribes, defeated and displaced by the Hun's expansion in the 2nd century BC. Uokil may have been one of the two Yuezhi dynastic tribes. Traces of ethnonym "Uokil" are found in the East Mongolia and Manchuria territories in the Syanbi Uokil (Ukil, Vokil, Augal) is one of...
(or Vokil
Uokil
Uokil is one of Yuezhi tribes, defeated and displaced by the Hun's expansion in the 2nd century BC. Uokil may have been one of the two Yuezhi dynastic tribes. Traces of ethnonym "Uokil" are found in the East Mongolia and Manchuria territories in the Syanbi Uokil (Ukil, Vokil, Augal) is one of...
) clan and ruled for 17 years. According to the chronology developed by Moskov, Kormisosh would have reigned from 737 to 754. Other chronologies place his reign in 753–756, but cannot be reconciled with the testimony of the "Namelist" (or would require us to assume a long period of co-regency).
The "Namelist" stresses the fact that the accession of Kormisosh represents a change of dynasty, but it remains unclear whether that was done through violence. The reign of Kormisosh inaugurated a prolonged period of war with the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. The Byzantine Emperor Constantine V
Constantine V
Constantine V was Byzantine emperor from 741 to 775; ); .-Early life:...
Kopronymos had begun to fortify the frontier and started settling Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
ns in Byzantine Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
. In response Kormisosh demanded the payment of tribute, perhaps constituting an increase in the traditional payments. Rebuffed, Kormisosh raided into Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
, reaching the Anastasian Wall
Anastasian Wall
The Anastasian Wall or the Long Walls of Thrace is an ancient, stone and turf fortification located west of Istanbul, Turkey built by the Byzantines during the late 5th century...
stretching between the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
and the Sea of Marmara
Sea of Marmara
The Sea of Marmara , also known as the Sea of Marmora or the Marmara Sea, and in the context of classical antiquity as the Propontis , is the inland sea that connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea, thus separating Turkey's Asian and European parts. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Black...
40 km in front of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. Constantine V marched out with his army, defeated the Bulgarians and turned them to flight. It is sometimes supposed that this defeat brought the reign of Kormisosh to its end through a palace coup, but the next ruler Vinekh
Vinekh of Bulgaria
Vinekh was ruler of Bulgaria in the mid-8th century.According to the Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers, Vinekh reigned for 7 years and was a member of the Uokil clan . According to the chronology developed by Moskov, Vinekh would have reigned 754–762...
may have been from the same royal house.
The 17th century Volga Bulgar compilation Ja'far Tarikh (a work of disputed authenticity) represents Korymdžes (i.e., Kormisosh) as the maternal grandson of Ajjar of Bulgaria
Ajjar of Bulgaria
Ajjar or Ayyar , is the name assigned by the 17th century Volga Bulgar source Ja'far Tarikh , to the successor of Tervel on the throne of Bulgaria....
(otherwise unknown, but possibly the first of the lost names of the "Namelist"). According to the same work, Komisosh had been chosen as ruler on the deposition of Sevar and at the end turned abdicated in favor of his own sister's son Bunek (i.e., Vinekh).