Greatest Bulgarian ruler

 From my tiny knowledge of Bulgarian rulers the man who seems to stand out most atleast from the period of history I most studied is Krum when he smashed the Byzantines and killed the Emperor Nicephorus I at Pliska.

 I dont know enough about Bulgaria to really argue more than that.

Originally posted by hansel simeon please..... come on

Originally posted by Komnenos Anybody who has the great sense of humour to turn the skull of a Byzantine Emperor into a drinking cup, gets my vote!

But seriously, it wasn't an act directed at humiliating the emperor. Actually, it was an old pagan tradidition, according to which, if you drink from the skull of your foe you absorb his power. A little barbaric you might say, but that's the way the ball bounces.

Symeon was also a good leader. Byzantium gave him tribute and he had the same status as Byzantine emperors. His only one blunder was he wanted to occupy the 'inconquerable' Constaninople. In Hungary was taught in primary schools his two war against Hungarians (one of them was very unsuccosfully for Bulgarians but the other one was very destroying for us).

Originally posted by the Bulgarian Bulgaria had defeated the Byzantines many times long before khan Krum. Bulgaria was recognized by the Byzantine Empire in 681 because it crushed it in a war the previous year.

 The battle of Pliska is one of the most famous if not THE most famous victory the Bulgars had over Byzantium, the fact the Byzantine emperor was killed makes it ven more dramatic, only a handful of Roman/Byzantine emperors were ever killed or captured in battle so its a big deal.

 A few Emperors died in battle during civil wars like Gordian II and Philip the Arab the latter ironically was killed by Decius who would himself later be killed in battle as you said. Herennius Etruscus was Decius' son and joint emperor and he was killed with Decius so thats effectively 2 in 1 go.

So overall the following 7 Emperors died in combat with enemies outside the empire or were captured by them. If ive missed an Emperor then feel free to let me know but I think ive got them all.

(Discounting Emperors killed in civil wars/rebellions by other Romans etc.)

Decius 251AD the first Emperor killed in battle against barbarians.

Valerian 259/260AD captured and died in captivity with the Persians.

Julian the Apostate 363 killed as a result of a wound recieved in battle against the Persians.

Valens (eastern emperor) 378 killed in battle against the Goths at Adrianople.

Nicephorus I 811 killed by the Bulgars at the battle of Pliska.

Romanus IV 1071 captured by Turks at the battle of Manzikert.

Constantine XI 1453 killed by Turks during the siege of Constantinople.

Edited by Heraclius

An  important thing - the Bulgarian army was defeated in Pliska. However, it organized an ambush for the retreating Byzantines in a mountain pass and that's where the Byzantine army was completely destroyed.

But tell me, what do you know about Bulgarian history? In Hungary or  how much  do you learn about Bulgaria in scool? I know a few things about Hungary and can name a few Hungarian kings. Infact, we've interacted a lot through history with the Hungarians, cuz' most of the time we had a common border and were neighbours.

strategos, khan Krum was from Panonia.

 

Edited by the Bulgarian

I thought they were 2 killed by the Bulgars, but I've edited my post according to your post above. Still, I'll dowble-check on that to make sure.

I'm not sure whether he is the second emperor,  suposedly killed by the Bulgarians in battle.

Another ruler, who diserves attention is tzar Kaloian. In 1205 he smashed the army of the newly established Latin Empire near Adrianople (Odrin in Bulgarian, Edrine in modern Turkey), captured the Emperor - Baldwin � of Flanders and took him as a captive to the capital - Tarnovo. Baldwin died in a tower that still stands and is now known as Baldin's tower.

Originally posted by Heraclius Romanus IV 1071 captured by Turks at the battle of Manzikert.

Romanus IV was released by Alp Arslan, returned home, but was, following the good old traditions of the Byzantine Empire, blinded by his erstwhile Co-Emperor and successor Michael VII, and sent to exile, where he died shortly after from the wounds he had received during the rather clumsily executed operation.
Maybe we should put together a list a list of Roman, icluding Byzantine, Emperors who died of old age, peacefully in their sleep. It might be equally short than the above.