Bulgarian political and ethnic presence in the lands of present-day Albania and Greek Epirus (7th – 15th centuries)

BULGARIAN POLITICAL AND ETHNIC PRESENCE IN THE LANDS OF PRESENT-DAY ALBANIA AND GREEK EPIRUS (7th – 15th CENTURIES) 

Tervel Popov

 (Summary)

 Large part of today’s Albania and Greek Epirus spent the period between mid 9th century and 1018 within the borders of the Bulgarian Khanat/Tsardom. These lands were integrated in the militaryadministrative and ecclesiastical organization of Bulgaria during the early medieval period and had significant place in the overall process of Christianization and enlightenment after the conversion into Christianity. Among the important towns and fortresses in these lands were Devol, Glavinitsa, Drach (modern Durrës, Albania), Kanina, Belgrade (modern Berat, Albania), Koprinishta and others. After the restoration of the Bulgarian Tsardom (12th – 14th c.) Albania and Greek Epirus were under its rule only for short periods but large number of Bulgarian population continued to inhabit these lands. 

Keywords: Albania, Greek Epirus, Bulgarian Tsardom, Bulgarian rule, Bulgarian population.