Bulgar History began to take shape with the creation of Old Great Bulgaria, led by the famous Kubrat Khan. After his death, the Bulgars, an Oghur -Turkic-speaking people, split into three parts. The first group migrated westwards to the Balkans under the leadership of Asparuh. The second smaller group stayed in what is now Ukraine and became a vassal of the Turkic Khazar Empire. But a third group, consisting of several thousand people, left the area completely by heading north. After wandering along the Volga, they eventually settled in the confluence of the Volga and Kama rivers and founded their own state, known as Volga Bulgaria. It was located in the modern republic of Tatarstan in Russia.
The Volga Bulgars' interactions with several major powers, including the Khazars, the Kyivan Rus' and even ambassadors from the faraway Islamic caliphates, were characterized by a mixture of trade, diplomacy, and military conflict. From the 7th to the 13th centuries, they played a crucial role in the transfer of trade goods and culture from East to West, from South to North. The Volga Bulgars were also the first Turkic people ever to convert to Islam, although Tengrism and shamanistic beliefs remained present among the general population.
In the 13th century, their state was completely overrun by the Mongol Empire. However, their legacy survives to this day. As one of the most important but also most underrated entities along the Eurasian steppe belt, the Volga Bulgars certainly deserve our attention.
This documentary, produced and narrated by Emre-E. Yavuz for Khan's Den, aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of Volga Bulgarian culture, social structure, and diplomatic relations, shedding light on their often underappreciated role in shaping the geopolitical and cultural landscape of the medieval Eurasian steppes between European powers such as the Rus' in the west and nomadic powers like the Kipchaks in the east.
By examining contemporary chronicles, archaeological evidence, and the broader historical context, we will reconstruct the world of the Volga Bulgars and their lasting impact on Steppe, Turkic, and broader Eurasian history.
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