The Old Bulgarian Historical and Chronicle Literature from the Middle of the 9th Century to the Beginning of the 11th Century

Abstract

The conversion of the Bulgarians to Christianity determined the development of the creation of chronicles in Bulgaria from the second half of the 9th century to the beginning of the 10th century. During this period, it became enriched in genre. At the end of the 9th century, abbreviated world history chronicles appeared in Bulgaria. They were of particular importance for the propagation of historical knowledge in society during the Old Bulgarian period. From this genre, we have preserved works known by the names „Историкни .зь. ь[оr]ь. съкrz..тц1," written by Bishop Constantine of Preslav and „иМтопнсь.ць. съкrь.тъц1." Together, they reflect one of the trends in the reorganization of Bulgarian historical thought after the conversion to Christianity.

During this period, the abbreviated form of chronicles, characteristic of Bulgaria at the end of the 7th century and the first half of the 9th century, also continues its development. It is reflected in the inscriptions of the chronicles and in the colophons. These monuments contributed to the strengthening of Bulgarian national consciousness. The most famous are: „The inscription of Joupan Dimitar" from 943 and „The inscription of King Ivan Vladislav". In the content of the chronicles, important places are occupied by „historical journalism" and historical narration. The author has studied the works „О пнсмн11,хъ ЧfЪНО­fН.Зць. J(fь.Бfь.", the narrative „The miracle of Saint George with the Bulgarian", and „The Legend of the Iron Cross."

The work „О пнсм~н1,хъ ЧfЪНОfН.Зць. КfЬ.БfЬ." is studied as historical journalism that has the greatest value at this time. It proves to be a true apology for the Slavic work. The historical narratives „The miracle of Saint George with the Bulgarian" and „The legend of the Iron Cross" show that a part of the historical literature of the late 9th and early 10th centuries began to gain more popularity. In the content of chronico-historical literature, some works from church literature of the Old Bulgarian period are also included: the first biography of Naum, the detailed biography of Clement of Ohrid, and the biography of the 15 martyrs of Tiverioupol by Theophylact of Ohrid, as well as the speech of Presbyter Kozma against the Bogomils. The place of these literary works, which include elements of the chronicle, in the history of chronicles during the Old Bulgarian period is always determined by the presence of historical data. There is no doubt that their external contribution expands and deepens the understanding of the content and forms of the Bulgarian chronico-historical tradition from the late 9th to the early 10th century. Their historical basis is sought in the peculiarities of their composition, in the limited number of elements in the chronicles, and in their content.

Translated Byzantine chronicles played a particularly important role in the formation of historical literature as such in the Old Bulgarian period. Thanks to them, the chronicles of John Malala, George Monk-Amartol, and George Synkell received a wider distribution; through a relatively brief comparative analysis of Greek and Slavic texts, the fundamental differences in the translations of chronicles into Old Bulgarian are pointed out.

In the final part of the study dedicated to the influence of the tradition of historical chronicles in Old Bulgarian on „Поссть. Рfмшных мт", an attempt is made to prove the Old Bulgarian origin of the work „Скь..зr..нт о ПfНМЖ~­ннн кннrъ" and to specify, as much as possible, the Old Bulgarian sources that participated in the creation of the oldest Russian chronicle. Through comparative analysis, it is assumed that the brief data related to the reigns of Kings Boris and Simeon were most likely taken from the Old Bulgarian translation of George Monk's chronicle.