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____ Presian I
Birth:          ABT  800 
Death:           852 

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_II_of_Bulgaria
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presian_I_of_Bulgaria
Presian (Bulgarian: ???????, ???????, ???????) was the Khan of Bulgaria from 836–
852. He ruled during an extensive expansion in Macedonia.
Origin[edit]

The composite picture of the Byzantine sources indicates that Presian I was the son 
of Zvinica (Zbenitzes), who was a son of Omurtag. In several older studies Presian is 
identified with his short-lived predecessor Malamir and it is assumed that this single 
character survived until the 850s as the direct predecessor of Boris I. This is very 
unlikely, as Malamir is attested as having been succeeded by his nephew (the son of 
his brother Zvinica), while Boris I was preceded by his father Presian. Zlatarski 
resolved the problems in the fragmentary sources by determining that Malamir's 
unnamed nephew and successor was in fact Presian, and Boris I was the latter's son.

The 17th century Volga Bulgar compilation Ja'far Tarikh, a work of disputed 
authenticity, represents Birdžihan (i.e., Presian) as the son of Sabanša (i.e., Zvinica), 
which may lend support to the interpretation of his origins now dominant in Bulgarian 
historiography.[clarification needed]
Conflict with Serbia and Byzantium[edit]

Presian may have been young and inexperienced at the time of his accession, and 
state affairs may have been dominated by the minister (Kavkhan) Isbul, as under 
Presian's uncle Malamir. Soon after Presian's accession the Slavs in the vicinity of 
Thessalonica rebelled against the Byzantine Empire in 837. Emperor Theophilos 
sought Bulgarian support in putting down the rebellion, but simultaneously arranged for 
his fleet to sail through the Danube delta and undertake a clandestine evacuation of 
some of the Byzantine captives settled in trans-Danubian Bulgaria by Krum and 
Omurtag.

In retaliation Isbul campaigned along the Aegean coasts of Thrace and Macedonia 
and captured the city of Philippi, where he set up a surviving memorial inscription set 
up in a local church. Isbul's campaign may have resulted in the establishment of 
Bulgarian suzerainty over the Slavic tribe of the Smolyani.

Presian's reign coincides with the extension of Bulgarian control over the Slavic tribes 
in and around Macedonia. It is known that the Serbs and Bulgars lived in peace until 
the invasion in 839 (the last years of Theophilos).[1] Vlastimir, the Knez of Serbia, 
united several Serbian tribes,[2] and Emperor Theophilos (r. 829–842) granted the 
Serbs independence,[3] thus the Serbs acknowledged nominal overlordship of the 
Emperor.[1] The annexation of western Macedonia by the Bulgars changed the 
political situation, Malamir or Presian may have seen a threat in the Serb 
consolidation, and opted to subjugate them in midst of the conquest of Slav lands.[1] 
Another cause might have been that the Byzantines wanted to divert the attention so 
that they could cope with the Slav Uprising in the Peloponnese, meaning they would 
have sent the Serbs to instigate the war.[4] Presian[5] invades Serbian territory 
between 839–842 (see Bulgarian–Serbian Wars). The invasion led to a 3-year war, 
Vlastimir was victorious;[6] Presian made no territorial gains, was heavily defeated and 
lost many of his men as the Serbs had a tactival advantage in the hills,[7] Presian was 
driven out by the army of Vlastimir.[4] The war ended with the death of Theophilos in 
842, which released Vlastimir from his obligations to the Byzantine Empire.[8]

He died in 852, and was succeeded by his son Boris I.

Honour[edit]

Presian Ridge on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named 
after Presian I of Bulgaria.


Marriage To ----- ----- () m. Notes Children by ----- -----
____ Boris I (ABT 830 - 2 May 907)
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