Page "History of Bulgaria" Paragraph 2

In the 11th century, the First Bulgarian Empire collapsed under Rus ' and Byzantine attacks, and became part of the Byzantine Empire until 1185.

Then, a major uprising led by two brothers-Asen and Peter of the Asen dynasty, restored the Bulgarian state to form the Second Bulgarian Empire.

After reaching its apogee in the 1230s, Bulgaria started to decline due to a number of factors, most notably its geographic position which rendered it vulnerable to simultaneous attacks and invasions from many sides.

In the late 13th century, Bulgaria was squeezed between the advancing Mongol hordes from the north and the Latin Empire from the south, eventually becoming a Mongol tributary state for a period of 25 years.

A peasant rebellion, one of the few successful such in history, established the swineherd Ivaylo as a Tsar.

His short reign was essential in recovering-at least partially-the integrity of the Bulgarian state.

A relatively thriving period followed after 1300, but ended in 1371, when factional divisions caused Bulgaria to split into three small Tsardoms.

By 1396, they were subjugated by the Ottoman Empire.

Following the elimination of the Bulgarian nobility and clergy by the Turks, Bulgaria entered an age of oppression, intellectual stagnation and misgovernment that would leave its culture shattered and isolated from Europe for the next 500 years.

Some of its cultural heritage found its way to Russia, where it was adopted and developed.