| It is considered that Proto Bulgarians (also known as | | | | Native American wigwams. The main activity of the |
| Bulgars or Bolgars) belong to the Turkic speaking | | | | Proto Bulgarians was the raising and breeding of all |
| people and Turkic ethnos. Their first settlements | | | | sorts of cattle and especially horses which were used |
| were in Central Asia where most of the Turkic tribes | | | | in the powerful Bulgarian cavalry, the backbone of |
| were formed. There are many hypotheses about the | | | | the Proto Bulgarian army. The horses were used also |
| origin of the name "Bulgars". The oldest explanation | | | | for transportation, and their meat and the mares' milk |
| can be found in Joseph Genesius chronicle of 11th | | | | were important parts of the Proto Bulgarian |
| century. Accordind to it, the name "Bulgar" comes | | | | everyday diet. Agriculture was slowly finding a place |
| from the name of their master Bulgar. | | | | in the activities of the Proto Bulgarians and was |
| In 12th century a theory occurred that the name | | | | primarily a supplement to the cattle-raising, as well as |
| comes from the name of the Volga river, called by | | | | hunting and fishing. Most agricultural products were |
| Proto Bulgarians "Bulga". Nowadays there is a theory | | | | either taken by force from or were exchanged |
| that the name comes from the Turkic verb "bulg" | | | | (usually with the neighboring Slavic tribes). There |
| meaning mix, stir. According to other theory that | | | | were skilled proto-Bulgarian artisans, smiths, builders, |
| means also rebels, mutineers. Lately another theory | | | | and jewelers. Slavery was widespread, even though |
| occurred claiming that the name comes from a | | | | it never became the backbone of Proto Bulgarian |
| totem "Bulgar" – rodent in the family Squiridae. In | | | | economy. The slaves were usually prisoners of war, |
| 5th -6th centuries the Proto Bulgarians divided into | | | | who were used as shepherds, domestic servants, |
| two groups: Kutrigurs and Utigurs. The Kutrigurs | | | | and builders of fortresses etc. Some of the Proto |
| inhabited the land in the north of the Black sea and in | | | | Bulgarian titles are as follows: khan (king), boil (boyar), |
| the west of the river Don. In the beginning of 7th | | | | kanartikin (accessor), kavkhan (vice khan), boila |
| century they became part of the Old Great Bulgaria | | | | kavkhan (chief kavkhan), ichirgu boil (Major General |
| of khan Kubrat. The Utrigurs lived in the east of the | | | | Commandant), khana boila kolobar (chief priest,) |
| river Don. In 7th century the Utrigurian tribes also | | | | tarkan (khan’s advisor), boritarkan (city mayor), |
| became part of the Old Great Bulgaria of khan | | | | kolobar (barbar, doctor and priest), khana boila |
| Kubrat. After the death of khan Kubrat, his sons | | | | kolobrus (barber of the khan’s commanding |
| Asparuh and Kuber set out for the river of Danube. | | | | officers) etc. |
| Another group, led by Alzek, traveled west and | | | | In the 20th century the most popular hypothesis |
| reached the todays Italy. Asparuh settled around the | | | | relative to Proto Bulgarians’ origin is that Bulgars |
| Danube delta and in 681 his group founded the state | | | | came from the Huns. As most of the modern |
| of Bulgaria.. Kuber’s group settled first in Panonia | | | | nations, the Bulgarian nation was formed by uniting a |
| and then in Bitola but the Byzantine chronoclea called | | | | lot of ethnoses and tribes, probably more than |
| this settlement Bulgaria too. | | | | hundred but the biggest ones were the Slavs and the |
| The majority of the Proto Bulgarians lived in yurtas - | | | | Bulgars. |
| large tents made of skins and leather, similar to the | | | | |