Maria

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BULGARIA.htm#BorisIdied907A v3.1 Updated 23 March 2016

BORIS, son of [PRESIAN Khan of the Bulgars & his wife --- or SWINIZA & his wife ---] (-2 May 907). The De Administrando Imperio of Konstantinos Porphyrogenetos names "Michael Borises Bulgariæ princeps" and his "pater Presiam"[23]. Boris was the son of Swiniza according to Theophylact of Ohrid[24]. He succeeded as BORIS I Khan of the Bulgars. A conflict with Byzantium early in his reign was settled by a peace treaty signed in [853]. He was baptised as MIKHAEL in Constantinople in 864, Emperor Mikhael III acting as his godfather[25]. He savagely repressed a rebellion by Bulgarian boyars against the Christianisation of Bulgaria. The De Administrando Imperio of Konstantinos Porphyrogenetos records that "Michael Borises Bulgariæ princeps" invaded Serbia but that "filium eius Blastemerum" was captured, forcing him to make peace[26]. Rebuffing Byzantine moves to appoint a Greek patriarch for Bulgaria, who would report to Constantinople, Boris turned to Pope Nicholas I in Rome to organise his new church[27]. The Pope rejected both Boris's proposed candidates for archbishop. Boris turned back to Constantinople, the new Patriarch Ignatius agreeing to grant the Bulgarian church certain privileges. A charter dated to [850/96] lists pilgrims from "Slavicæ nationis" to monasteries in Italy and includes "de Bolgaria…rex illorum Michahel et frater eius Dox et alius frater eius Gabriel et uxor eius Maria et filius eius Rasáte et alius Gabriel et tercius filius Simeon et quartus filius Jacob et filia eius dei ancella Praxi et alia filia eius Anna"[28]. He abdicated in 889, and became a monk at Tiča (near Preslav). He resumed power in 893 to lead a coup against his son Vladimir. Boris convened a council at Preslav which recognised Vladimir's deposition, released Boris's second surviving son Symeon from his monastic vows, and proclaimed him the new ruler. The council also decreed that Preslav should replace Pliska as the Bulgarian capital[29]. Boris returned to his monastery[30].

m MARIA, daughter of ---. A charter dated to [850/96] lists pilgrims from "Slavicæ nationis" to monasteries in Italy and includes "de Bolgaria…rex illorum Michahel…et uxor eius Maria et filius eius Rasáte et alius Gabriel et tercius filius Simeon et quartus filius Jacob et filia eius dei ancella Praxi et alia filia eius Anna"[31].

• [23] Konstantinos Porphyrogenitos De Administrando Imperio 32, p. 154.
• [24] Fine (1991), p. 112, citing Theophylact of Ohrid.
• [25] Bekker, I. (ed.) (1842) Leo Grammaticus, Corpus Scriptorum Historiæ Byzantinæ (Bonn) ("Leo Grammaticus") 238, Georgii Monachi Vitæ Recentiorum Imperatorum (referred to as Georgius Monachus Continuatus in PBE I CD-Rom) ("Georgius Monachus"), 824, and Symeon Magister (referred to as Pseudo Symeon in PBE I CD-Rom) 665, quoted in PBE I (CD-Rom).
• [26] Konstantinos Porphyrogenitos De Administrando Imperio 32, p. 154.
• [27] Liber Pontificalis, 107, 68-75.
• [28] Monumenta Historiam Slavorum Meridionalium, Vol. VII, 194, p. 382.
• [29] Fine (1991), p. 130.
• [30] Fine (1991), p. 131.
• [31] Monumenta Historiam Slavorum Meridionalium, Vol. VII, 194, p. 382.