Editing Bulgars (section)

=== Social structure ===
[[File:Simbol_of_dulo.jpg|alt=A symbol|left|thumb|The symbol ıYı is associated with the [[Dulo clan]] and the [[Oghuric languages|Oghur]] [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] groups as well as an [[Oghuz Turks|Oghuz]] tribe [[Kayı (tribe)|Kayi]]]]
The Bulgars, at least the Danubian Bulgars, had a well-developed clan and military administrative system of "inner" and "outer" tribes,{{sfn|Sophoulis|2011|pp=69–70}} governed by the ruling clan.{{sfn|Sophoulis|2011|p=69}} They had many titles, and according to [[Steven Runciman]] the distinction between titles which represented offices and mere ornamental dignities was somewhat vague.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=284}} [[Otto J. Maenchen-Helfen|Maenchen-Helfen]] theorized that the titles of the steppe peoples did not reflect the ethnicity of their bearers.{{sfn|Maenchen-Helfen|1973|p=383}} According to Magnus Felix Ennodius, the Bulgars did not have nobility, yet their leaders and common men became noblemen on the battle field, indicating social mobility.{{sfn|Maenchen-Helfen|1973|p=199}}<ref name="Origin" />

Tribute-paying sedentary vassals, such as the Slavs and Greek-speaking population, formed a substantial and important part of the ''khanate'''s maintenance.{{sfn|Sophoulis|2011|p=70}}

Although it was not recorded on inscriptions, the title ''sampses'' is considered to be related to the royal court.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=286}} The title ''tabare'' or ''iltabare'', which derives from the old Turkish ''ältäbär'', like ''sampses'' is not mentioned on inscriptions, but is related to the legates and ambassadors.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=287}}

The [[Anastasius Bibliothecarius]] listed Bulgarian legates at the [[Fourth Council of Constantinople (Roman Catholic)|Council]] at Constantinople in 869–870. They were mentioned as Stasis, Cerbula, Sundica (''vagantur''=''bagatur''), Vestranna (''iltabare''), Praestizisunas (''campsis''), and Alexius Hunno (''sampsi'').{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=288}} The ruler title in Bulgar inscriptions was ''[[Khan (title)|khan]]''{{sfn|Sophoulis|2011|p=71}} or ''[[kanasubigi]]''.<ref>Florin Curta, Roman Kovalev, “The” Other Europe in the Middle Ages: Avars, Bulgars, Khazars and Cumans ; [papers ... Presented in the Three Special Sessions at the 40th and 42nd Editions of the International Congress on Medieval Studies Held at Kalamazzo in 2005 and 2007], BRILL, 2008, p. 363, {{ISBN|9789004163898}}</ref>  A counterpart of the Greek phrase {{lang|grc|ὁ ἐκ Θεοῦ ἄρχων}} (''ho ek Theou archon'') was also common in Bulgar inscriptions.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=284}} The ''[[kavhan]]'' was the second most important title in the realm,{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=287}}<ref name="Bury" /> seemingly chief official.{{sfn|Petkov|2008|pp=7, 12–13}} Some Bulgar inscriptions, written in Greek and later in [[Old Church Slavonic|Slavonic]], refer to the Bulgarian rulers respectively with the Greek title ''[[archon]]'', or the Slavic titles ''[[knyaz]]'' and ''[[tsar]]''.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=284}}[[File:Museums_in_Veliki_Preslav_12.jpg|thumb|Reconstruction of the medieval landscape of Preslav]]

There are several possible interpretations for the ruler title, ''[[Kanasubigi|kana sybigi]]'', mentioned in six inscriptions by the Khan [[Omurtag of Bulgaria|Omurtag]] and two by [[Malamir of Bulgaria|Malamir]].{{sfn|Petkov|2008|pp=8–12}}{{sfn|Curta|2006|pp=162–163}} Among the proposed translations for ''sybigi'' or ''subigi'' are "lord of the army",{{sfn|Curta|2006|p=162}} from the reconstructed Turkic phrase ''syu-beg'' (army master) paralleling the attested [[Old Turkic language|Orkhon Turkic]] ''[[Subaşi|syubashi]]''.<ref>{{citation |last=Beshevliev |first=Veselin |author-link=Veselin Beshevliev |date=1981 |title=Прабългарската обществена и държавна структура |trans-title=Proto-Bulgarian public and state structure |url=http://www.promacedonia.org/vb/vb_5.html |language=bg |publisher=Izd. na Otech. front |place=Sofia |pages=33–34}}</ref> Runciman and [[J. B. Bury]] considered ''ubige'' or ''uvege'' to be related to the [[Cuman language|Cuman]]-Turkic ''öweghü'' (high, glorious);{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=284}}<ref name="Bury">{{cite book |last=Bury |first=John B. |author-link=J. B. Bury |date=2015 |title=A History of the Eastern Roman Empire |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vL-wBgAAQBAJ |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=334–335 |isbn=9781108083218}}</ref> "bright, luminous, heavenly";{{sfn|Curta|2006|p=162}}{{sfn|Sophoulis|2011|p=72}} and more recently "(ruler) from God",{{sfn|Curta|2006|p=162}} from the Indo-European ''*su-'' and ''[[bhaga|baga]]-'', i.e. ''*su-baga''.<ref>{{citation |last=Stepanov |first=Tsvetelin |date=March 2001 |title=The Bulgar title ΚΑΝΑΣΥΒΙΓΙ: reconstructing the notions of divine kingship in Bulgaria, AD 822–836 |journal=Early Medieval Europe |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=1–19 |doi=10.1111/1468-0254.00077|s2cid=154863640 }}</ref> [[Florin Curta]] noted the resemblance in the use of the ''kana sybigi'' with the Byzantine name and title ''[[basileus]]''.{{sfn|Curta|2006|p=163}}[[File:Pliska-svik.jpg|alt=Medieval ruins|left|thumb|The ruins of [[Pliska]], the first capital of Bulgaria]]Members of the upper social class bore the title ''[[boila]]'' (later ''[[boyar]]'').{{sfn|Petkov|2008|p=8}} The nobility was divided onto ''small'' and ''great'' boilas.{{sfn|Sedlar|2011|p=59}}{{sfn|Sophoulis|2011|p=74}} In the 10th century, there were three classes of boyars: the six ''great'' boilas, the ''outer'' boilas, and the ''inner'' boilas,{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=284}}<ref name="Bury" /><ref name="Henning">{{cite book |last=Henning |first=Joachim |date=2007 |title=Post-Roman Towns, Trade and Settlement in Europe and Byzantium: Byzantium, Pliska, and the Balkans |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3oCI8BVxcB8C |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |pages=618–619 |isbn=9783110183580}}</ref>{{sfn|Sophoulis|2011|p=74}} while in the mid-9th century there were twelve ''great'' boyars.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=284}}<ref name="Bury" /> The ''great'' boilas occupied military and administrative offices in the state,{{sfn|Sophoulis|2011|p=73}} as well the council where they gathered for decisions on important matters of state.{{sfn|Sedlar|2011|p=59}}{{sfn|Sophoulis|2011|p=75}}<ref name="Bury" />
''Bagaïns'' were the lesser class of the nobility,{{sfn|Sophoulis|2011|p=73}}{{sfn|Petkov|2008|p=8}} probably a military class which also participated in the council.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=285}}{{sfn|Sophoulis|2011|p=74}}<ref name="Bury" /> The title ''[[Baghatur|bagatur]]'', once as ''bogotor'',{{sfn|Petkov|2008|p=10}} is found in several instances within the inscriptions.{{sfn|Petkov|2008|pp=8, 10, 34–35}} It derives from Turkish ''bagadur'' (hero){{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=285}}{{sfn|Petkov|2008|pp=34–35}} and was a high military rank.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=285}}{{sfn|Petkov|2008|pp=34–35}} The Bulgarian military commander who was defeated by the Croats in the [[Croatian–Bulgarian battle of 926|Battle of the Bosnian Highlands]] (926) was called [[Alogobotur]],{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=285}} which is actually a title comprised by ''alo'' (considered Turkic ''[[Alıp|alp, alyp]]''; chief) and ''bagatur''.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=285}}

There are several title associations with uncertain meaning, such as ''boila kavkhan'', ''ičirgu boila'', ''kana boila qolovur'', ''bagatur bagain'', ''biri bagain'', ''setit bagain'' and ''ik bagain''.{{sfn|Sophoulis|2011|p=74}} ''Kolober'' (or ''qolovur''), a rank title, is cited in two inscriptions,{{sfn|Petkov|2008|pp=10, 13}} and it derives from the Turkish term for a guide, ''golaghuz''.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=285}}<ref name="Bury" /> The title ''[[župan]]'', also once as ''kopan''{{sfn|Petkov|2008|p=9}} in the inscriptions, was often mentioned together with the bearer's name.{{sfn|Petkov|2008|pp=9–10, 37–38, 448, 508}}{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=285}} They were traditionally seen as Slavic chiefs.{{sfn|Petkov|2008|p=9}} It seems to have meant "head of a clan-district", as among the South Slavs (Croats, Serbs) where it was more widely used, it meant "head of a tribe" with a high district and court function.{{sfn|Curta|2006|p=164}}{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=285}}<ref name="Bury" />

The title ''[[tarkhan]]'' probably represented a high military rank, similar to the Byzantine ''[[strategos]]'', of the military governor of a province.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=286}}<ref name="Bury"/> The variations ''kalutarkan'' and ''buliastarkan'' are considered to be officers at the head of the ''tarkans''.{{sfn|Runciman|1930|p=287}} Curta interpreted the title ''zhupan tarqan'' as "''tarqan of (all the) zhupans''".{{sfn|Curta|2006|p=164}}