List of Bulgarian monarchs

This is a list of Bulgarian monarchs from the earliest historical records to 1946, when the monarchy in the country was abolished. Early Bulgarian rulers are believed to have used the title Khan (see Bulgar society for more details), later possibly kniaz, and still later the title tsar. According to Djagfar tarikhy (a 17th century Volga Bulgar source which is widely suspected to be a hoax and is generally not used in historical research), the earliest Bulgar leaders bore the title of baltavar, i.e. the Turkic "Elteber", a viceroy, known from the Chinese annals by its Chinese equivalent "Sylifa" and documented in the 10-th century by Al-Masoudi as a title used among the Dagestani Bulgars. The title Elteber or its variations like Ilutwer, Ilutver was recorded between the North Caucasian Huns, and Yiltawar or İltäbär (ibn Fadlan) in the Volga Bulgaria.

The title tsar was first adopted and used in Bulgaria by Simeon I following a decisive victory over the Byzantine Empire in 913. It was also used by all of Simeon I's successors until the fall of Bulgaria under Ottoman rule in 1396 . After Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottomans in 1878, its first monarch Alexander I adopted the title kniaz, but as complete independence was officially proclaimed under his successor Ferdinand in 1908, the title was changed to tsar again. Tsar was used by Ferdinand and later by his heir Boris III until the abolition of monarchy in 1946.

Note: before reaching the historical rulers (see below), the Nominalia of the Bulgarian khans mention two legendary or semi-legendary rulers who are described as having lived for centuries: Avitokhol (sometimes identified as Attila the Hun, 300 years) and Irnik (sometimes identified as Attila's son Ernakh, 150 years), as well as a regent, Gostun (2 years).

List of Bulgarian rulers (632-1946)

Great Bulgaria (632-681)

The Dulo clan (first reign, 605-753)

At times, the reign in the Bulgar lands was split.

Kubrat (605 - 665) over Onogunduri
Batbayan (665 - 668) over Onogunduri

First Bulgarian Empire (681-1018)

Name	Khan From	Khan Until
Asparukh	681	700
Tervel	700	721
Kormesiy	721	728
Sevar	738	753

The Ukil clan (753-766)

Name	Khan From	Khan Until
Kormisosh	753	756
Vinekh	756	762
Telets	762	765
Sabin	765	766

The Ugain clan (766-803)

Name	Khan From	Khan Until
Umor	766	766
Toktu	766	767
Pagan	767	768
Telerig	768	777
Kardam	777	803

Krum's dynasty, or possibly a second reign of the Dulo clan (803-997)

Name	Khan/Emperor From	Khan/Emperor Until
Krum	803	13 April 814
Omurtag	814	831
Malamir	831	836
Presian	836	852
Boris I	852	889 (died on 2 May 907)
Vladimir	889	893
Simeon I of Bulgaria (Simeon the Great)	893	27 May 927
Peter I	27 May 927	969 (died on 30 January 970)
Boris II	969	971
Roman I	976	997 (simultaneously with Samuil 976 - 997)

House of Comitopuli (976-1018)

Name	Emperor From	Emperor Until
Samuil	997(simultaneously with Roman I 976 - 997)	6 October 1014
Gavril Radomir	October 1014	August 1015
Ivan Vladislav	August 1015	February 1018
Peter II Delyan	1040	1041
Constantin Bodin (Peter (III))	1072	1072

Byzantine rule (1018-1186)

Second Bulgarian Empire (1186-1395/1422)

House of Asen (1186-1280)

Name	Emperor From	Emperor Until
Peter IV	1185	1190
Ivan Asen I	1190	1196
Peter IV	1196	1197
Kaloyan	1197	1207
Boril	1207	1218
Ivan Asen II	1218	1241
Kaliman I Asen	1241	1246
Michael I Asen	1246	1256
Kaliman II Asen	1256	1256
Mitso Asen	1256	1257
Constantine Tikh Asen	1257	1277
Ivailo	1277	1280 (a peasant rebel leader)
Ivan Asen III	1279	1280