Kormesiy of Bulgaria
Encyclopedia
Kormesiy was a ruler of Danubian Bulgaria
in the first half of the 8th century. Western chronicles name Kormesiy "the third ruler over the Bulgarians", and he is sometimes considered the direct successor of Tervel
.
The Namelist (Imennik) of Bulgarian rulers
contains traces of two damaged records between the entries for Tervel and Sevar, and the second of these lost names is generally taken to be that of Kormesiy. According to the Imennik, Kormesiy would have reigned for 28 years and was a descendant of the royal Dulo clan
. According to the chronology developed by Moskov, Kormesiy would have reigned 715–721, and the longer period reflected in the Imennik would have indicated the duration of his life or would have included a period of association with his predecessors. Other chronologies date the reign of Kormesiy to 721–738 but cannot be reconciled with the data of the Imennik.
The name of Kormesiy is encountered in relation to the events surrounding the peace treaty
between Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire
between 715 and 717 – the chronology has to be argued from the names of the Emperor and patriarch involved – for which our only source is the Byzantine chronicler Theophanes the Confessor
. According to Teophanes the treaty was signed by Kormesiy as ruler of the Bulgarians. This comes at odds with the way the same writer implies, elsewhere in the chronicle, that Tervel was still Bulgaria's ruler as late as 718/719. One or the other of Theophanes's statements must then be wrong. Otherwise it would have to be assumed that Kormesiy shared the throne with Tervel and signed the treaty as his co-ruler. The name of Kormesiy was also read by some scholars in the inscriptions around the Madara Rider
monument. The surviving part of the text would thus speak of an annual gold tribute that Kormesiy received from the Byzantine Emperor: in other words, the peace treaty would have been re-established during his rule. The end of the inscription mentions a worsening of Bulgarian relations with the Byzantine Empire
. However, this inscription could possibly be referring to the later Bulgarian rulers Kormisoš or Krum.
The 17th century Volga Bulgar compilation Ja'far Tarikh (a work of disputed authenticity) represents Kermes (i.e., Kormesiy) as the son of Tarvil (i.e., Tervel), and as the successor of Tarvil's brother Ajjar (otherwise unknown, but possibly the first of the lost names of the Imennik). The Ja'far Tarikh alleges that Kermes was deposed by the nobility and replaced on the throne by his son Sevar.
Kormesiy is not mentioned in any other historical context. The fact that there is no record of wars between Bulgaria
and the Byzantine Empire
during his reign, however, implies that he sustained the peace between the two countries.
Kormesiy Peak
on Greenwich Island in the South Shetland Islands
, Antarctica is named for Kormesiy.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
in the first half of the 8th century. Western chronicles name Kormesiy "the third ruler over the Bulgarians", and he is sometimes considered the direct successor of Tervel
Tervel of Bulgaria
Khan Tervel also called Tarvel, or Terval, or Terbelis in some Byzantine sources, was the Emperor of the Bulgarians at the beginning of the 8th century. In 705 he received the title Caesar which was a precedent in history. He was probably a Christian like his grandfather Khan Kubrat...
.
The Namelist (Imennik) of Bulgarian rulers
Nominalia of the Bulgarian khans
The Nominalia of the Bulgarian khans is a short manuscript containing the names of some early Bulgar rulers, their clans, the year of their ascending to the throne according to the cyclic Bulgar calendar and the length of their rule, including the times of joint rule and civil war...
contains traces of two damaged records between the entries for Tervel and Sevar, and the second of these lost names is generally taken to be that of Kormesiy. According to the Imennik, Kormesiy would have reigned for 28 years and was a descendant of the royal Dulo clan
Dulo clan
The Dulo Clan or the House of Dulo was the name of the ruling dynasty of the early Bulgars.This was the clan of Kubrat who founded Old Great Bulgaria, and his sons Batbayan, Kuber and Asparuh, the latter of which founded Danube Bulgaria....
. According to the chronology developed by Moskov, Kormesiy would have reigned 715–721, and the longer period reflected in the Imennik would have indicated the duration of his life or would have included a period of association with his predecessors. Other chronologies date the reign of Kormesiy to 721–738 but cannot be reconciled with the data of the Imennik.
The name of Kormesiy is encountered in relation to the events surrounding the peace treaty
Treaty of 716
The Treaty of 716 was an agreement between Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire. It was signed by the son of the ruling Bulgarian Khan Tervel, Kormesiy and the Byzantine Emperor Theodosios III.- Background :...
between Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
between 715 and 717 – the chronology has to be argued from the names of the Emperor and patriarch involved – for which our only source is the Byzantine chronicler Theophanes the Confessor
Theophanes the Confessor
Saint Theophanes Confessor was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy, who became a monk and chronicler. He is venerated on March 12 in the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church .-Biography:Theophanes was born in Constantinople of wealthy and noble iconodule parents: Isaac,...
. According to Teophanes the treaty was signed by Kormesiy as ruler of the Bulgarians. This comes at odds with the way the same writer implies, elsewhere in the chronicle, that Tervel was still Bulgaria's ruler as late as 718/719. One or the other of Theophanes's statements must then be wrong. Otherwise it would have to be assumed that Kormesiy shared the throne with Tervel and signed the treaty as his co-ruler. The name of Kormesiy was also read by some scholars in the inscriptions around the Madara Rider
Madara Rider
The Madara Rider or Madara Horseman is an early medieval large rock relief carved on the Madara Plateau east of Shumen in northeastern Bulgaria, near the village of Madara....
monument. The surviving part of the text would thus speak of an annual gold tribute that Kormesiy received from the Byzantine Emperor: in other words, the peace treaty would have been re-established during his rule. The end of the inscription mentions a worsening of Bulgarian relations with the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. However, this inscription could possibly be referring to the later Bulgarian rulers Kormisoš or Krum.
The 17th century Volga Bulgar compilation Ja'far Tarikh (a work of disputed authenticity) represents Kermes (i.e., Kormesiy) as the son of Tarvil (i.e., Tervel), and as the successor of Tarvil's brother Ajjar (otherwise unknown, but possibly the first of the lost names of the Imennik). The Ja'far Tarikh alleges that Kermes was deposed by the nobility and replaced on the throne by his son Sevar.
Kormesiy is not mentioned in any other historical context. The fact that there is no record of wars between Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
during his reign, however, implies that he sustained the peace between the two countries.
Kormesiy Peak
Kormesiy Peak
Kormesiy Peak is a rocky peak rising to 235 m in the southeast extremity of Breznik Heights on Greenwich Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Situated situated on the southeast coast of the island, 2.17 km west of Fort Point, 800 m southwest of St. Kiprian Peak, 730 m southeast...
on Greenwich Island in the South Shetland Islands
South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands, lying about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, with a total area of . By the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, the Islands' sovereignty is neither recognized nor disputed by the signatories and they are free for use by any signatory for...
, Antarctica is named for Kormesiy.