Sabin of Bulgaria
Encyclopedia
Sabin was the ruler of Bulgaria
from 765 to 766.
Some scholars think that Sabin was omitted from the Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers because he was a Slav
, but his name could indicate Latin
or even Iran
ian origins. He was related by marriage to Kormisosh
, who was either a father-in-law or a brother-in-law of Sabin. Since the relation is by marriage, Sabin would not have actually belonged to the Vokil (=Ukil?) clan.
Sabin rose to the throne after the murder of Telets
in 765 and represented that part of the Bulgarian nobility, which was seeking a policy of accommodation with the Byzantine Empire
. Accordingly, he swiftly dispatched secret emissaries to Emperor Constantine V
Kopronymos, who had recently defeated Sabin's predecessor Telets, seeking to re-establish peace. When the negotiations were discovered, the Bulgarians rebelled and held an assembly, in which they accused Sabin of causing Bulgaria's enslavement by the Byzantines.
Deserted by his supporters, Sabin fled to Byzantine Mesembria (Nesebăr
) in 766, from where he went to Constantinople
. There he was received by the emperor, who arranged for the transfer of Sabin's family from Bulgaria. In 768 Sabin attended Constantine V's negotiations with a new Bulgarian ruler, Pagan
, but the emperor's words on behalf of the former monarch made little impression. Sabin passed the remainder of his life in exile.
The 17th century Volga Bulgar compilation Ja'far Tarikh (a work of disputed authenticity) represents Sain (i.e., Sabin) as an usurper, who had deposed Teles (i.e., Telets), and was in turn deposed by the latter's father-in-law Yumart (i.e., Umor
).
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...
from 765 to 766.
Some scholars think that Sabin was omitted from the Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers because he was a Slav
Slavic peoples
The Slavic people are an Indo-European panethnicity living in Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, North Asia and Central Asia. The term Slavic represents a broad ethno-linguistic group of people, who speak languages belonging to the Slavic language family and share, to varying degrees, certain...
, but his name could indicate Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
or even Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian origins. He was related by marriage to Kormisosh
Kormisosh of Bulgaria
Kormisosh was a ruler of Bulgaria during the 8th century.The Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers states that he belonged to the Ukil clan and ruled for 17 years. According to the chronology developed by Moskov, Kormisosh would have reigned from 737 to 754...
, who was either a father-in-law or a brother-in-law of Sabin. Since the relation is by marriage, Sabin would not have actually belonged to the Vokil (=Ukil?) clan.
Sabin rose to the throne after the murder of Telets
Telets of Bulgaria
Telets was the ruler of Bulgaria from 762 to 765.According to the Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers, Telets reigned for 3 years "instead of another", and he was a member of the Ugain clan. This is corroborated by the Byzantine sources, which indicate that Telets replaced the legitimate rulers of...
in 765 and represented that part of the Bulgarian nobility, which was seeking a policy of accommodation 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...
. Accordingly, he swiftly dispatched secret emissaries to Emperor Constantine V
Constantine V
Constantine V was Byzantine emperor from 741 to 775; ); .-Early life:...
Kopronymos, who had recently defeated Sabin's predecessor Telets, seeking to re-establish peace. When the negotiations were discovered, the Bulgarians rebelled and held an assembly, in which they accused Sabin of causing Bulgaria's enslavement by the Byzantines.
Deserted by his supporters, Sabin fled to Byzantine Mesembria (Nesebăr
Nesebar
Nesebar is an ancient town and one of the major seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, located in Burgas Province. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Nesebar Municipality...
) in 766, from where he went to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. There he was received by the emperor, who arranged for the transfer of Sabin's family from Bulgaria. In 768 Sabin attended Constantine V's negotiations with a new Bulgarian ruler, Pagan
Pagan of Bulgaria
Pagan was the ruler of Bulgaria 767–768.Pagan has been identified as a member of that faction of the Bulgarian aristocracy, which sought to establish peaceful relations with the Byzantine Empire...
, but the emperor's words on behalf of the former monarch made little impression. Sabin passed the remainder of his life in exile.
The 17th century Volga Bulgar compilation Ja'far Tarikh (a work of disputed authenticity) represents Sain (i.e., Sabin) as an usurper, who had deposed Teles (i.e., Telets), and was in turn deposed by the latter's father-in-law Yumart (i.e., Umor
Umor of Bulgaria
Umor was the ruler of Bulgaria in 766.According to the Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers, Umor reigned for only 40 days in 766 and belonged to the Ukil clan, which makes him a relative of the former rulers Vinekh and possibly Kormisosh. The Byzantine sources indicate that his predecessor Sabin...
).