Information on the Bulgarian History in the IX – XI Centuries, Reflected in the Russian Chronograph

Abstract

Object of the present research is the Russian chronograph, an extensive chronicle in which the history of the Slavs is described as part of the world. The information about the Bulgarians occupies an important place. The data about the Bulgarian history in the 9th – 11th c. is taken from Slavic translations of Byzantine chronicles and from some Russian historical works, most notably from the Bulgarian additions to the Manasses Chronicle. This article seeks to answer the question of how productive the Chronograph is as a historical source. Unpublished editions and copies of the Chronograph were also used for the purposes of the research. The method of comparative analysis shows that although some of the information is found in earlier Russian historical texts, different points of view are presented in the Russian chronograph. The chronograph contains rich information about Bulgarian history, part of which remains out of scientific interest. It is valuable for science and can be productively used as a source for Bulgarian medieval history.