Founding of a Capital

The city was founded in 681 AD by Khan Asparuh, the ruler of the Proto-Bulgarians. Following his decisive victory over the Byzantine army, he established a new state and a new capital to serve as its political, military, and cultural center. Asparuh chose a strategic location in the vast plains of northeastern Bulgaria, a valley surrounded by plateaus that provided excellent pastures and was situated at the intersection of major routes.

From Wood to Stone

Initially, Pliska was built with wood. Archaeological research has revealed that the first structures, including the royal palaces, were made of timber. However, the city’s early years were turbulent, marked by a series of wars with the powerful Byzantine Empire. In 811 AD, the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I sacked and burned Pliska to the ground.

Following this devastating attack, Khan Omurtag began the massive task of rebuilding the capital, but this time, he used stone. The new city was a testament to the empire’s power and resilience, featuring impressive fortifications, a large stone palace, and a complex water system.

The Conversion to Christianity

The most pivotal moment in Pliska’s history came under the reign of Prince Boris I. In 864 AD, he converted to Christianity, a move that unified the diverse people of the empire and brought Bulgaria into the Christian world. Pliska was at the center of this transformation. Pagan temples were replaced by Christian churches, with the most magnificent being the Great Basilica, one of the largest churches in medieval Eastern Europe.

The city also became a beacon of Slavic literacy and culture. After the disciples of Cyril and Methodius—the creators of the Glagolitic and later Cyrillic alphabets—were expelled from Great Moravia, Prince Boris I welcomed them to Pliska. It was here that they continued their work, establishing a literary school and spreading the new alphabet, which would go on to shape the identity of the Bulgarian people and much of the Slavic world.

The End of an Era

In 893, Prince Boris’s son, Tsar Simeon I, decided to move the capital to the nearby city of Preslav. This decision symbolized the dawn of a new, Christianized Bulgarian state and its “Golden Age” of culture. Pliska gradually lost its political importance and was eventually abandoned and left in ruins after it was destroyed by a massive invasion in the 11th century. Today, the remnants of this once-glorious city serve as a powerful historical monument, telling the story of a nation forged in a tumultuous but ultimately triumphant past.