Bulgaria Through History: Who Ruled Its Lands
The land of today's Bulgaria appears on 39 historical border maps from 500 BC to today. Over that time it was held, in whole or in part, by 19 different states, among them Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, Bulgar Khanate, Roman Empire.
BulgariaExplore the history of Bulgaria in the interactive map
Compare 1000 with today · Bulgaria as a state on the map
Who ruled the land of Bulgaria, map by map
Share of sample points inside today's borders held by each state on each map. Areas with no organised state on the map are left out.
Historic cities in Bulgaria
Battles and historic sites
| Year | Battle or site |
|---|---|
| 1396 | Battle of Nicopolis |
| 1444 | Battle of Varna |
Landmarks
Rila MonasteryStanding · AD 927
Questions
Which empires and states ruled the territory of Bulgaria?
On the border maps from 500 BC to today, the largest shares of the territory of modern Bulgaria belonged to Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, Bulgar Khanate, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, along with 13 other states.
What was Bulgaria part of in 1000?
On the border map for 1000, most of the territory of today's Bulgaria lay within Bulgar Khanate.
What was Bulgaria part of in 1500?
On the border map for 1500, most of the territory of today's Bulgaria lay within Ottoman Empire.
What was Bulgaria part of in 1900?
On the border map for 1900, most of the territory of today's Bulgaria lay within Bulgaria.
Further reading
Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.