Omurtag of Bulgaria
Omourtag was 814-831 Khan of the Bulgars.
Life
Omurtags father was the Bulgarian Khan Krum. After Krum's death, his brothers follow for a short time, mentioned in Byzantine sources Dukumos and Ditzeugos.
Well after 814 there was hard reprisals against the Christian- Byzantine population living in the Bulgarian territory. However, it is unclear whether the anti-Christian measures of Omourtag or its direct predecessor Ditzeugos went out. In the Byzantine sources, find any case reports that Christians in Thrace, the choice was left to break the ban on meat during Lent or die. 14 men eventually suffered martyrdom. Other sources report the massacre of prisoners.
In some sources Omourtag is held directly responsible for the anti-Christian measures, yet relaxed in the aftermath relations with Byzantium. It can now perhaps be inferred that Omourtag the measures of his predecessor, did not continue, but allow the sources provide reliable information. Anyway Omourtag closed with the Byzantine Emperor Leo V the end of 815 or early 816, a limited 30-year peace treaty from. In fact, this agreement led to a phase of the approach of Bulgaria in Byzantium, Omourtag stuck to the contractual obligations. He also supported the Emperor Michael II in the fight against the usurper Thomas.
Omourtag directed to the Bulgarian expansion to Pannonia and southwest. 824 he contacted the Frankish Empire was the first Khan. 825 he subjugated Slavic tribes in the Danube - Tisza region, perhaps still alive Omurtags there was a contractual agreement on borders between Franks and Bulgarians.
The Byzantine influence also affected Omurtags construction activity (eg in the capital Pliska ) from, also Greek inscriptions have been preserved from this period. The endpoint of this development was the final Christianization of Bulgaria half a century later. Compared with the needle operation Omourtag an overall successful centralization policy. Omurtags succeeded by his youngest son Malamir, who ran a tough anti-Christian policy.