Asparuch

   Bulgar khan (q.v.) and son of Kuvrat (q.v.). He led the Bulgars south of the Danube (qq.v.) to establish the first Bulgarian state. It was the first kingdom in Byzantine territory that Byzantium (q.v.) recognized as independent. By force of arms against Constantine IV (q.v.), Asparuch wrested a treaty from Byzantium (q.v.) in 681 that paid the Bulgars an annual tribute and gave them possession of the Byzantine territory they occupied. Tradition has it that it was Asparuch who established Pliksa as the first capital of Bulgaria (qq.v.).