The Bulgarian Monarchs used the titles:

Kanasubigi Kanasubigi ( el, ΚΑΝΑΣΥΒΙΓΙ), possibly read as ''Kanas Ubigi'' or ''Kanas U Bigi'' was a title of the early Bulgar rulers of First Bulgarian Empire. Omurtag and his son Malamir are mentioned in inscriptions as Kanasubigi. The title '' ...

, Khan, Prince (Knyaz) and

Tsar Tsar ( or ), also spelled ''czar'', ''tzar'', or ''csar'', is a title used by East and South Slavic monarchs. The term is derived from the Latin word ''caesar'', which was intended to mean "emperor" in the European medieval sense of the ter ...

(Emperor). Baptism of the Preslav Court

When acceding to the throne in the

First First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...

and Second Bulgarian Empire the occasion was marked with a coronation. The coronation was conducted by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. During the Third Bulgarian State accession was marked by an oath on the constitution.

First Bulgarian Empire

Eastern Orthodox Christianity entered Bulgaria during the reign of Prince Boris I. He converted to Orthodoxy in 864. His godfather was

Emperor Michael III Michael III ( grc-gre, Μιχαήλ; 9 January 840 – 24 September 867), also known as Michael the Drunkard, was Byzantine Emperor from 842 to 867. Michael III was the third and traditionally last member of the Amorian dynasty, Amorian (or Phr ...

and Boris accepted the name Michael as his Christian name. His title was changed from the pagan Khan to the Christian Prince. Prince Simeon I was the first Bulgarian ruler to be crowned in the Orthodox Faith. He was crowned outside the city of

Constantinople la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه , alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya ( Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis ( ...

by Patriarch Nicholas I Mystikos in 913. He assumed the title ''

of the Bulgarians and the Romans''.

Second Bulgarian Empire

The rulers of the Second Bulgarian Empire were crowned in

Tarnovo Veliko Tarnovo ( bg, Велико Търново, Veliko Tărnovo, ; "Great Tarnovo") is a town in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province. Often referred as the "''City of the Tsars''", Veliko Tarnovo ...

. * Theodor and Asen declared Bulgaria's independence at Church of St Demetrius of Thessaloniki in

on 26 October 1185. Theodor assumed the regal name Peter II and the title

. *

Kaloyan Kaloyan or Kalojan, also known as Ioannitsa or Johannitsa ( bg, Калоян, Йоаница; 1170 – October 1207), was emperor or tsar of Bulgaria from 1196 to 1207. He was the younger brother of Theodor and Asen, who led the anti-Byzant ...

was the only Bulgarian ruler to be crowned in the Catholic Faith in

on 8 November 1204. He was crowned by Cardinal Leo Brancaleoni performing the ritual on behalf of

Pope Innocent III Pope Innocent III ( la, Innocentius III; 1160 or 1161 – 16 July 1216), born Lotario dei Conti di Segni (anglicized as Lothar of Segni), was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1198 to his death in 16 ...

. The Cardinal crowned Kaloyan with the title ''

King King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

of the Bulgarians and the Vlachs'', but Kaloyan continued to style himself as Tsar (emperor).

Third Bulgarian Tsardom

Tzar Ferdinand at proclamation of Bulgarian-independence

The Bulgarian rulers of the Third Bulgarian Tsardom were not crowned. *

Alexander of Battenberg Alexander Joseph ( bg, Александър I Батенберг; 5 April 185717 November 1893), known as Alexander of Battenberg, was the first prince (''knyaz'') of the Principality of Bulgaria from 1879 until his abdication in 1886. The Bulga ...

took an oath in front of The National Assembly convened in

on 26 June 1879. He became Alexander I and assumed the title ''Prince of Bulgaria''. * Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha took an oath in front of The National Assembly convened in

on 2 August 1887. He became Ferdinand I assumed the title ''Prince of Bulgaria''. * Prince Ferdinand I declared Bulgaria's independence at Holy Forty Martyrs Church in

on 22 September 1908. As a ruler to a sovereign state his title was changed to ''Tsar of the Bulgarians''. * Boris of Tarnovo had a small ceremony marking the beginning of his reign at Saint Sofia Church in

Sofia Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and h ...

. He became Boris III and assumed the title ''Tsar of the Bulgarians''. * Simeon of Tarnovo was 6 years old when he acceded to the throne and did not participate in any ceremonies marking the occasion. He became Simeon II and assumed the title ''Tsar of the Bulgarians''.

First Bulgarian Empire

Second Bulgarian Empire

Third Bulgarian Tsardom

See also