Veliki Preslav

Veliki Preslav was founded by Khan Omurtag in 821. Its name acquired the prefix "Great" after it became the capital of the First Kingdom, during the reign of Tsar Simeon (893-927) - although it began to eclipse the original capital, Pliska, at an earlier date. According to records of that time, tenth-century Preslav was the most populous town in the Balkans, with extensive suburbs surrounding a walled inner town containing "large buildings of stone on both sides, decorated with wood". In the town there was also a palace, a royal School of Translators, the Patriarchate and other "churches ornamented with stones, wood and paintings, marble and copper, silver and gold". Preslav's downfall began when it was captured by the Kievian prince, Svetoslav, causing the Byzantine Empire to respond by razing the town in 972, and although it later revived (the palace was occupied as late as the Asenid dynasty), Preslav never regained its former size and was subsequently surpassed by Veliko Turnovo. Eventually it was burned down by the Turks, who used the remains to construct their own buildings.