Simeon the Great

Tsar Simeon the Great (893-927) was the third son of Boris I, who came to replace his dethroned brother Vladimir Rasate. Simeon inherited rich legacy from his father, which continued to grow all through his ruling. He received his education at the famous Magnaur Academy in Constantinople, and during his ruling the Bulgarian state expanded greatly in territory, reaching its largest area throughout its history. His marches south often threatened the existence of the powerful Byzantine empire. Having become the most powerful monarch in eastern Europe, Simeon assumed the style of "Emperor and Autocrat of all the Bulgars and Greeks", a title which Pope Formosus was quick to recognize. In the imperial palace he received the patriarch's blessing and the title of Tsar of Bulgaria. The exuberant tax revenues and military spoil allowed Simeon to undertake major construction of towns, fortresses, splendid castles and temples. The cultural bloom, which started during the ruling of Boris, was about to reach its apogee – Bulgarian culture saw its Golden Age. Because of the cataclysms, which took place in the following historical periods, a major part of the literature, created under the patronage of Simeon, was lost. Therefore, most of it has reached us only in Russian, Serbian, Romanian and other transcripts, which is a proof of its high value and popularity. After demolishing many Byzantine towns while preparing to attack Constantinople, Simeon died of a heart attack on May 27, 927