Kutrigurs

The Kutrigurs (Kotrags/Kotzagerek/Kazarig) were a horde of equestrian nomads later known as part of the Bulgars that inhabited the Eurasian plains during the dark ages. They came into existence when the Eurasian Avars conquered half of the Hunno-Bulgars, whilst the remaining group, who were free (led by Sandilch in the east) were called Utigurs. The conquest of the Kutrigurs by Gokturk arrivals led by three brothers from the Imaon Mountains in the 6th century is mentioned by Bar Hebraeus, as well as in the Chronicle of the late 12th century Jacobite patriarch of Antioch Michael the Syrian"В.Златарски, Известието на Михаил Сирийски за преселението на българите. Том V: Избрани произведения, София, 1972,с.52." (The notice of Michael the Syrian of the migration of Bulgars. Selected works, Volume 5, Sofia, 1972, page 52)] . At this time they came to be dominated by clans related to the Göktürks.

An interesting fact about the Kutrigurs is that, along with their counterpart the Utigurs, they formed the striking forces of Attila's Hunnic armies. After Attila's death, the larger part of the Kutrigurs returned to their homes in the Scythian plains. A portion of them, however, offered their military services to the East Roman Empire in return for land in which they could settle. The East Roman Emperor allowed them to settle in Thrace, where they were to serve as a buffer zone against the incursion of other tribes.

In 632, Kubrat united the Kutrigur and Utigur tribes who lived in Scythia. Upon their unification, the state which East Roman scholars referred to as Old Great Bulgaria was established.

When the Khazar state expanded, it challenged the dominance of Old Great Bulgaria. The Khazars were able to obtain tribute from Batbayan, Kubrat's eldst son, and so came the downfall of Great Bulgaria. In the mid 7th century, a dissenting faction of Kutrigurs seems to have traveled to the upper Volga where, along with part of the Utigurs, they founded the state of Volga Bulgaria with Kotrag as its ruler.

Under the leadership of Kuber, another part of the Kutrigur tribe seems to have moved to Sirmium (Pannonia) and from there south to the Pelagonian plain. Thereafter they disappear from history as a separate Bulgar group. Kuber's Kutrigur Bulgars displaced some of the populations that had already settled in the region of Macedonia, and intermingled with the populations that remained. In the 8th century, the Kuber Bulgars merged with Asparuh's Bulgars who had already settled on both sides of the Danube River in the late 7th century.

References