Omurtag waged war against the Franks, the Khazars and the Byzantine Empire, expanding the borders of the Bulgarian state northwest to the vicinity of Belgrade and Branichevo. To the east, the state expanded all the way to the Dnieper. His ships sailed up to the middle reaches of the Danube.
Only his wars with Byzantium were a failure. A thirty-year peace treaty was signed between Bulgaria and Byzantium with the rulers of each taking an oath by the other's ritual. Both observed the Bulgar's pagan ceremonies and the Byzantine Christian rite. The Bulgarian army also helped suppress a peasant revolt against Constantinople. Omurtag completed the process of Bulgaria's consolidation as a unified and powerful state. By marrying a Slav and giving two of his sons Slavic names he showed that he preferred to use peaceful means to unite the Bulgars and the Slavs into one nation.
However, the preachers of Christianity were persecuted by the Khan. His eldest son Enravotha fell victim to this persecution and was thus denied succession to the throne because of his adoption of Christian faith. The capital Pliska, which had been burned by the Byzantines, was restored by Omurtag. Another palice-fort was built on the Danube.
| Preceded by: Krum |
List of Bulgarian monarchs |
Succeeded by: Malamir and Presian |