VOLGA BULGARIANS

Volga Bulgaria was an historic Bulgar state that existed between the 7th and 13th centuries around the confluence of the Volga and Kama River, in what is now European Russia. Volga Bulgaria was a multi-ethnic state with large numbers of Turkic Bulgars, a variety of Finnic and Ugrian peoples, and many East Slavs. The very strategic position of Volga Bulgaria allowed it to create a monopoly between the trade of Arabs, Norse and Avars.

The original Bulgars were Turkic tribes, who settled north of the Black Sea. During their westward migration across the Eurasian steppe, they absorbed other ethnic groups, including Hunnic and Iranian. In about 630 they founded Old Great Bulgaria, on the lower reaches of the Volga river, which was destroyed by the Khazars in 668. While some of the Bulgars stayed on the Volga, other Bulgar tribes continued westward and eventually settled along the Danube River, in what is now known as Bulgaria proper.

The fragmented Volga Bulgaria grew in size and power and gradually freed from the influence of the Khazars. Sometime in the late 9th century unification processes started, and the capital was established at Bolghar (also spelled Bulgar) city, 160 km south from modern Kazan. However complete independence was reached after Khazaria's destruction and conquest by Sviatoslav in the late 10th century.

Volga Bulgaria adopted Islam in 922 – 66. In 921 Almýs sent an ambassador to the Caliph requesting religious instruction. Next year an embassy returned with Ibn Fadlan as secretary. A significant number of Muslims already lived in the country.

The country was eventually destroyed by the Mongols in 1236 and became a part of the Ulus Jochi, later known as the Golden Horde.

THIS COIN

The coin was unearthed near Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland in February 2019. This at first seems incredible, until it is remembered that the Vikings had trade routes that stretched from Scandinavia down the Volga River, as far as Constantinople and Bagdad, and also across to Britain and Ireland. So it is almost certain that this coin was carried by Vikings up the Volga and across the North and Irish seas before being lost at Newcastle. Indeed, Newcastle is a beautiful sandy bay, ideal for beaching a long-boat.

It is to be noted that this Islamic dirham, which imitates Samanid ones is dated 296 AH (AD 908/9), whereas the Bulgars didn’t convert to Islam until AD 922/66. That raises the question of whether it was minted before or after their conversion.