On June 12, 2023, another meeting of the "Unknown Balkans" Discussion Club was held. Leading discussants were Assist. Prof. Samuil Kamburov, PhD (IBSCT-BAS) and PhD student Todor Todorov (Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", IBSCT-BAS). They presented issues related to the topic "Foreign military contingents and troops in the Balkans in the period 9th - 11th centuries". Supported by the guest discussants Assist. Prof. Mario Filipov (IBSCT-BAS) and PhD student Nikolay Zhelev (IBSCT-BAS) they started a heated discussion on armaments and military affairs of the foreign military contingents in the Balkans during the period under review. Special attention was paid to two groups of foreign troops - mercenaries and invaders from Northern Europe (Varyangs) and late nomads (Magyars, Pechenegs and Uzis). Issues related to the political, social and economic reasons for appearance of foreign armies and contingents in the Balkans, as well as their relations with the population in the First Bulgarian Kingdom, were also touched upon. Details regarding the foreign naval operations towards the Balkans and Byzantium were discussed too. Prof. Alexandre Kostov, Dr. habil., Corresponding Member of the BAS, Assoc. Prof. Zlatomira Gerdzhikova, Snezhana Goryanova, PhD student Eli Filipova, as well as all those present participated in the discussion with questions and comments.
The "Unknown Balkans" Discussion Club is organized under the project Building a supreme achievements centre "Heritage BG".











