Second Bulgarian Empire - Administration

Administration

In many ways, the Bulgarian administration and court took example of the Byzantine equivalents. The supreme power in the country belonged to the Emperor, whose official title was: "In Christ the God faithful Emperor and Autocrat of all Bulgarians", at times with the addition of "Romans" (i.e. Byzantine Greeks) and Vlachs. The most significant meaning was that he was Emperor of the whole Bulgarian people, even to those beyond the borders of the Empire. The legislative and executive powers were concentrated in his hands. If the heir of the ruler was under age, the regency was headed by the mother-Empress.

The Bolyar Council included the Great Bolyars and the Patriarch. Their task was to discuss important questions about the external and internal policy such as declaration of war, formation of alliance or signing peace. The last word always belonged to the Emperor. Sometimes Councils with extended membership were assembled, where the nobility, the clergy and "the other people" usually gathered to discuss condemnation of heresies: 1211, 1350, 1360. The only right the ordinary people had was to approve the decisions made by the nobility.

The main administrative unit in 13-14th centuries was the hora (хорá) which replaced the komitat of the First Bulgarian Empire. Its governor was called Duke and was usually appointed by the Emperor; the hora was further divided into katepanika (sing. katepanikon, cf. the Byzantine katepanikion) which were ruled by Katepans who were directly subordinated to the Dukes.