Wine has been produced in the Balkans since ancient times. Winemaking survived efforts by the Bulgarian Khan Krum to outlaw it in the 9th century, and the drink maintained its celebrated status during the subsequent centuries of Christianity. The fascination of the local population and especially the soldiers with wine and rakia - the other grape alcohol product, made a lasting impression on Lala Shahin, who remarked on the garrison of Sofia and its propensity to consume huge amounts of both drinks.

Favorable climate has allowed the existence of vineyards in this region, whose production boosts the morale of local troops and provides a valuable trading good.

It is Alexander the Great, who is credited with bringing the first apples to Europe from Central Asia. They have been a staple of the European diet ever since, and much desired in an age of limited fruit and vegetable choices. The local lord cultivated this orchard, whose crop makes the people happy and adds a valuable trading good.

In the 14th century, many Germans migrated to the East in search of work. A large part of them were miners from Saxony, who brought with them not just workforce, but also new mining knowledge. With their help, the local metal deposits are being extracted on a greater scale, contributing to the coffers of the holder of the province.

In the 14th century, many Germans migrated to the East in search of work. A large part of them were miners from Saxony, who brought with them not just workforce, but also new mining knowledge. With their help, the local metal deposits are being extracted on a greater scale, contributing to the coffers of the holder of the province.

Bulgarian rulers, realizing the important benefits of trade, have always given protection and special priviliges to merchants from the large trading centers of the Eastern Mediterranean. But even if the Tsar in Turnovo wanted to stop the spread of Venetian influence on his coastline, his lack of a strong fleet renders him pretty helpless against the major maritime power in the area. Continuing the tradition of those before him, Tsar Ivan Alexander granted special trade rights to Venice in 1353.

With this new alliance in place, Venetian merchants have established a small colony in this town, and are now bringing in their goods. The traders are not the only newcomers - they have been followed by soldiers, who serve for the protection of the valuable cargos. These soldiers would serve whoever pays them, including the Tsar, but the presence of so many foreigners is causing the spread of their faith, making the locals feel uneasy.

While the foreign threats and the increasing unruliness of the Bolyars may be weakening the power of the Tsar, the local population is prospering. Trade is thriving as merchants are bringing in goods from far and wide, and the most successful of them are rising quickly in social status, forming a new strata of urban society, which holds as much power in the cities as the Bolyars do in the countryside.

The wealthy merchants in this city have built themselves lavish palaces, as a display of their recently acquired riches and influence. To protect their wealth and situation, they are hiring professional soldiers, outfitted in the best arms and armor available. These guardsmen will protect the city in case of need and therefore join the Tsar's forces, but the rising power of the merchants is a growing concern.

The feudal system of the Second Bulgarian Tsardom was initially very similar to the Roman pronoia system - the Tsar gave fiefs, or pronoias to Bolyars based on merit and in return for military service. The Bolyars were also allowed to collect taxes from the local population and keep part of them. With time, the system started to resemble much more that of the West, as titles became hereditary. Alongside with this change, the Bolyars also managed to force the majority of the peasants into serfdom and tie them to the land. Recently, most Bolyars rule their fiefs as small despotates, almost independently, something the Tsar in Turnovo needs to monitor closely.

Bulgarian rulers, realizing the important benefits of trade, have always given protection and special priviliges to merchants from the large trading centers of the Eastern Mediterranean. But even if the Tsar in Turnovo wanted to stop the spread of Venetian influence on his coastline, his lack of a strong fleet renders him pretty helpless against the major maritime power in the area. Continuing the tradition of those before him, Tsar Ivan Alexander granted special trade rights to Venice in 1353.

With this new alliance in place, Venetian merchants have established a small colony in this town, and are now bringing in their goods. The traders are not the only newcomers - they have been followed by soldiers, who serve for the protection of the valuable cargos. These soldiers would serve whoever pays them, including the Tsar, but the presence of so many foreigners is causing the spread of their faith, making the locals feel uneasy.

While the majority of the soldiers guarding the strongholds across Bulgaria consist of spearmen and archers, the Bolyars have found it useful to recruit and maintain some professional swordsmen as retainers. The nobility prefers to fight on horseback and there is a need for reliable heavy infantry in those situations, in which the regular Bulgarian infantry cannot do the job. The Bulgarian swordsmen fulfill that role, and their services are in high demand. These troops are formed by lesser nobles and expert professional soldfiers, who are trained and skilled in using the sword, but cannot afford the expensive horses and armour of the highest aristocracy.



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Bulgarian Heavy Infantry

After the fall of the First Bulgarian Empire and the Roman rule the army of the Second Bulgarian Empire emerged as a much smaller force compared to its predecessor. The Bulgarian armed forces were now heavily influenced by the Romans from where they borrowed a lot of their tactics and equipment. As time went past these men adopted elements from their Mongol allies but also from their Western counterparts. That being said the Bulgarians still retained some traditional aspects such as the use of maces. These men are the heaviest local forces available to Bulgarian knezes. They are perfectly equipped to face heavily armoured opponents in battle but are still very mobile and flexible.



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Bulgarian Guardsmen

In the large cities, wealthy merchants and the Tsar himself need better protection than just the poorly trained and equipped watchmen. Those, who can afford it, hire professional elite guardsmen. Recruited from veteran soldiers, armed with halberds and covered by a combination of oriental and western armor, these are the most formidable infantrymen in all of Bulgaria. Unlike the untrained watchmen, the Bulgarian guardsmen will not run from the field and will stand and fight to the end, hacking their way with equal efficiency through enemy infantry and cavalry alike. These formidable warriors however fight not for honor, but for gold and will only lend theior services to a Tsar with deep coffers.



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Bulgarian Light Cavalry

The army of the Second Bulgarian Empire was quite different to the First Empire due to obvious Greek influences. However, the Bulgarians still retained many aspects of their steppe forefathers combined with the influences from the newly arrived Cumans and Mongols. Bulgaria was founded by horsemen, and its armies have traditionally had no shortage of cavalry. While the majority of the population is well settled, horses are still bread in large numbers. The Bulgarian army was highly mobile, for instance prior to the battle of Klokotnitsa for four days it covered a distance three times longer than the Epirote army for a week; in 1332 it covered 230 km for five days. Light cavalry was at the forefront of the Bulgarian mobility. Armor and battle horses are expensive and not all of the bolyar's retainers can afford them. However, there are plenty of light horsemen, on smaller, faster horses, armed with a light lance. These troops have a variety of applications on the battlefield, such as reconnaisance, chasing routers and keeping missile units at bay, but they should never be comitted to head on charges against enemy formations or prolonged melee.



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Bulgarian Pronoia Cavalry


The institution of Pronoia was introduced for the first time in Bulgaria after the First Bulgaria Empire was destroyed and occupied by the Romans. This red to a rapid augmentation and development of large estates which put pressure and lots of hardships on the peasantry. A pronoia was a grant that temporarily transferred imperial fiscal rights to an individual or institution. These rights were most commonly taxes or incomes from cultivated lands, but they could also be other income streams. The holders of the pronoia were called pronoiars and many times pronoia were rewarded for military service. The rebellion of Peter and Asen itself started when the Emperor refused to give a pronoia to the two chieftans. The pronoiars can afford better equipment and as such have access to good quality lamellar, chainmail, shields and armour. They act as a medium infantry supporting the heavier bolyars and can be used as the main reliable element of the large cavalry armies fielded by Bulgarian Tsars.



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Bulgarian Bolyars

The Bolyars are the land aristocracy of Bulgaria, the highest class in society and the elite of the Bulgarian people. Their sole occupation, apart from opressing the local peasantry into their service, is war, and they are experts at what they are doing. Enjoying increasing riches and independence from the Tsar, the Bolyars can afford the best possible equipment. Their armor combines eastern and western elements, with oriental influence being stronger due to the ties with the Mongols.

Despite their equipment, Bolyars prefer to fight in the western style, charging the enemy with lances and finishing it off in melee with swords. The descendants of centuries of proud equestrian tradition, these warriors make some of the best heavy cavalry on the Balkans and have the ability to decide battles.



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Tsar's Guard

The personal retinues of the Tsar and the Bulgarian royal family consist of handpicked members of the Bolyar aristocracy. These bodyguards are chosen based on their superior skills in battle and their unquestionable loyalty to their ruler, and will fight beside him for as long as he orders them. Their equipment combines eastern and western elements, and is of the highest quality available, as befits the Tsar's personal retainers.



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Tatar Horse Archers

Since their devastating arrival in Eastern Europe, the Mongols, also called Tatars, have earned themselves the reputation of being the best horse archers in the world. It is a well justified reputation and hardly anyone wants to face these evasive warriors, who kill the majority of their foes from distance with deadly accurate arrow volleys. The rulers of the lands, which border the Golden Horde, have learned quickly that it is better to harness the Tatars military prowess as mercenaries in their army, rather than face them on the battlefield. As long as there is enough gold and the promise of plunder, Tatar Horse Archers will be a part of nearby Tsars and Despots.

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Tatar Guards



For a long time, the Tatars were pillaging the Bulgarian countryside, and the Horde meddled in Bulgaria's internal relations. This changed in 1300 AD, when Teodor Svetoslav was able to establish a permanent alliance with the Tatars, and now they ride in the armies of the Tsars of Turnovo. They were late at Velbuzhd, but were on hand at Rusokastro where they had the main role in the victory against the Romans. While most eastern European rulers have had access to Tatar horsemen, the alliance between Bulgaria and the horde ensures that not only mounted archers, but also some Tatar nobles come to the aid of the Bulgarian Tsar. The best of them form an elite guard unit, supplementing the Tsar's own retinue.

Equally masterful with the bow, Tatar Guards are superior to the common Mongol mercenaries by their ability in melee. Protected by mail and lamellar armour and capable of inflicting terrible damage with maces, they can hold their own against any other heavy cavalry, making them a freightful force on the battlefield and a nightmire for enemy troops. In an era wehere less and less Bolyars stay loyal to the Tsar, this may be the best troops the Bulgarian ruler can field.

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