Bulgaria
Etymology and other names
History
Geography
Demographics
Economy
Culture
Government
Military
Education
Transportation
Notable People
Sources from old books
1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.
BULGARIA is so called as it were Volgaria, because certaine people comming from Volga about the yeere of our Lord 566. did possesse this Country. Some thinke that this Country is the lower Maesia. It lyeth betweene Servia, Romania, and Danubius. This Country for the most part is Mountainous, and it runneth out on the back side of the Mountaine Haemus toward Danubius, and Romania whence the middle part of the Country is ragged, & the steepe parts of it are ful of solitary Woods. The Metropolis of this Country is Sophia, which Niger thinketh to be that Towne which Ptolemy calls Vibiscum. Here the Beglerbeg of Greece resideth, whom the Turkes call Rumelt Beglerbeg, who hath 21. Sangiacates under him. There is also Serrajum a famous Citty of Bulgaria. And Nicupolis which is governed by Sangiacks. Neere this Citty there are some ruines of an admirable Bridge, which the Emperour Irajan built over Danubius, when he warr'd against the Getes.