Плячка и военна икономика през първите десетилетия на Второто българско царство: някои казуси
Loot and War Economy During the First Decades of the Second Bulgarian State: Some Examples

Summary/Abstract: This research is dedicated to a specific aspect of the formation of the second Bulgarian kingdom and the Asenides dynasty, that is the economic base that allowed them to successfully organize an insurrection against the Byzantine empire and to create an independent state, not only able to guarantee its own survival but also to significantly enlarge its boundaries. This was made possible especially owing to a well-organized army, that could also benefit from the assistance of the Cuman cavalry. While those elements are well known, and are the subject of countless studies, it still remains a mystery how the Asenedis were able to organize their enterprise, what economic means they relied upon, and what was their social status before the uprising. According to the account of the French chronicler Robert de Clari, Kalojan (whom he mistakenly considers the organizer of the uprising, instead of his older brothers) was able to bring the Bulgarian elite to his side because he was “rich” and could “bestow gifts” to his followers. It therefore seems clear that Peter and Asen had been affluent and powerful local lords, although the origins of their wealth and power is not disclosed in the sources. It is also unclear what agreement had existed between them and the Cumans, save from the fact that, according to Choniates, Peter had promised them an easy campaign and rich plunder. At the same time, war loot had been one of the main sources of income for the rebels, when their state could not yet rely upon effective taxations and a valid system of recruitment. Consequentially, the silence of the sources leaves us with a number of questions, which are very difficult to answer. Where did they get their large income? How important was the role of plunder in the fast growth of the Bulgarian power? What was the economic structure of the lands that formed the heartland of their dominions, and how was its commercial economy integrated with the military? The paper will provide some hypotheses, making use in particular of the sources that detail the establishment of the second Bulgarian kingdom and the first decades of its existence.

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