В дебрите на Хемус: За някои страни в ролята на планината през периода VII–IX в

After an analysis of the extant sources (coming mainly from the period of the 8th–9th centuries), the author of the article maintains that still in the time of the inception of the khanate on the lower Danube, the Bulgarians made the Haemus Mountains (Stara Pianina and Sredna Gora) a permanent protective barrier, from behind which they would launch their attacks against the territory of Byzantine Thrace. The mountains played the role of an attack outpost (680/681, 763 and 792) and a convenient observation post, which was used to monitor the Byzantine military stationed both at the northern as well as southern foot of the range (708, 763, 811). The mountains were also used as a shelter to which the defeated Bulgarian troops would retreat (763, 811).