Origin of Bulgars             

 

         In the "list of Bulgarian khans" which shows the names of the Bulgarian rulers and their durations of reign from the beginning to 765 although its remaining from a later time and which we now have a Slavic translation in a Russian Chronicle, Irnek is indicated to be the ancestor of Bulgarian ruler dynasty. The real name of those Turks who mingled with Hun masses was Ogur, and they inhabited in the steppes from Danube mouth to Volga to the north of Black Sea as distinct clan unions like Pachenegs and Kumans: Saragur (Sa-rı/Ak/Ogur), Bittigur (Beş-Ogur), Ultingur~Altziagir (Altı-Ogur), Kutri-gur-Kuturgur ("Tukurgur" = Dokuz-Ogur) Ungur ~ Hunugur ~ Onugur (On-Ogur), Utigur ~ Uturgur (Otuz-Ogur).

 

        Ogur Turks, whom Byzantine historian Priskos (5th century) told they were driven away from their countries in eastern part of Ural mountains by Sabars and went to the plains of Black Sea (about 461-465), were in three groups as to the same historian: Saragur, Urog (Ogur) and On-Ogur. These peoples had sent envoys to Byzantium to keep their position against Sabars being driven by Huns to the west. Recent investigations revealed that Ogurs were in three groups in their original land before the big migration: Eastern group (in the vicinity of Seyhun-Cu rivers and Calkar Lake: On-Ogurs); medium group (near today's Kazak-Kirghiz steppe and Emba river, probably, Otuz-Ogurs) and western group (near Yayik river-supposedly-Dokuz-Ogurs). It is also probable that against Saragur (Ak-Ogur) mass, the others may have formed "Kara Ogur" group.