Bulgarian
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Bulgaria, a country in southeastern Europe, boasts of having one of the richest folk heritages in the world. The history, culture and heritage of the country has been influenced by a number of ancient civilizations, including the Thracians, Ancient Greeks, Romans, Ostrogoths, Slavs, Varangians and especially Bulgars. Owing to their rich heritage, Bulgarians have played a major role in influencing the development of European arts and culture, and have made immense contributions to humanity, especially over the past two centuries. One of the earliest known composers of Medieval Europe was Yoan Kukuzel who reformed the entire Byzantine musical writing system.
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1
Dimitar Berbatov
(The Leading Goal-Scorer in Bulgarian Football History)
Birthdate: January 30, 1981
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Born to a footballer father and a handball player mother, Bulgarian former footballer Dimitar Berbatov was no stranger to sports as a child. He made history as a striker and became Bulgaria’s leading goal-scorer of all time. He has also had a successful career with Manchester United, winning 2 Premier Leagues with them.
Birthdate: February 8, 1966
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Bulgarian footballer/coach Hristo Stoichkov’s temper and ugly fights with players have earned him nicknames such as The Raging Bull and The Dagger. The Ballon d'Or-winning player started his career at 11 with a local club. He then graduated to CSKA Sofia and Barcelona and was named to FIFA 100, too.
3
Maria Bakalova
(Academy Award-Nominated Bulgarian Actor)
Birthdate: June 4, 1996
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Burgas, Bulgaria
4
Grigor Dimitrov
(Bulgarian Former World Number 3 Tennis Player)
Birthdate: May 16, 1991
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Haskovo, Bulgaria
Bulgarian tennis star Grigor Dimitrov had had a career-high ranking of number 3 in singles. The most successful player in Bulgarian tennis history, he has also been in the news for his relationship with Maria Sharapova. Known for his acrobatics and athleticism, he was initially named Baby Federer.
5
Kubrat Pulev
(Bulgarian Professional Boxer)
Birthdate: May 4, 1981
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Bulgarian professional boxer Kubrat Pulev has so-far won several titles in super-heavyweight division. These include at the Men’s 2008 European Amateur Boxing Championships and at the Strandzha Cup in 2005, 2006 and 2008. He was one of the two boxers who represented Bulgaria at the 2008 Olympics. Pulev has challenged for the unified heavyweight title in 2014 and in 2020.
6
Miro
(The First and the Only Bulgarian Wrestler to Compete in the WWE)
Birthdate: December 25, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Bulgarian wrestler Miroslav Barnyashev, better known as Miro and Rusev, has had a successful career in the US. He is the only Bulgarian to have represented the WWE. He currently represents AEW and is a former United States and TNT champion. Before stepping into wrestling, he also competed in rowing, sambo, and powerlifting.
Birthdate: September 9, 0214
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Died: September 25, 0275
Roman emperor Aurelian ruled from 270 to 275. His military triumphs reunited the Roman Empire and put an end to the Crisis of the Third Century. He built the Aurelian Walls in Rome. Known as the Restitutor Orbis, he defeated the barbarian armies of the Goths and the Alamanni.
Birthdate: June 16, 1937
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
The last king of Bulgaria, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, has also been the country’s prime minister. He had taken over as the king at 6, after his father’s mysterious death. He married a Spanish noble lady while in exile in Madrid and returned to Bulgaria 50 years after the abolition of monarchy.
9
Veselin Topalov
(Bulgarian Chess Grandmaster and Former FIDE World Chess Champion)
Birthdate: March 15, 1975
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Ruse, Bulgaria
Bulgarian chess Grandmaster Veselin Topalov is a former world number 1 and a FIDE World Chess Champion. Starting to play chess at age 8, he became a prodigy soon after. He has been part of 9 Chess Olympiads and also bagged the Chess Oscar in 2005.
10
Boris III of Bulgaria
(Former Tsar of the Kingdom of Bulgaria (1918 - 1943))
Birthdate: January 30, 1894
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Died: August 28, 1943
Boris III became Tsar of the Kingdom of Bulgaria in the wake of Bulgaria's defeat in First World War. He is noted for legitimating the 1923 Bulgarian coup d'état and joining Axis Powers during Second World War. He however refrained from participating in German invasion of Soviet Union and resisted attempts of the Germans in deporting Bulgarian Jews during Holocaust.
11
Stanislav Ianevski
(Bulgarian Actor)
Birthdate: May 16, 1985
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
12
Blagoy Ivanov
(Bulgarian MMA Fighter and Sambo Practitioner Currently Signed to UFC)
Birthdate: October 9, 1986
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Sandanski, Bulgaria
Bulgarian MMA fighter and sambo artist Blagoy Ivanov, also known as Bagata, has a gold medal in World Sambo Championships. Initially a talented judoka, he rejected an opportunity to represent his country at the Olympics and chose a career in MMA and sambo instead. He currently represents the UFC.
13
Sylvie Vartan
(Armenian-Bulgarian-French Actress and Singer)
Birthdate: August 15, 1944
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Iskrets, Bulgaria
Sylvie Vartan is an Armenian-Bulgarian-French actress and singer. Best known for her work as a yé-yé artist, Vartan achieved popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, when her shows attracted full houses at the Palais des congrès de Paris and the Olympia. Sylvie Vartan's shows often featured enthralling show-dance choreography. She has also appeared in films like Malpertuis and The Missionaries.
14
Miro
(Bulgarian-American Professional Wrestler)
Birthdate: December 25, 1985
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Bulgarian wrestler Miroslav Barnyashev, better known as Miro and Rusev, has had a successful career in the US. He is the only Bulgarian to have represented the WWE. He currently represents AEW and is a former United States and TNT champion. Before stepping into wrestling, he also competed in rowing, sambo, and powerlifting.
15
Georgi Markov
(Bulgarian Dissident Writer Best Known for His Work 'The Truth that Killed')
Birthdate: March 1, 1929
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sofia
Died: September 11, 1978
Georgi Markov was a Bulgarian writer, novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. After relocating to London due to political reasons, Markov worked as a journalist and broadcaster for the BBC World Service, Radio Free Europe, and Deutsche Welle. Georgi Markov was assassinated in 1978 and was posthumously honored with the Order of Stara Planina in 2000.
Birthdate: 0201 AD
Birthplace: Martinci
Died: May 31, 0251
Birthdate: April 30, 1967
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Varna, Bulgaria
18
Tsvetana Pironkova
(First Tennis Player of Bulgaria Who Reached Semi-Final of a Grand Slam in Singles)
Birthdate: September 13, 1987
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Tsvetana Pironkova became the first Bulgarian tennis player to reach semi-final of a Grand Slam in singles after defeating five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams at 2010 Wimbledon Championships. Following this Pironkova attained her highest singles ranking of No. 31 in September that year. She bagged a title in Sydney and in 2020 won the Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year Award.
19
Vasil Levski
(Bulgarian Revolutionary & Freedom Fighter Who was Executed by the Ottoman Authorities)
Birthdate: July 18, 1837
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Karlovo, Bulgaria
Died: February 18, 1873
Vasil Levski was a Bulgarian revolutionary who is considered a national hero in Bulgaria. Nicknamed the Apostle of Freedom, Vasil Levski strategized a revolutionary movement to free Bulgaria from the Ottoman rule. In a nationwide television poll conducted in 2007, Levski was voted as the greatest Bulgarian of all time.
20
Samuil of Bulgaria
(Former Tsar of Bulgaria)
Birthdate: 0958 AD
Birthplace: Prilep, Macedonia (FYROM)
Died: October 6, 1014
21
Valentin Yordanov
(Bulgarian Freestyle Wrestler and Olympic Gold Medalist)
Birthdate: January 26, 1960
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ruse Municipality, Bulgaria
One of the most decorated wrestlers in history, Valentin Yordanov has not only won a gold and a bronze at the Olympics but is also a 7-time World and European Champion. He continued to represent Bulgaria even after moving to the US. He also served as the president of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation.
22
Simeon I of Bulgaria
(Ruled over Bulgaria from 893 to 927)
Birthdate: 0864 AD
Birthplace: Bulgaria
Died: May 27, 0927
Birthdate: March 25, 1965
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Stefka Kostadinova is a Bulgarian former athlete whose world record of 2.09 metres in high jump has stood since 1987. One of the most respected athletes from Bulgaria, Kostadinova has won an Olympic gold medal, two gold medals in World Championships, five gold medals in World Indoor Championships, and four gold medals in European Indoor Championships.
24
Krum
(Former Ruler of Bulgaria (803 - 814))
Birthdate: 0755 AD
Birthplace: Pannonia, Austria
Died: April 13, 0814
Krum was the ruler of Bulgaria from 803 until his demise in 814. An able administrator, Krum helped expand the Bulgarian territory, which doubled in size during his reign. Krum is also remembered for introducing the first known written law code in the history of Bulgaria, which established him as a strict but just ruler.
25
Tzvetan Todorov
(Historian, Philosopher, Sociologist Known for His Contributions to Literary, Cultural, and Thought History)
Birthdate: March 1, 1939
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Died: February 7, 2017
Tzvetan Todorov was a Bulgarian-French historian, philosopher, literary critic, and sociologist. He completed his doctorat ès lettres at the University of Paris and had a brilliant academic career. He helped to found the journal Poétique and served as one of its managing editors. He authored many books, including Conquest of America: The Question of the Other.
Birthdate: January 31, 1911
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ustrumca, Salonica Vilayet, Ottoman Empire
Died: November 11, 1996
27
Julia Kristeva
(Bulgarian-French Author and Academic Whose Themes Surrounded on Feminism, Semiotics, and Psychoanalysis)
Birthdate: June 24, 1941
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sliven, Bulgaria
Bulgarian-born French author and literary critic Julia Kristeva is also a professor at the University Paris Diderot. Her writings, such as the Female Genius trilogy, are centered around feminism, semiotics, and psychoanalysis. She has also pioneered semanalysis and has been recognized with honors such as Commander of the Legion of Honor.
28
Maria Popova
(Bulgarian-Born American-Based Writer Best Known for Her Blog 'The Marginalian')
Birthdate: July 28, 1984
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bulgaria
Maria Popova is a Bulgarian-born writer who focuses on philosophy and culture. Considered an important writer, Popova also contributes to popular publications like Wired UK, The Atlantic, and The New York Times. Over the course of her career, Maria Popova has been featured in various lists including Forbes' 30 under 30.
Birthdate: 0500 AD
Birthplace: Sapareva Banya, Bulgaria
Died: February 29, 0565
Byzantine military commander Belisarius, one of the Last of the Romans, is remembered for his loyalty to Emperor Justinian I and for his self-less love for his wife, Antonina, who later cheated on him. Legend has it that he was blinded by Justinian and made to beg on the streets.
30
Hristo Botev(One of the Heroes of the Bulgarian National Revolution and Poet)
Birthdate: January 6, 1848
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kalofer, Bulgaria
Died: June 1, 1876
Hristo Botev was a Bulgarian poet and revolutionary. Widely regarded as a national hero by Bulgarians, Botev was thought to be ahead of his peers in his aesthetic, philosophical, and political views. An influential and important figure in the history of Bulgaria, Botev has several monuments, schools, football clubs, and stadiums named after him.
31
Julian Kostov
(Bulgarian Actor, Filmmaker and a 10-Time National Swimming Champion)
Birthdate: August 25, 1989
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Varna, Bulgaria
Bulgarian actor, talent-manager, filmmaker and former pro-swimmer Julian Kostov became 10-time National Swimming Champion and received Master of Sport title in Swimming. As an actor Kostov has appeared in different films and series including starring in the film Another Mother's Son. He plays recurring role in Netflix series Shadow and Bone. He founded the production and talent-management company JupiterLights Productions.
32
Stiliyan Petrov
(Bulgarian Former Professional Football Midfielder and All-Time Most Capped Player of the Country)
Birthdate: July 5, 1979
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Montana
Bulgarian former professional football midfielder Stiliyan Alyoshev Petrov achieved several feats during his senior professional career. These include winning Bulgarian Championship once and Bulgarian Cup twice with CSKA Sofia; and ten trophies with Celtic Park including four Scottish Premier League titles and the Scottish Cup thrice. He also reigns as the all-time most-capped player of the Bulgaria national football team.
33
Martin Petrov
(Retired Bulgarian Footballer Who Played as a Winger)
Birthdate: January 15, 1979
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Vratsa
Retired Bulgarian footballer Martin Petrov was known as an attacking midfielder. He has had successful stints with clubs such as CSKA Sofia and Atlético Madrid, winning the Bulgarian Cup with the former and the UEFA Intertoto Cup with the latter. He was named the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year in 2006.
34
Jared Homan
(American Basketball Player Who Has Represented the Bulgarian National Basketball Team)
Birthdate: March 6, 1983
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Remsen, Iowa, United States
American basketball player Jared Homan started his career with the Greek club Maroussi and later represented teams such as Bayern Munich and Maccabi Ashdod. He has also won the Croatian League and Croatian Cup with Cibona Zagreb and has represented the Bulgarian national basketball team.
35
Kotoōshū Katsunori
(Bulgarian Sumo Wrestler and One of the Longest Serving 'ōzeki (Champion) in Sumo History)
Birthdate: February 19, 1983
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Retired Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kotoōshū Katsunori was initially a Greco-Roman wrestler but switched to sumo after gaining weight. He scripted history as the first sumo wrestler from Europe to bag the Emperor's Cup and had been an ōzeki for 47 consecutive tournaments. He later became a Japanese citizen.
36
Irina Bokova
(Bulgarian Political Figure and 10th Director-General of UNESCO (2009 - 2017))
Birthdate: July 12, 1952
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Irina Bokova is a Bulgarian politician best known for her service as the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs from 13 November 1996 to 13 February 1997. An important member of UNESCO, Bokova has also served as a Director-General of UNESCO from 15 October 2009 to 10 November 2017. Bokova is the recipient of many prestigious awards like the Hilal-i-Pakistan Award.
37
Boris I of Bulgaria
(King)
Birthdate: 0825 AD
Birthplace: Pliska, Bulgaria
Died: May 2, 0907
38
Alexander, Prince of Bulgaria
(Former Prince of Bulgaria (1879 - 1886))
Birthdate: April 5, 1857
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Verona, Italy
Died: November 17, 1893
Alexander Joseph or Alexander of Battenberg was a prince of Bulgaria from 29 April 1879 to 7 September 1886. He was forced to abdicate in 1886 by pro-Russian Bulgarian Army officers during a coup d'état. After abdicating, Alexander went on to serve in the Austrian Army as a general.
39
Kaloyan of Bulgaria
(Emperor of Bulgaria)
Birthdate: 1172 AD
Birthplace: Bulgaria
Died: October 8, 1207
40
Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria
(Princess)
Birthdate: January 13, 1933
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
41
Stiliana Nikolova
(Rhythmic gymnast)
Birthdate: August 22, 2005
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cairo, Egypt
42
Clement of Ohrid
(The First Bishop of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Who Inspired Slavs to Follow Christianity)
Birthplace: Macedonia Greece, Greece
Died: July 27, 0916
A pioneering medieval Bulgarian saint, Clement of Ohrid was a student of saints Cyril and Methodius. He inspired a huge number of Slavs to follow Christianity. He was also the Bulgarian Orthodox Church’s first bishop and one of its Seven Apostles. He is remembered as the patron saint of North Macedonia.
43
Hristo Shopov
(Bulgarian Actor Known for His Roles in Bulgarian and American Films)
Birthdate: January 4, 1964
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
44
Serafim Todorov
(Bulgarian Amateur Boxer and Olympic Silver Medalist)
Birthdate: July 6, 1969
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Peshtera, Bulgaria
Bulgarian amateur boxer Serafim Todorov is not just an Olympic silver medalist but also became the last man to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a controversial bout which many thought Mayweather had won. A 3-time World and European champion, he was nicknamed Sarafa, or The Money-Changer.
45
Ivet Lalova-Collio
(Bulgarian Athlete Who Specializes in 100m and 200m Sprint Event and European Champion)
Birthdate: May 18, 1984
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Five-time Olympian Bulgarian athlete Ivet Lalova-Collio is a master of the 100m and 200m sprint. She has been a European Champion and has won gold medals at the European Junior and Indoor Championships. He career almost ended after colliding with a fellow athlete during a warm-up session and breaking her right femur.
46
Aleksandar Tonev
(Bulgarian Football Player Who Plays as a Winger)
Birthdate: February 3, 1990
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Elin Pelin
Bulgarian footballer Aleksandar Tonev started his career with CSKA Sofia and then went on to play for teams such as Aston Villa and Celtic. He has also played for clubs in Italy and Poland. He now represents Botev Plovdiv as a winger and has also played for the Bulgarian national team.
47
Kristalina Georgieva(Bulgarian Economist and Managing Director of the 'International Monetary Fund')
Birthdate: August 13, 1953
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria
Bulgarian environmental economist Kristalina Georgieva, the MD of IMF, believes developed nations should help low-income countries to prevent the Great Divergence. Her career boasts of a stint at the World Bank Group. She made it to the 2020 Time 100 and was named the European of the Year in 2010.
Birthdate: December 30, 1673
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Dobrich, Bulgaria
Died: July 1, 1736
49
Dee Bost
(American-Born Basketball Player Who Represents the Bulgarian National Team)
Birthdate: October 12, 1989
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Concord, North Carolina, United States
Though born in the US, basketball player Demarquis "Dee" Bost now plays for the Bulgarian national team. After going undrafted in 2012, he joined the Montenegro-based club Budućnost Podgorica. He has also played for clubs from France, Russia, Venezuela, Turkey, and Poland. He won the 2021 EuroCup with AS Monaco.
50
Valeri Bojinov
(Bulgarian Professional Football Striker)
Birthdate: February 15, 1986
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Gorna Oryahovitsa
Bulgarian professional football-striker Valeri Bojinov made his senior career debut with Lecce and has thus-far has played for seventeen different clubs. He has won Serie B (2006–07) with Juventus; and Serbian SuperLiga (2016–17) and Serbian Cup (2015–16) with Partizan. He currently plays for Septemvri Sofia and also serves as assistant manager to Slavko Matić at the club
Filip Kutev, a 20th century composer is credited to have established a new Bulgarian choral tradition. Bulgarians are also famed for their artistic abilities, especially in the creation of frescoes, murals and icons. Equally renowned for their architectural abilities, architects such as Victoria Angelova Vinarova and Andrey Damyanov were considered pioneering master-builders of their times. Modern day Bulgarians are proudly taking forward the rich legacy of their forefathers and are making important contributions to the fields of arts, literature, sports, science and technology, politics, and economics. This section provides you information about the life and works of famous Bulgarians.