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Empire), restored somewhat the Roman power in the provinces south
of the Balkans for a time. But in the year 380 the Romans made peace
again with the Goths, allowing them to settle in Bulgaria as well as
north of the Danube as allies of the Roman Power.
In the latter part of the fourth century and the first half of the fifth
century the Huns fill the pages of Bulgarian history. Then came the
Slavs; and then, in the seventh century, the Bulgars, almost certainly a
Hun tribe, but Huns modified by two centuries of time. But the death
of Valens may be said to have ended the Roman Empire as a World
Power. Let us retrace our steps a little and give the chief facts as to
how a Bulgarian Empire for a time—a very short time—replaced the
Roman Empire over a great area of the Balkan Peninsula.
Chapter III
The Scrap-Heap of Races
The historian, rightly, must always march under a banner inscribed
“Why?” The facts of history bring no real informing to the human
mind unless they can be traced to their causes, and thus a chain of
events followed link by link to see why some happening was so
fruitful in results, and to search for the relation of apparently isolated
and accidental incidents.
The Balkan Peninsula has to-day just emerged from a most bloody
war. It prepares for another to break out as soon as the exhaustion
of the moment has passed. Since ever the pages of history were
inscribed it has been vexed by savage wars. Why?
There is an explanation near at hand and clear. In the Balkans there
is a geographical area, which could house one nation comfortably,
and is occupied by the scraps of half a dozen nations.
(1) There are the remnants of the Turks who at one time threatened
the conquest of all Europe. Back from the walls of Vienna they have
been driven little by little until now they occupy the toe only of the
Balkan Peninsula. But the days have not far departed when they held
almost all the Peninsula, and the present smallness of their portion
dates back only from 1913.
(2) There are the Greeks, heirs of the traditions of Philip and
Alexander, and of the old Roman Empire. For centuries their national
but not their racial existence was dormant under the heel of the Turk.
Greek independence was restored recently, and since the war of 1912-
1913 has established itself vigorously.
(3) There are the Roumanians, descendants of the old Roman
colony of Trajan in Dacia.
(4) There are the Bulgars, originally a Tartar people coming from
the banks of the Volga, who entered Bulgaria in the seventh century
as the Normans entered England at a later date, and who mingled
with a Slav race they found there—at first as conquerors, afterwards
becoming the absorbed race.
(5) There are the Serbs, somewhat akin to the Bulgars, whose
original home seems to have been that of the Don Cossacks, who also
came into the Peninsula in the seventh century. They are of purer