BOLGARY

formerly Bolgar, Bulgar, or Bolgary Velikie, ancient city and capital of the medieval state of Bolgariya Volga-Kama. The ruins of medieval Bolgary are near the present village of Bolgary, Tatarstan republic, in western Russia. Archaeological excavations on the site of the city began in 1870. The earliest settlement on the site of Bolgary dates to about AD 500. In the second half of the 13th century, Bolgary became the most important trade and craft centre of the Golden Horde. In 1361 Bolgary was destroyed by the Golden Horde khan Bulak-Timur. A number of stone structures from the 13th and 14th centuries have been preserved.