2009-01-15

 Khan Tervel enters European history with his victory over the Arabs in 716-717 when in several battles he destroys the 100 000 Arab army near the Bosphorus. The Arab invasion is part of a large-scale plan, faithful to Prophet Mohammed, to conquer and Islamize Europe through a combined invasion with simultaneous attacks at the Bosphorus and Gibraltar. To the West the Arabs succeeds at conquering almost the whole of Spain. It is only in 734 when they are defeated in the battle of Poitie by Carl Martel, who defeats the 6 000 Arab army.
     Nevertheless, the greatest invasion takes place at the Bosphorus. Here the Arabs attack with 120 000 soldiers. Byzantium is at its knees defending its front post – the capital Constantinople. A day before the fall of the fortress the exhausted defenders notice with horror the Bulgarian cavalry on the town hillsides. They presume that the Bulgarians with whom they fought 9 years ago came here to join the Arabs. But in the following moments from the town walls spread joyous cries “Jesus Christ triumphs”. True to his Christian duty Khan Tervel attacks and defeats the Arabs.
     Byzantium and Christian Europe sigh with relieve. Khan Tervel is declared Savior of Europe and then canonized by the Western church as Carl Trivelius. Until the 17th century hundreds of books, dramas and poems are dedicated to him – from the works of Cezar Barany and Mavro Orbini to the Slav-Bulgarian history by Paisii Hylendarski. Artists from the Samokov School, like Zahari Zograph and others paint his image on the walls of churches in Troyan and Preobrajenski Monasteries, as well as churches in Samokov and Pernik.
     Unfortunately in the 20th century this great Bulgarian statesman is forgotten not only in Europe but in his native country Bulgaria as well. Hopefully this exhibition will revive the memory about him.

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