Kan Boyan Chelbir

Boyan is the progenitor of the Bulgarian people in mythology. He is known as Boyan Imen Dulo, son of the Sun and the Moon. According to some sources, he was the successor and probably the son of Zabergan, also known as Tatra Kan. Although there are accounts that Boyan became kan in 563 after Zabergan's death, the exact year of Zabergan's death is uncertain and may have been after 1 January 564.

Boyan lived for eighty years. He ruled the Utigurs, or Utigs, who were a Bulgar tribe. Boyan fought the Kotrags, who are identified as Bulgars.

During Boyan's lifetime, 507–587, Ak-Bulgar, which existed from the 1st to the 17th century, was inhabited both by ethnic Bulgars and by Turkicised Saklans. There were also people of predominantly Turkic origin.

According to Gazi-Baba, 1236–1242, the influential and developed Bulgar bureaucracy prevented the Bulgars living in Bulyar, or Ak-Bulgar, from adopting Christianity and the Byzantine administrative system. This region lay in the area of Armenia, where the Bulgars had officially adopted Christianity as early as 301.

Boyan lived until 587 and was characterised by his peaceful disposition. He conducted a census and reconstructed the history of the Bulgars. The Byzantines also called him Sandilch. After his death, his son Tubdzhak assumed rule over the Bulgars.

Boyan, or Boyan Chelbir, was the father of Kan Tubdzhak, who in turn was the father of Bat Orkan and Gostun. Gostun was the father of Kubrat, ruler of Old Great Bulgaria.