Kan Presian

Khan Presian I, also known as Persian, was a Bulgarian ruler of the Krum dynasty who ruled the First Bulgarian state from 836 to 852. He was a son of the boyar Zvinitsa, a grandson of Khan Omurtag and a nephew of Khan Malamir. Presian was the father of Boris I, known as the Baptiser.

Presian continued the war with Byzantium after ascending the throne. He sent a Bulgarian army under Kavhan Isbul towards Thessaloniki, where it defeated the Byzantines. This success led to control of the Rhodope region and an advance to the Aegean coast, cutting the overland connection between Constantinople and Thessaloniki.

Between 837 and 842, the Bulgarians incorporated the Slavs of Macedonia west of the River Struma. This may have happened as a result of military operations.

In 842, a conflict broke out between the Bulgarians and the Serbs, who had united under Prince Vlastimir. After a three-year war, the Bulgarians were defeated, but peace was restored without territorial changes.

An important event in relations with the Franks occurred in 843. Bulgarian envoys reaffirmed the peace treaty with the Kingdom of East Francia following the death of Louis the Pious and the division of power among his sons.

Presian died in 852 and was succeeded by his son Boris I the Baptiser.