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Email this article On the Name of a Medieval Bulgarian Military Leader and His Fortress Krakra
Abstract
The article focuses on the prominent Bulgarian military leader Krakra, the defender of a medieval fortress that bears his name. The onomastic analysis is grounded in historical sources, examining early records in which the anthroponym Krakra appears. He is first mentioned in the chronicle of John Skylitzes. Until now, the Bulgarian boyar has been widely known only by the name Krakra; however, historical records indicate additional forms of the name – such as Krakas – which are also frequently attested. Beyond the analysis of the anthroponym using standard onomastic methods (including the reconstruction of names and their variants), comparative onomastic material is also employed. Two main hypotheses are proposed, the more convincing of which is that the onym represents a primary anthroponym (a nickname), from which the name of the fortress subsequently developed.
Original title in Bulgarian: "За името на един средновековен български военачалник и неговата крепост Кракра."
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Article submitted / Zgłoszony do Redakcji: 26.09.2025 | Reviews completed / Proces recenzyjny zakończony: 11.11.2025 | Accepted for publication / Przyjęty do publikacji: 21.11.2025 | Screened with iThenticate
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/zcm.2026.15.73-82
Date of publication: 2026-03-18 16:53:02
Date of submission: 2025-09-26 22:36:12
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