Body - About the Kutriguri

The Philippi Inscription is an inscription found in present day Greece which mentions Kavhan or Kavkhan Isbul. It was dedicated to him by Khan Presian I in 837AD. Kavkhan Isbul lived as one of the Boylar (Officers) in Kana Subigi Omurtag's days (ca. 815-831AD) and also served through the administrations of Kana Subigi Malamir (ca. 831-836AD) and Presian I (ca. 836-852AD). This particular inscription was made after a Bulgar attack was conducted against the Slavs (against a tribe called the Smolyani) in the area. The Bulgars led by Kavkhan Isbul conquered most of Macedonia including the City of Philippi in this campaign.

He was largely successful during the course of his lifetime and helped with many Bulgar pursuits (both military and infrastructure). He built an aqueduct and financed construction of a fountain in Pliska during Khan Malamir's time which he then donated to the leader. In 836AD he repulsed the attacks of the Byzantines (when they broke the 30 years peace settled in 815AD) which threatened during Malamir's later days along the southern frontier. Kavkhan Isbul thrust south along with Kana Subigi Malamir to capture several Byzantine fortresses at Probaton and Bouridizon. After that the Bulgars reached the city of Philippopolis which they found abandoned of its defenses and seized it. The Byzantine Emperor Theophilos was then forced to cede the city to the glorious Bulgars from negotiations that reinstated the broken peace treaty.