The “Internal” Ethnic Communities in Khazaria 259
(it is mostly thought to be either Ugrian or Kasog), it is also possible that it was
related to the Bulgars.168
Bulgars and Alans settled extensively in the Severski Donets area in the
eighth century. Initially, the Bulgars took the steppe zone, while the Alans
settled in the forest-steppe one. In the second half of the ninth century and
during the tenth century, the Bulgar presence in the Alanian zone began to
grow, including along the upper reaches of the Don and in the Maiaki hillfort.169
It is also possible that Bulgars settled in the forest-steppe zone even earlier, as
well as alongside the Alans.170 In this area, unlike some regions in the North
Caucasus for example, the Bulgars and the Alans implemented the khaganate’s
policy.171 Quite notable is the higher militarization of the population, whose
settlements were located along the upper reaches of the Severski Donets,172 in
a region that bordered Slavic (Severì) settlements.173
Scientists disagree on the status of the Don Region (north and west of
Sarkel). On the one hand, it is asserted that it was a semi-autonomous “tribu-
tary” region,174 and on the other—that it was part of the central lands of the
khaganate.175 According to A. Tortika, the alliance with Khazaria was beneficial
for the Alano-Bulgars there. They upheld it even when the Khazar state grew
weaker. Their position changed from full submission to the establishment of
a relatively independent political structure by the middle or end of the tenth
century. “The degree of the region’s autonomy and its differentiation from the
Khazar authorities probably fluctuated in accordance with the strengthening
168 Aksenov 1998, 2004b, 2005, 2007, and 2008; Aksenova 2007; Kovalevskaia 1981a, 90–93;
Mikheev 1982, 1985, 23, and 2004, 88–89; Pletneva 1989, 4; Pletneva 1997, 50–52; Pletneva
1999, 48, and 78–79; Pletneva 2005, 22–23; Rashev 2008, 171; Dimitrov 1987, 85–87; Dmitriev
2003; Gavritukhin and P’iankov 2003; Flerova 2001a, 43–50.
169 Pletneva 1989, 259–273; Pletneva 1999, 52 and 60–64; Vinnikov and Pletneva 1998, 209–212;
Vinnikov and Afanas’ev 1991, 140.
170 Pletneva 1989, 268. Aksenov 2005, 219–222 assumes that the Netailovo necropolis (which
is situated in the Alanian zone, near Verkhnii Saltov) is left by a population, related to
the Unogundurs and consequently to the Bulgars from the first migration wave in the
Crimea. Baranov 1990, 117 also comments on such a connection. According to V. Aksenov,
the Bulgars came to this area together with the Alans. In Konduktorova’s opinion, both
Alanian and Bulgar tribes participated in the creation of the forest-steppe (Alanian) ver-
sion of the Saltovo culture (Konduktorova 1984, 236).
171 See for instance Novosel’tsev 1990, 202; Tortika 2006a, 96.
172 Pletneva 1989, 278; Tortika 2006a, 133.
173 On the relations between the Slavs and the “Saltovians” along the upper reaches of the
Severski Donets, see chapter 4.4.
174 Aksenov 2005, 227–228; Tortika 2002, 145.
175 Romashov 2002–2003, 148.