Bulgars

The Bulgars (also Bulghars, Bulgari, Bolgars, Bolghars, Bolgari,^[1] Proto-Bulgarians^[2]) were Turkic semi-nomadic warrior tribes that flourished in the Pontic–Caspian steppe and the Volga region during the 7th century. They became known as nomadic equestrians in the Volga-Ural region, but some researchers say that their ethnic roots can be traced to Central Asia.^[3] During their westward migration across the Eurasian steppe, the Bulgar tribes absorbed other ethnic groups and cultural influences in a process of ethnogenesis, including Indo-European, Finno-Ugric and Hunnic tribes.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]} Modern genetic research on Central Asian Turkic people and ethnic groups related to the Bulgars points to an affiliation with Western Eurasian populations.^[9][10][11] The Bulgars spoke a Turkic language, i.e. Bulgar language of Oghuric branch.^[12] They preserved the military titles, organization and customs of Eurasian steppes,^[13] as well as pagan shamanism and belief in the sky deity Tangra.^[14]