Tsarevgrad Tarnovo – Greatness and Drama Between Own and Foreign

The article presents the role of Tarnovo in the political, cultural, and spiritual life of the Bulgarians in the 12th – 14th centuries. Emphasis is placed on the reasons why Tarnovo became the capital. The city has a rich history and an important strategic location. The external factors in the history of Tarnovo are analyzed – Byzantines, Serbs, Tatars, and Cumans. The author describes Tarnovo as a spiritual and church center. The relics of many saints are preserved in the city. Tarnovo is the center of literary life. The conquest of Tarnovo by the Turks is a tragic and heroic moment in Bulgarian history.