In order to consolidate the enormous successes of the young Bulgarian state, Khan Kroum issued the first laws in the history of the Bulgarian state and started the gradual replacement of the federal principle in the country's administrative division, which gave the Slav knyazes (princes) too great an independence, by the territorial principle. In his aspirations to enable Bulgaria to join the then civilized world and to strengthen the positions of the budding feudal aristocracy, Khan Kroum envisaged in his laws severe punishments for stealing, drinking, loose morals and insubordination to the central state power. The implacable ruler even ordered all vineyards to be pulled up by the roots,

Manifesting remarkable political far-sightedness, Khan Kroum pursued a consistent policy of unification of the Balkan and Panonian SLavs into one single state, which would be in a position to withstand the pressure on the part of the two Christian empires: the Byzantine Empire and the Frankish Empire. A decisive step was made under his rule towards liquidating the privileged status of the Proto-Bulgarian aristocracy with regard to the Slavs, and towards the gradual merger of Slavs and Proto-Bulgarians into one ethnical community.

Ambitious Bulgarian ruler

Constantinople was well aware of the plans of the ambitious Bulgarian ruler, who was winning victory after victory, for they represented a mortal danger for the Empire. In 811 Emperor Nicephorus I Genicus gathered a big army and perfidiously attacked Bulgaria. The Bulgarians were taken by surprise and were unable to offer serious resistance. The Byzantine troops entered easily the capital of Pliska. The Bulgarian Khan's offer to conclude peace was arrogantly rejected, and the. Byzantine troops continued to pillage the country. Kroum was not late in gathering under his colours everybody who was able to carry arms and blocked the passes in the Balkan Range through which the Byzantine troops were to pass. When the latter entered a narrow pass, they suddenly found themselves surrounded on all sides. The retribution was terrible. Not a single enemy soldier of the huge army was left alive. The cream of Byzantine aristocracy, with the Emperor himself at the head, was killed there.

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