Bulgaria
Bulgaria was founded by Khan Asparuh in 681. An interesting legend surrounds the death of Khan Kubrat, the father of Asparuh and his two brothers. When Kubrat was on his deathbed he called his three sons and ordered them to break a giant pile of sticks in half with their bare hands. Each one tried, but failed. Finally they realized that if they worked together they would be more successful. The three brothers grabbed the pile and managed to break every single stick in half. Today, Bulgaria's motto is, "Unity makes strength". This slogan is inscribed on the façade of the parliament building in Sofia, the capital city.
Bulgaria has had many great rulers, which unfortunately isn't the case today. Under the warrior Khan Krum Bulgaria acquired the entire territory of present-day Romania, threatening to reach as far as Constantinople. Krum also remains in history for his legislature. The laws he enforced were very severe by present-day standards, and included cutting off people's hands if they were caught stealing. These measures secured the economic power of the country.more