Alexander Nikolov

Prof. Alexander Nikolov serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Ancient History, Thracian Studies and Medieval History at Sofia University 'St. Kliment Ohridski's Faculty of History in Bulgaria. His office (room 39) hosts Thursday office hours from 11:00-13:00, with contact via phone (+359) 2 9308 321 or email aleksandur@uni-sofia.bg.

His academic credentials include:

• National College for Ancient Languages and Cultures (1982)
• MA in History, University of Sofia (1989)
• MA in Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest (1996)
• PhD in History, University of Sofia (2004)
• MPhil in Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest (2008)

Specializing in Vatican Secret Archive research (1990-1991) and Modern Greek/Byzantine Studies (Vienna, 1998), his scholarly work centers on Medieval History with emphasis on Crusades historiography, migration patterns in frontier societies, and proto-national identity formation. His publications critically examine how medieval Balkan ethnic interactions—particularly involving Cumans, Uzes, and Bulgarians—shaped regional integration and cultural memory.

Recent publications (2010-2013) reveal three dominant trajectories: reinterpretation of Bulgar ethnogenesis amid post-communist 'parahistory' phenomena, analysis of Crusader-era Christian-Muslim relations through texts like William of Tripoli's treatise, and investigations into how medieval migration patterns influenced Balkan frontier societies. His work consistently bridges Byzantine, Bulgarian, and Western European historical spheres while interrogating modern nationalist appropriations of medieval history.

Professional affiliations include:

• Association of Byzantinologists and Medievalists in Bulgaria
• Bulgarian Historical Association
• Mediaevalia: Association for Medieval European and Mediterranean Research

His research includes the 'Inter-Cultural Dialogue Bulgaria-Turkey' project (2008-2009). As an educator, he contributes significantly to Bulgarian secondary history curricula through textbooks covering Slavic-Bulgarian history and European civilization, though specific advisee relationships aren't documented. His departmental leadership focuses on integrating Thracian studies with broader medieval Balkan research frameworks.