Role Komes Name Nicholas Nicholas | Ex-spouse Ripsimia of Armenia | |
 | ||
Children Samuel of Bulgaria, Aron of Bulgaria, David of Bulgaria, Moses of Bulgaria Grandchildren Gavril Radomir of Bulgaria, Kosara, Ivan Vladislav of Bulgaria, Katun Anastazya of Bulgaria, Miroslava of Bulgaria Great grandchildren Peter Delyan, Presian II of Bulgaria, Alusian of Bulgaria, Catherine of Bulgaria People also search for Samuel of Bulgaria, Ripsimia of Armenia | ||
The komes ("count") Nicholas Bulgarian: Никола was a local ruler in Bulgaria, of Armenian origin, and progenitor of the Cometopuli ("the sons of the count") dynasty.
Life
According to the Armenian chronicler Stephen of Taron, the family originated in the Armenian region of Derdjan. He was married to Ripsime or Hripsime, possibly a daughter of King Ashot II of Armenia. The couple had four sons, David, Moses and Aron, and Samuel, who are collectively known as the Cometopuli (from Greek Kometopouloi, "sons of the komes"; Armenian Komsajagk). Sometime in the 970s—the exact date is unclear and disputed—the brothers launched a successful rebellion against the Byzantine Empire, that had recently subdued Bulgaria; after the early death of his brothers, Samuel remained as the undisputed leader of Bulgaria, ruling as Tsar from 996 until his death in 1014.
Other than that, nothing is known of Nicholas. He may have ruled Serdica or, according to other sources, was a local count in the region of the modern Republic of Macedonia.
In 992/3, Samuel erected at German, near Lake Prespa, an inscription commemorating his parents and his brother David.