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TheTimočani (alsoTimochani, orTimochans;Serbian andBulgarian: Тимочани) were a medievalSouth Slavic tribe that lived in the territory of present-day easternSerbia, west of theTimok River, as well as in the regions ofBanat,Syrmia andMoesia Superior.[citation needed]
Timočani settled in the Balkans in the 6-7th century in the formerDacia Ripensis province and became later subjects of theAvar Khaganate. It is considered that with the arrival of the Bulgars in the 7th century came under Bulgarian suzerainty,[1] but for a good period of time between the mid-8th and early 9th century local Slavs lived in anarchy until around 805 when the area was reconquered and reimposed control of theBulgar Khanate under KhanKrum.[2][3] In the beginning of the 9th century they were also attacked from the West by theSerbs.[2]
In 818 during the rule ofOmurtag of Bulgaria (814-836) they, together with other border tribes of the First Bulgarian Empire, revolted because of an administrative reform of centralization that deprived them of much of their local authority.[4] They left the Bulgariansociety (association, alliance[5]),[6] and together with other Slavic tribes, searched protection fromHoly Roman EmperorLouis the Pious in the same year, meeting him at his court atHerstal.[6][7] However, they also joined the rebellion of Lower Pannonian DukeLjudevit against the Franks.[6] Many Timochans fled to Transdanubia, later becoming part of theLower Pannonian Principality.[2] Omurtag decided to settle the matter by means of diplomacy in 824-826, though his letters were not replied to by Louis. This prompted Omurtag to undertake a boat campaign on theDrava in 827 and invade the lands of the Timočani atSirmium, successfully imposing Bulgar rule again and appointing local governors.[8]
Their name derives from the Timok River.[2] Today, "Timočani" can be used as an informal name for the inhabitants of theTimok Valley in Serbia.[9]
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