The title is attested as “izgonchie” in the Mraka Charter and in a closely related form in the Virgina Charter. The latter charter is not authentic and therefore cannot reliably establish an early date for the office. The secure Bulgarian evidence consequently places the izgonchiya in the fourteenth century. No holder of the office is known by name, and the surviving documents provide no information about insignia, seals, or its precise position in the official hierarchy.
The word is formed from Slavonic elements. The suffix “-chiy,” associated with early Turkic linguistic influence, commonly forms nouns denoting occupations or activities, while the root derives from the verb izgoniti. Since that verb does not readily yield the name of a profession, the most likely explanation is that izgonchiya is a structural translation of the Greek “ἀποκρισιάριος,” apokrisiarios, itself derived from “ἀποκρίνω.” The two verbs do not have identical meanings, but their similar construction made it possible to create a Slavonic administrative term on a Greek model.
The chronology supports this interpretation: the Greek title occurs in the Vatopedi Charter, the earliest surviving document of the period, whereas the Slavonic form is securely recorded later. This accords with the broader fourteenth-century tendency to replace Greek loanwords with Slavonic translations or calques. The change was not complete, however, because apokrisiarios remained in use for imperial envoys.
The izgonchiya probably performed the same general duties as the provincial apokrisiarios mentioned in the Vatopedi Charter: carrying messages and maintaining official communications. It was therefore a provincial postal office, distinct from the ruler’s envoys, who could likewise be called apokrisiarioi. A related title appears in a charter issued by the Serbian king Stefan Uroš II Milutin in 1300, where the formula referring to an “izgonchiya of the town” occupies the eighth place in a list. The same wording was repeated in the forged Virgina Charter, which was probably modelled on Milutin’s chrysobull, a ruler’s charter authenticated with a gold seal.
The Serbian attestation is isolated and concerns recently conquered Bulgarian territories, suggesting that the term was more characteristic of Bulgaria. The expression “urban izgonchiya” may point to an internal distinction between different officials, but the dependence between the documents prevents a firm conclusion. The precise dates when the office was created and when it disappeared also remain unknown.
The title appears as “izgonchie” in the Mraka Charter and in a very similar form in the Virgina Charter. But the Virgina Charter is not genuine, so it cannot be used as solid evidence for an early date for the office. The dependable Bulgarian evidence therefore places the izgonchiya in the fourteenth century. No office holder is known by name, and the surviving documents say nothing about badges, seals, or the office’s exact rank in the official order.
The word is built from Slavonic parts. The ending “-chiy,” which is linked to early Turkic influence, often forms nouns for jobs or actions, and the root comes from the verb izgoniti. Since that verb does not naturally produce a word for a profession, the most likely explanation is that izgonchiya is a direct translation, or structural copy, of the Greek “ἀποκρισιάριος,” apokrisiarios, which itself comes from “ἀποκρίνω.” The two verbs do not mean exactly the same thing, but their similar form made it possible to create a Slavonic administrative term on a Greek model.
The order of the evidence supports this idea. The Greek title appears in the Vatopedi Charter, the earliest surviving document from this period, while the Slavonic form is securely recorded only later. This fits a wider fourteenth-century pattern in which Greek loanwords were replaced by Slavonic translations or calques, meaning direct word-for-word renderings. Even so, the process was not complete, because apokrisiarios continued to be used for imperial envoys.
The izgonchiya probably carried out the same broad work as the provincial apokrisiarios mentioned in the Vatopedi Charter: delivering messages and keeping official communication running. It was therefore a provincial postal office, separate from the ruler’s envoys, who could also be called apokrisiarioi. A related title appears in a charter issued by the Serbian king Stefan Uroš II Milutin in 1300, where the phrase “izgonchiya of the town” comes eighth in a list. The same wording was then repeated in the forged Virgina Charter, which was probably modeled on Milutin’s chrysobull, a ruler’s charter sealed with gold.
The Serbian example stands alone and refers to newly conquered Bulgarian territories, which suggests that the term was more typical of Bulgaria. The phrase “urban izgonchiya” may point to a difference between types of officials, but because the documents clearly depend on one another, that cannot be said with certainty. The exact date when the office began and the date when it disappeared are also still unknown.
The office is securely known from 14th-century Bulgarian records. We do not know the names of any holders, and the surviving texts do not say much about its signs, seals, or rank.
It was probably made as a Slavonic copy of an older Greek-style title. This fits the time, when Bulgarian writers often replaced Greek words with Slavonic ones.
It likely handled messages and official news in the provinces, like a postal office. A similar phrase appears once in a Serbian charter from 1300, but it was probably borrowed from Bulgarian practice. The exact start and end of the office are still unknown.