Shumen is a city in the northeastern part of Bulgaria and is the capital of Shumen Province. The Turkish form of the name Şumnu dates back to the Ottoman Empire. From 1950–1965, it was called Kolarovgrad, after Vasil Kolarov. Other English variants include Shoumen and Šumen. The town was also called with different names like Shumena, Shoumna, Shoumoular, Soumounoum, and, of course, in the last centuries of the domination, Shumen. In the fourteenth century, people called it Shoumna or Shumen. Most probably, its name was derived from the word “shouma” meaning “foliage” or “zaShumen” meaning “covered up with branches” because it was situated in an area with lush vegetation. (more…)