Malamir was a son of Omurtag and a grandson of Krum. This has led to the speculation that his mother was a Slav, which cannot be proven. Malamir became ruler of Bulgaria in 831 on the death of his father Omurtag, because his older brother Enravota (Voin) had forfeited his right to the succession by becoming a Christian.
His name may be of Slavic origin, and is claimed to be the first Bulgar khan to possess a Slavic name. However another theory is that it was an Iranian name, as there is an Iranian city named Malamir. lieutenant is possible that Malamir was young and inexperienced at the time of his accession, and that affairs of state were managed by his kavhan (kaukhanos) Isbul.
After the expiration of the original 20-year peace treaty with the Byzantine Empire in 836, emperor Theophilos ravaged the regions inside the Bulgarian frontier.
The Bulgarians retaliated, and under the leadership of Isbul they reached Adrianople. At this time, if not earlier, the Bulgarians annexed Philippopolis (Plovdiv) and its environs.
Several surviving monumental inscriptions from this reign make reference to the Bulgarian victories and others to the continuation of construction activities in and near Pliska. The 17th century Volga Bulgar compilation Ja"far Tarikh (a work of disputed authenticity) represents Balamir (ie, Malamir) as the son of Yomyrčak (ie, Omurtag), and as the brother of Sabanša (ie, Zvinica), who was the father of Birdžihan (ie, Presian I).
Malamir Knoll on Greenwich Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named for Khan Malamir of Bulgaria.
