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The name of Madara, or Matora, was mentioned in 1444 and was associated with the battle of the Polish king Wenseslaus II Varnenchik.
Later on, in 1490, Madara was mentioned in the Turkish register of the Silistra region. According to Byzantinean historical sources, the Bulgarian king Simeon found refuge in the Madara fortress when fighting with the Magyars. Different theories exist about the origin of the name. Some say it comes from the name of the Roman military Modar, who attacked and defeated the Barbarians from the North.
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Others claim “Madara” originates from the name of the fortress Mundraga. Another theory is that it comes from the old Greek word for “bald, naked, without any trees on it” (referring to the plateau). The historical importance of the place is considerable. Up on the steep cliffs an anonymous artist has carved a big relief of a horseman and added a few inscriptions around it. At the foot of the same cliff, winds the path to the Big cave.
Around 1872 the famous Hungarian traveler and artist Felix Kanitz first gave evidence of the Madara horseman by making a sketch of it.
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