Temporary_stabilization Second_Bulgarian_Empire

bulgaria in beginning of 14th century

in 1300, theodore svetoslav, george s eldest son, took advantage of civil war in golden horde, overthrew chaka, , presented head mongol khan toqta. brought end mongol interference in bulgarian domestic affairs , secured southern bessarabia far bolgrad bulgaria. new emperor began rebuild country s economy, subdued many of semi-independent nobles, , executed traitors held responsible assisting mongols, including patriarch joachim iii. byzantines, interested in bulgaria s continuous instability, supported pretenders michael , radoslav armies, defeated theodore svetoslav s uncle aldimir, despot of kran. between 1303 , 1304, bulgarians launched several campaigns , retook many towns in north-eastern thrace. byzantines tried counter bulgarian advance suffered major defeat in battle of skafida. unable change status quo, forced make peace bulgaria in 1307, acknowledging bulgarian gains. theodore svetoslav spent rest of reign in peace neighbors. maintained cordial relations serbia , in 1318, king stephen milutin, paid visit tarnovo. years of peace brought economic prosperity , boosted commerce; bulgaria became major exporter of agricultural commodities, wheat.

during 1320s, tensions between bulgaria , byzantines rose latter descended civil war , new emperor george ii terter seized philippopolis. in confusion following george ii s unexpected death in 1322 without leaving successor, byzantines recaptured city , other bulgarian-seized towns in northern thrace. energetic despot of vidin, michael shishman, elected emperor next year; turned on byzantine emperor andronikos iii palaiologos, regaining lost lands. in late 1324, 2 monarchs signed peace treaty, strengthened marriage between bulgarian ruler , theodora palaiologina. michael shishman divorced serbian wife anna neda, causing deterioration of relations serbia. change of political course explained rapid growth of serbian power , penetration macedonia.

the bulgarians , byzantines agreed joint campaign against serbia, took 5 years until differences , tensions between bulgaria , byzantium overcome. michael shishman gathered 15,000 troops , invaded serbia. engaged serbian king stephen dečanski, commanded approximately equal force, near border town of velbazhd. 2 rulers, both expecting reinforcements, agreed one-day truce when catalan detachment under king s son stephen dušan arrived, serbs broke word. bulgarians defeated in ensuing battle of velbazhd , emperor perished. despite victory, serbs did not risk invasion of bulgaria , 2 sides agreed peace. result, ivan stephen, eldest son of dead emperor serbian wife, succeeded him in tarnovo , deposed after brief rule. bulgaria did not lose territory not stop serbian expansion in macedonia.

after disaster @ velbazhd, byzantines attacked bulgaria , seized number of towns , castles in northern thrace. success ended in 1332, when new bulgarian emperor ivan alexander defeated them in battle of rusokastro, recovering captured territories. in 1344, bulgarians entered byzantine civil war of 1341–47 on side of john v palaiologos against john vi kantakouzenos, capturing 9 towns along maritsa river , in rhodope mountains, including philippopolis. acquisition marked last significant territorial expansion of medieval bulgaria, led first attacks on bulgarian soil ottoman turks, allied kantakouzenos.