History Second_Bulgarian_Empire

1 history

1.1 liberation
1.2 rise
1.3 decline
1.4 temporary stabilization
1.5 fall

history
liberation


the church of st demetrius in tarnovo, built asen , peter in beginning of uprising

the disastrous rule of last comnenian emperor andronikos (r. 1183–85) worsened situation of bulgarian peasantry , nobility. first act of successor isaac ii angelos impose tax finance wedding. in 1185, 2 aristocrat brothers tarnovo, theodore , asen, asked emperor enlist them army , grant them land, isaac ii declined , slapped asen across face. upon return tarnovo, brothers commissioned construction of church dedicated saint demetrius of salonica. showed populace celebrated icon of saint, whom claimed had left salonica support bulgarian cause , called rebellion. act had desired effect on religious population, enthusiastically engaged in rebellion against byzantines. theodore, elder brother, crowned emperor of bulgaria under name peter iv, after sainted peter (r.927–969). of bulgaria north of balkan mountains—the region known moesia—immediately joined rebels, secured assistance of cumans, turkic tribe inhabiting lands north of danube river. cumans became important part of bulgarian army, playing major role in successes followed. rebellion broke out, peter iv attempted seize old capital of preslav failed; declared tarnovo capital of bulgaria.

from moesia, bulgarians launched attacks in northern thrace while byzantine army fighting normans, had attacked byzantine possessions in western balkans , sacked salonica, empire s second largest city. byzantines reacted in mid-1186, when isaac ii organized campaign crush rebellion before spread further. bulgarians had secured passes byzantine army found way across mountains due solar eclipse. once byzantines reached plains, rebels did not risk confrontation larger, better-organized force. peter iv pretended willing submit, while asen travelled north of danube raise army. contented, byzantine emperor burned bulgarians crops , returned constantinople. after, asen crossed on danube cuman reinforcements, declaring continue struggle until bulgarian lands liberated. new byzantine army assembled under command of emperor s uncle john doukas angelos, isaac ii feared overthrown, doukas replaced john kantakouzenos, blind man ineligible throne. bulgarians attacked kantakouzenos camp during night, killing large number of soldiers. in mid-1186, army under general alexios branas sent in. however, instead of fighting rebels, branas turned constantinople claim throne himself; murdered shortly afterwards. taking advantage of chaos, bulgarians raided northern thrace, looting countryside before byzantine forces counterattack. on 1 occasion, 2 armies confronted each other near fortress of lardea in indecisive battle; bulgarians kept plunder , retreated untroubled north of balkan mountains.

in late 1186, isaac ii launched second campaign against bulgaria. army forced spend winter in sofia, giving bulgarians time prepare invasion. following year, byzantines besieged lovech not seize it; signed armistice de facto recognized bulgarian independence. in 1189, when leader of third crusade, emperor frederick barbarossa @ brink of war byzantines, asen , peter iv offered him army of 40,000 in return official recognition, relations between crusaders , byzantines improved. in 1190, isaac ii led anti-bulgarian campaign ended in catastrophic defeat @ tryavna pass. emperor barely escaped life; imperial treasury, including crown , cross, captured victorious bulgarians. after success, asen crowned emperor , became known ivan asen i. peter iv voluntarily stepped down make way more energetic brother; peter iv retained title ivan asen assumed authority.

in next 4 years, focus of war shifted south of balkan mountains. ivan asen s strategy of swiftly striking in different locations paid off, , took control of important cities sofia , niš south-west, clearing way macedonia. in 1194, byzantines gathered huge force composed of eastern , western armies, defeated @ battle of arcadiopolis. unable resist, isaac ii tried ally hungarian king béla iii , make joint attack against bulgaria, deposed , blinded brother alexios iii angelos. byzantines tried negotiate peace ivan asen demanded return of bulgarian lands , war continued. in 1196, byzantine army again defeated @ serres, far south. upon return tarnovo, ivan asen murdered cousin ivanko in plot inspired constantinople. peter iv besieged tarnovo , ivanko fled byzantine empire, made governor of philippopolis. peter iv murdered less year after brother s death.

rise

a map of bulgarian empire, showing territorial extent , campaigns between 1185 , 1197



the church of holy forty martyrs kaloyan buried.

the throne succeeded kaloyan, asen s , peter iv s youngest brother. ambitious , ruthless ruler, wanted gain international recognition , complete liberation of bulgaria. kaloyan wanted revenge byzantines blinding 14,000 of emperor samuel s soldiers. kaloyan called himself romanoktonos (roman-slayer) after basil ii, called bulgaroktonos (bulgar-slayer). allied himself brother s murderer, ivanko. byzantines killed ivanko, bulgarians took city of constantia. in 1201, kaloyan captured varna, last byzantine stronghold in moesia, defended large garrison. despite capturing city @ easter, kaloyan ordered every byzantine thrown in moat. negotiated peace byzantines, securing bulgarian gains in 1202. while bulgarians occupied in south, hungarian king andrew ii , serbian vassal vukan had annexed belgrade, braničevo, , niš, after negotiating peace, kaloyan turned attention north-west. in 1203, bulgarians pushed serbs out of niš, defeated hungarian army in several battles along valley of morava river, , recaptured former territory.

kaloyan knew byzantines never recognize imperial title; began negotiations pope innocent iii. based claims on predecessors in first bulgarian empire; simeon i, peter i, , samuel. pope willing recognize kaloyan king on condition bulgarian church submit rome. after lengthy negotiations in both acted diplomatically without changing positions, kaloyan crowned king in late 1204. archbishop basil proclaimed primate. kaloyan had no intention of submitting decision; sent pope letter expressing gratitude imperial title had received , elevation of bulgarian church patriarchate. papacy tacitly accepted bulgarian position regarding imperial title. union between bulgaria , rome remained strictly official; bulgarians did not change orthodox rites , traditions.

a map showing greatest territorial extension of second bulgarian empire during reign of ivan asen ii (1218–1241)

several months before kaloyan s coronation, leaders of fourth crusade turned on byzantine empire , captured constantinople, creating latin empire. bulgarians tried establish friendly relations latins rebuffed , latins claimed lands despite papal recognition. facing common enemy, kaloyan , byzantine aristocracy in thrace made alliance , latter promised accept kaloyan emperor. decisive battle between bulgarian army , crusaders took place on 14 april 1205, @ adrianople, @ latins defeated , emperor baldwin captured. battle blow newly founded latin empire, descended chaos. after victory, bulgarians retook of thrace, including important city of philippopolis. unexpected bulgarian successes caused byzantine nobility plot against kaloyan , ally latins. plot in tarnovo discovered; kaloyan made brutal reprisals against byzantines in thrace. campaign against latins continued; in 1206, bulgarians victorious @ battle of rusion , conquered number of towns in eastern thrace. following year, boniface i, king of salonica, killed in battle, kaloyan murdered before begin assault on capital.

kaloyan succeeded cousin boril, tried pursue predecessor s policies did not have capability. army defeated latins @ philippopolis, reversing of kaloyan s gains. boril failed maintain integrity of empire; brother strez took of macedonia himself, alexius slav seceded territory in rhodopes; in return suppressing major rebellion in 1211, boril forced cede belgrade , braničevo hungary. campaign against serbia in 1214 ended in defeat.

as result of growing discontent policy, boril overthrown in 1218 ivan asen ii, son of ivan asen i, had lived in exile after kaloyan s death. after coronation, ivan asen ii arranged wedding anna maria, daughter of hungarian king andrew ii, , received captured cities belgrade , braničevo dowry. signed alliance theodore komnenos, ruler of powerful byzantine successor state, despotate of epirus. northern border secured treaty, theodore komnenos conquered salonica, reducing size of latin empire. in 1225, theodore proclaimed himself emperor. 1228, situation latins became desperate; entered negotiations bulgaria, promising marriage between under-age emperor baldwin ii , ivan asen ii s daughter helena. marriage have made bulgarian emperor regent in constantinople, in meantime latins offered regency french nobleman john of brienne. concerned actions of bulgarians, while marching on constantinople in 1230, theodore komnenos invaded bulgaria huge army. surprised, ivan asen ii gathered small force , moved south engage them. instead of banner, used peace treaty theodore s oath , seal stuck on spear , won major victory in battle of klokotnitsa. theodore komnenos captured along whole court , of surviving troops. ivan asen ii released ordinary soldiers , marched on epyrote–controlled territories, cities , towns adrianople durazzo on adriatic sea surrendered , recognized rule. theodore s brother michael ii komnenos doukas allowed rule in salonica on southern areas of despotate bulgarian vassal. possible serbia accepted bulgarian suzerainty @ time counter threat catholic hungary.

in 1231, when john of brienne arrived in constantinople, ivan asen ii allied nicaean empire against latins. after nicaeans recognized bulgarian patriarchate in 1235, ivan asen ii broke union papacy. joint campaign against latins successful, failed capture constantinople. john of brienne s death 2 years later, ivan asen ii—who have again become regent of baldwin ii—decided end cooperation nicaea. decision further based on assumption after allied success, constantinople again have become centre of restored byzantine empire, nicaean dynasty ruling house. bulgarian–latin cooperation short-lived; ivan asen ii remained @ peace southern neighbours until end of reign. shortly before death in 1241, ivan asen ii defeated part of mongol army returning east after devastating attack on poland , hungary.

decline


emperor constantine tikh , first wife irene, fresco boyana church

ivan asen ii succeeded infant son kaliman i. despite initial success against mongols, regency of new emperor decided avoid further raids , chose pay them tribute instead. lack of strong monarch , increasing rivalries among nobility caused bulgaria rapidly decline. main rival nicaea avoided mongol raids , gained power in balkans. after death of 12-year-old kaliman in 1246, throne succeeded several short-reigned rulers. weakness of new government exposed when nicaean army conquered large areas in southern thrace, rhodopes, , macedonia—including adrianople, tsepina, stanimaka, melnik, serres, skopje, , ohrid—meeting little resistance. hungarians exploited bulgarian weakness, occupying belgrade , braničevo. bulgarians reacted late 1253, invading serbia , regaining rhodopes following year. however, michael ii asen s indecisiveness allowed nicaeans regain of lost territory, exception of tsepina. in 1255, bulgarians regained macedonia, bulgarian population preferred rule of tarnovo of nicaeans. gains lost in 1256, after bulgarian representative rostislav mikhailovich betrayed cause , reaffirmed nicaean control on disputed areas. major setback cost emperor s life , led period of instability , civil war between several claimants throne until 1257, when boyar of skopje constantine tikh emerged victor.

the new emperor had deal multiple foreign threats. in 1257, latins attacked , seized messembria not hold town. more serious situation north-west, hungarians supported rostislav, self-proclaimed emperor of bulgaria in vidin. in 1260, constantine tikh recovered vidin , occupied severin banat, next year hungarian counterattack forced bulgarians retreat tarnovo, restoring vidin rostislav. city controlled bulgarian noble jacob svetoslav, 1266 styled himself emperor. restoration of byzantine empire under ambitious michael viii palaiologos further worsened bulgaria s situation. major byzantine invasion in 1263 led loss of coastal towns messembria , anchialus, , several cities in thrace—including philippopolis. unable resist, constantine tikh organized joint bulgarian–mongol campaign, after ravaging thrace mongols returned north of danube. emperor became crippled after hunting accident in 1260s, , fell under influence of wife maria palaiologina, constant intrigues fueled divisions among nobility.

constant mongol raids, economic difficulties, , emperor s illness led massive popular uprising in north-east in 1277. rebel army, led swineherd ivaylo, defeated mongols twice, boosting popularity. ivaylo turned on , defeated regular army under command of constantine tikh. killed emperor, claiming latter did nothing defend honour. fearing revolt in byzantium, , willing exploit situation, emperor michael viii sent army led ivan asen iii, bulgarian pretender throne, rebels reached tarnovo first. constantine tikh s widow maria married ivaylo , proclaimed emperor. after byzantines failed, michael viii turned mongols, invaded dobrudzha , defeated ivaylo s army, forcing him retreat drastar, withstood three-month siege. after defeat, ivaylo betrayed bulgarian nobility, opened gates of tarnovo ivan asen iii. in 1279, ivaylo broke off siege @ drastar , besieged capital. byzantines sent 10,000-strong army relieve ivan asen iii, suffered defeat ivaylo @ battle of devina. army of 5,000 had similar fate, forcing ivan asen iii flee. ivaylo s situation did not improve, however—after 2 years of constant warfare support diminished, mongols not decisively defeated, , nobility remained hostile. end of 1280, ivaylo sought refuge former enemies mongols, under byzantine influence killed him. nobility chose powerful noble , ruler of cherven, george terter, emperor. reigned twelve years, bringing stronger mongol influence , loss of of remaining lands in thrace byzantines. period of instability , uncertainty continued until 1300, when few months mongol chaka ruled in tarnovo.

temporary stabilization

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.

fall

the fortress of baba vida in vidin

the attempts of ivan alexander fight off ottomans in late 1340s , 1350s failed after 2 defeats in eldest son , successor michael asen iv , second son ivan asen iv may have been killed. emperor s relations other son ivan sratsimir, had been installed ruler of vidin, deteriorated after 1349, when ivan alexander divorced wife marry sarah-theodora, converted jew. when child ivan shishman designated heir throne, ivan sratsimir proclaimed independence.

in 1366, ivan alexander refused grant passage byzantine emperor john v palaiologos, , troops of savoyard crusade attacked bulgarian black sea coast. seized sozopolis, messembria, anchialus, , emona, causing heavy casualties , unsuccessfully laying siege varna. bulgarians granted passage john v, lost towns handed on byzantines. north-west, hungarians attacked , occupied vidin in 1365. ivan alexander reconquered province 4 years later, allied de jure vassals vladislav of wallachia , dobrotitsa. death of ivan alexander in 1371 left country irrevocably divided between ivan shishman in tarnovo, ivan sratsimir in vidin, , dobrotitsa in karvuna. 14th century german traveler johann schiltberger described these lands follows:

i in 3 regions, , 3 called bulgaria. first bulgaria extends there, pass hungary through iron gate. capital called vidin. other bulgaria lies opposite wallachia, , capital called tarnovo. third bulgaria there, danube flows sea. capital called kaliakra.

second bulgarian empire, 1331-71



the defeat of anti-ottoman coalition in battle of nicopolis in 1396 final blow leading fall of bulgarian empire.

on 26 september 1371, ottomans defeated large christian army led serbian brothers vukašin mrnjavčević , jovan uglješa in battle of chernomen. turned on bulgaria , conquered northern thrace, rhodopes, kostenets, ihtiman, , samokov, limiting authority of ivan shishman in lands north of balkan mountains , valley of sofia. unable resist, bulgarian monarch forced become ottoman vassal, , in return recovered of lost towns , secured ten years of uneasy peace.

the ottoman raids renewed in 1380s, culminating in fall of sofia. simultaneously, ivan shishman had been engaged in war against wallachia since 1384. according anonymous bulgarian chronicle, killed wallachian voivode dan of wallachia in september 1386. maintained uneasy relations ivan sratsimir, had broken last ties tarnovo in 1371 , had separated dioceses of vidin tarnovo patriarchate. 2 brothers did not cooperate repel ottoman invasion. according historian konstantin jireček, brothers engaged in bitter conflict on sofia. ivan shshman reneged on vassal obligation support ottomans troops during campaigns. instead, used every opportunity participate in christian coalitions serbs , hungarians, provoking massive ottoman invasions in 1388 , 1393.

despite strong resistance, ottomans seized number of important towns , fortresses in 1388, , 5 years later captured tarnovo after three-month siege. ivan shishman died in 1395 when ottomans, led bayezid i, took last fortress nikopol. in 1396, ivan sratsimir joined crusade of hungarian king sigismund, after christian army defeated in battle of nicopolis ottomans marched on vidin , seized it, bringing end medieval bulgarian state. resistance continued under constantine , fruzhin until 1422. former referred king sigismund distinguished constantine, glorious emperor of bulgaria .