Liberation Second_Bulgarian_Empire

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.