Ivan Asen IV of Bulgaria
Encyclopedia
Ivan Asen also known as Ivan Asen IV was a Bulgarian Prince, third son of Emperor Ivan Alexander
from his first wife Theodora of Wallachia
. He was born c. 1326.
Little is known about him. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Ivan Alexander - i. e. 1349 - he and his troops faced a 20,000-strong Ottoman army under the command of Murad I
's elder brother Syuleiman. The fierce battle between Bulgarians and Turks took place in the area around Sofia
. According to the Anonymous Bulgarian chronicle, "the Turks killed Asen and a great number of Bulgarians"; according to Ottoman chronicles "many jannisaries perished" in the battle. That shows that the battle claims many casualties from both sides and Ivan Asen perished fighting bravely for his country. It seems that despite the great losses the Bulgarians had repulsed the enemy as the next recorded Ottoman invasion occurred 6 years later, in 1355, when in the battle of Ihtiman
the Ottoman Turks killed Asen's eldest brother, Michael Asen.
Ivan Asen IV married a Wallachian Princess and had two daughters.
Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
Ivan Alexander , also known as John Alexander, ruled as Emperor of Bulgaria from 1331 to 1371, during the Second Bulgarian Empire. The date of his birth is unknown. He died on February 17, 1371. The long reign of Ivan Alexander is considered a transitional period in Bulgarian medieval history...
from his first wife Theodora of Wallachia
Theodora of Wallachia
Theodora of Wallachia was the daughter of Basarab I of Wallachia and Lady Margareta. She married Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria as his first wife. This marriage produced four children — Michael Asen, Ivan Sratsimir, Ivan Asen and Vasilisa. In 1345 Tsar Ivan Alexander divorced Tsaritsa Theodora and...
. He was born c. 1326.
Little is known about him. In the eighteenth year of the reign of Ivan Alexander - i. e. 1349 - he and his troops faced a 20,000-strong Ottoman army under the command of Murad I
Murad I
Murad I was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1361 to 1389...
's elder brother Syuleiman. The fierce battle between Bulgarians and Turks took place in the area around Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
. According to the Anonymous Bulgarian chronicle, "the Turks killed Asen and a great number of Bulgarians"; according to Ottoman chronicles "many jannisaries perished" in the battle. That shows that the battle claims many casualties from both sides and Ivan Asen perished fighting bravely for his country. It seems that despite the great losses the Bulgarians had repulsed the enemy as the next recorded Ottoman invasion occurred 6 years later, in 1355, when in the battle of Ihtiman
Battle of Ihtiman
The Battle of Ihtiman occurred in 1355 between Bulgarians and Ottomans and resulted in Ottoman victory. The exact location is not known, but in an anonymous Bulgarian chronicle, it is mentioned that the armies of Michail Asen engaged the invading forces before they could reach Sofia.- Origins of...
the Ottoman Turks killed Asen's eldest brother, Michael Asen.
Ivan Asen IV married a Wallachian Princess and had two daughters.