Michael Asen II of Bulgaria
Encyclopedia
Michael Asen II ruled as emperor (tsar
) of Bulgaria
from 1277 to 1279. (This minor and ephemeral ruler is often omitted from lists of rulers and the style "Michael Asen II" or "Michael II Asen" is sometimes erroneously employed for Michael Asen I, who had reigned in 1246–1256.)
Michael Asen II was the only known son of Constantine Tikh of Bulgaria
and Maria Palaiologina Kantakouzene, niece of emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos of the Byzantine Empire
. Michael Asen II was born in 1270, was declared porphyrogennetos (perhaps to block any older sons of Constantine from inheriting the throne), and was crowned co-emperor by his parents in or before 1272.
When his father Constantine I was killed in battle against Ivailo in 1277, Michael Asen II was left as the nominal legitimate emperor of Bulgaria, but he ruled under the guidance of his mother Maria Kantakouzene, and his control was quickly restricted to the capital Tărnovo
. While much of the provinces fell into the hands of Ivailo, his great-uncle Michael VIII put forward his own pretender to the throne, Ivan Asen III
, a son of Mitso Asen of Bulgaria
and Maria of Bulgaria.
With Byzantine armies marching north intent on placing Ivan Asen III on the throne, Maria Kantakouzene came to an arrangement with Ivailo, whereby she married her husband's murderer and associated him on the throne together with her son. Ivailo was successful in resisting the Byzantine encroachments until he was blockaded by the Golden Horde
of Nogai Khan
inside Drăstăr (Silistra
) for three months in 1279. Assuming that he was dead, the city nobles opened the gates of Tărnovo to the besieging Byzantine army and accepted Ivan Asen III as emperor.
Together with his mother Maria, Michael Asen II was sent into captivity in the Byzantine Empire
. He reappeared on the pages of history only about 1302, when a faction of the Bulgarian nobility invited him to recover his throne from Theodore Svetoslav. Although provided with Byzantine military support, Michael Asen II proved unable to assert himself in Bulgaria. The date of his death is unknown.
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
) of Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
from 1277 to 1279. (This minor and ephemeral ruler is often omitted from lists of rulers and the style "Michael Asen II" or "Michael II Asen" is sometimes erroneously employed for Michael Asen I, who had reigned in 1246–1256.)
Michael Asen II was the only known son of Constantine Tikh of Bulgaria
Constantine Tikh of Bulgaria
Constantine I , which includes the shortened form of the name of his father as a patronymic), ruled as emperor of Bulgaria from 1257 to 1277....
and Maria Palaiologina Kantakouzene, niece of emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos of the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. Michael Asen II was born in 1270, was declared porphyrogennetos (perhaps to block any older sons of Constantine from inheriting the throne), and was crowned co-emperor by his parents in or before 1272.
When his father Constantine I was killed in battle against Ivailo in 1277, Michael Asen II was left as the nominal legitimate emperor of Bulgaria, but he ruled under the guidance of his mother Maria Kantakouzene, and his control was quickly restricted to the capital Tărnovo
Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo is a city in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province. Often referred to as the "City of the Tsars", Veliko Tarnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famous as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists...
. While much of the provinces fell into the hands of Ivailo, his great-uncle Michael VIII put forward his own pretender to the throne, Ivan Asen III
Ivan Asen III of Bulgaria
Ivan Asen III , ruled as emperor of Bulgaria 1279–1280. Ivan Asen III was the son of Mitso Asen of Bulgaria and Maria of Bulgaria, a daughter of Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria and Irene of Thessalonica...
, a son of Mitso Asen of Bulgaria
Mitso Asen of Bulgaria
-Reign:Mitso Asen ascended the throne by virtue of his marriage to Maria, a daughter of Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria by Irene Komnene of Epirus. The dates of his birth and death are unknown...
and Maria of Bulgaria.
With Byzantine armies marching north intent on placing Ivan Asen III on the throne, Maria Kantakouzene came to an arrangement with Ivailo, whereby she married her husband's murderer and associated him on the throne together with her son. Ivailo was successful in resisting the Byzantine encroachments until he was blockaded by the Golden Horde
Golden Horde
The Golden Horde was a Mongol and later Turkicized khanate that formed the north-western sector of the Mongol Empire...
of Nogai Khan
Nogai Khan
Nogai , also called Isa Nogai, was a general and de facto ruler of the Golden Horde and a great-great-grandson of Genghis Khan. His grandfather was Baul/Teval Khan, the 7th son of Jochi...
inside Drăstăr (Silistra
Silistra
Silistra is a port city of northeastern Bulgaria, lying on the southern bank of the lower Danube at the country's border with Romania. Silistra is the administrative centre of Silistra Province and one of the important cities of the historical region of Southern Dobrudzha...
) for three months in 1279. Assuming that he was dead, the city nobles opened the gates of Tărnovo to the besieging Byzantine army and accepted Ivan Asen III as emperor.
Together with his mother Maria, Michael Asen II was sent into captivity in the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. He reappeared on the pages of history only about 1302, when a faction of the Bulgarian nobility invited him to recover his throne from Theodore Svetoslav. Although provided with Byzantine military support, Michael Asen II proved unable to assert himself in Bulgaria. The date of his death is unknown.