Sarah-Theodora
Encyclopedia
Sarah, Theodora or Sarah-Theodora is the name that the second wife of Tsar
(Emperor
) Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
(ruled 1331–1371) is known under nowadays. There are some Greek and French sources claiming her to be a daughter of a Venetian
banker. Sources agree that she was Jewish, having lived with her family in the Jewish Neighbourhood in Tarnovo. Ivan Alexander divorced his wife of many years, Theodora of Wallachia
, who was forced to become a nun, and Sarah converted to Eastern Orthodox Christianity, accepted the name Theodora and soon became the Tsar’s second consort
. Their marriage took place in the late 1340s.
The new Tsaritsa was renowned for her fierce support of her new religion, the Eastern Orthodox Christianity. She was one of the instigators of a church council against her compatriots, the Jews. She restored many churches and built a lot of monasteries. This is the reason for the high regard that the Bulgarian Church held her in.
There is no doubt that Theodora played a significant role in the separation of the Bulgarian Empire
between her firstborn son Ivan Shishman and Ivan Sratsimir
, the sole surviving son of the former Tsaritsa. Since Ivan Shishman was the first son born to Ivan Alexander after his accession to the throne, Theodora insisted that he was the only one worthy of the crown. Ivan Shishman was crowned co-emperor by his father who made his elder son Despot of Vidin
in exchange. After Ivan Alexander died in 1371, Ivan Shishman became Tsar and Ivan Sratsimir declared Vidin a separate empire. From now on, the relationship between the two Bulgarian Empires became cold and remained so despite the threat of the forthcoming Ottoman
invasion.
The date of the death of the Tsaritsa is unknown, although some historians assume she died in the late 1380s.
Tsaritsa Theodora is often blamed for the separation of the Bulgarian Empire which ultimately led to the Ottoman conquest of Bulgaria
in the very end of the 14th century. Anyway, while her influence in favor of her own son Ivan Shishman is beyond doubt, it is hardly believable that it was the only reason for the fall of Bulgaria under the Ottomans. The problems with the stability of the state had started long before her meeting with the Tsar. The Bulgaria that Ivan Shishman and Ivan Sratsimir inherited had too little in common with the empire of Ivan Asen II. Its glorious days were over. The problems with Serbia
and Hungary
had nothing to do with Theodora and the Ottoman invasion not only of Bulgaria but the whole Balkan Peninsula was likely to happen even without her. There is no reason for us to believe that, given all failed efforts of the Byzantine Emperors, Bulgarian Tsars, Serbian Kings, Wallachian Princes, and Bulgarian and Serbian Despots to repel the Turks, the situation would have changed if Ivan Sratsimir had inherited the whole Bulgarian Empire (which was not whole anyway, having lost the sovereignty over Dobrudja and Wallachia
).
A curious thing about this Bulgarian Tsaritsa is the fact that although she is widely known as Sarah or Sarah-Theodora, actually the name she wore before her conversion to Christianity is not mentioned in any historical source. Sarah, the name that she is known under, came from the tragedy Toward the Precipice, written by the great Bulgarian writer Ivan Vazov
, which is centered over the love story of the aging Tsar and the beautiful Jewess, who he named Sarah.
There are five known children born to Tsar Ivan Alexander and Tsaritsa Theodora:Kera Tamara
, Kera-Maria
, Ivan Shishman, Ivan Asen, Desislava of Bulgaria
, and Vasilisa.
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...
(Emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
) Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
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...
(ruled 1331–1371) is known under nowadays. There are some Greek and French sources claiming her to be a daughter of a Venetian
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
banker. Sources agree that she was Jewish, having lived with her family in the Jewish Neighbourhood in Tarnovo. Ivan Alexander divorced his wife of many years, 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...
, who was forced to become a nun, and Sarah converted to Eastern Orthodox Christianity, accepted the name Theodora and soon became the Tsar’s second consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
. Their marriage took place in the late 1340s.
The new Tsaritsa was renowned for her fierce support of her new religion, the Eastern Orthodox Christianity. She was one of the instigators of a church council against her compatriots, the Jews. She restored many churches and built a lot of monasteries. This is the reason for the high regard that the Bulgarian Church held her in.
There is no doubt that Theodora played a significant role in the separation of the Bulgarian Empire
Bulgarian Empire
Bulgarian Empire is a term used to describe two periods in the medieval history of Bulgaria, during which it acted as a key regional power in Europe in general and in Southeastern Europe in particular, rivalling Byzantium...
between her firstborn son Ivan Shishman and Ivan Sratsimir
Ivan Sratsimir of Bulgaria
Ivan Sratsimir or Ivan Stratsimir was emperor of Bulgaria in Vidin from 1356 to 1396. He was born in 1324 or 1325, and he died in or after 1397. Despite being the eldest surviving son of Ivan Alexander, Ivan Sratsimir was disinherited in favour of his half-brother Ivan Shishman and proclaimed...
, the sole surviving son of the former Tsaritsa. Since Ivan Shishman was the first son born to Ivan Alexander after his accession to the throne, Theodora insisted that he was the only one worthy of the crown. Ivan Shishman was crowned co-emperor by his father who made his elder son Despot of Vidin
Vidin
Vidin is a port town on the southern bank of the Danube in northwestern Bulgaria. It is close to the borders with Serbia and Romania, and is also the administrative centre of Vidin Province, as well as of the Metropolitan of Vidin...
in exchange. After Ivan Alexander died in 1371, Ivan Shishman became Tsar and Ivan Sratsimir declared Vidin a separate empire. From now on, the relationship between the two Bulgarian Empires became cold and remained so despite the threat of the forthcoming Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
invasion.
The date of the death of the Tsaritsa is unknown, although some historians assume she died in the late 1380s.
Tsaritsa Theodora is often blamed for the separation of the Bulgarian Empire which ultimately led to the Ottoman conquest 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...
in the very end of the 14th century. Anyway, while her influence in favor of her own son Ivan Shishman is beyond doubt, it is hardly believable that it was the only reason for the fall of Bulgaria under the Ottomans. The problems with the stability of the state had started long before her meeting with the Tsar. The Bulgaria that Ivan Shishman and Ivan Sratsimir inherited had too little in common with the empire of Ivan Asen II. Its glorious days were over. The problems with Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
had nothing to do with Theodora and the Ottoman invasion not only of Bulgaria but the whole Balkan Peninsula was likely to happen even without her. There is no reason for us to believe that, given all failed efforts of the Byzantine Emperors, Bulgarian Tsars, Serbian Kings, Wallachian Princes, and Bulgarian and Serbian Despots to repel the Turks, the situation would have changed if Ivan Sratsimir had inherited the whole Bulgarian Empire (which was not whole anyway, having lost the sovereignty over Dobrudja and Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
).
A curious thing about this Bulgarian Tsaritsa is the fact that although she is widely known as Sarah or Sarah-Theodora, actually the name she wore before her conversion to Christianity is not mentioned in any historical source. Sarah, the name that she is known under, came from the tragedy Toward the Precipice, written by the great Bulgarian writer Ivan Vazov
Ivan Vazov
Ivan Minchov Vazov was a Bulgarian poet, novelist and playwright, often referred to as "the Patriarch of Bulgarian literature". He was born in Sopot, a town in the Rose Valley of Bulgaria ....
, which is centered over the love story of the aging Tsar and the beautiful Jewess, who he named Sarah.
There are five known children born to Tsar Ivan Alexander and Tsaritsa Theodora:Kera Tamara
Kera Tamara
Kera Tamara was the daughter of the Bulgarian Emperor Ivan Alexander and his second wife Sarah-Theodora. Kera Tamara was a sister of Ivan Shishman and Ivan Sratsimir. She was born in the 1340s and originates from the Shishman dynasty....
, Kera-Maria
Keratsa of Bulgaria
Keratsa-Maria of Bulgaria was the daughter of Tsar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria and his second wife, a converted Jewess, Theodora.-Marriage:On 17 August 1355 Keratsa was betrothed to the future Emperor Andronikos IV Palaiologos...
, Ivan Shishman, Ivan Asen, Desislava of Bulgaria
Desislava of Bulgaria
Desislava of Bulgaria was the daughter of Tsar Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria and his second wife Theodora, a converted Jewess. Desislava was the sister of tsar Ivan Shishman and tsar Ivan Sratsimir. Her sister Keratsa-Maria was the wife of the Byzantine emperor Andronikos IV Palaiologos...
, and Vasilisa.