Michael Asen I of Bulgaria

Bulgaria had once again become a regional power under Ivan Asen II (1218-1241), occupying Belgrade and Albania.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Patriarchate had been restored in 1235 with approval of all eastern Patriarchates, thus putting an end to the union with the Papacy.

Ivan, who had a reputation as a wise and humane ruler, had opened relations with the Catholic west, especially Venice and Genoa, to reduce the influence of Constantinople over his country.

By the middle of the thirteenth century, Bulgaria again rules from the Black Sea to the Adriatic.

Access to the sea has greatly increased commerce, especially with the Italian Peninsula.

Turnovo has become the center of Bulgarian culture, which enjoys a second golden age.

However, the Mongols had raided the Balkans and devastated Bulgaria in 1242, forcing Bulgaria to pay tribute to the Khans of the Blue Horde.

Internal and external political strife has intensified under Ivan’s successors, who cannot match his ability.

Theodore II Doukas Laskaris, the only son of Emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes and Eirene Laskarina, the daughter of Emperor Theodore I Laskaris and Anna Angelina—Anna was a daughter of Emperor Alexios III Angelos and Euphrosyne Doukaina Kamaterina—had received a scholarly education.

(He will remain devoted to science and art throughout his life.)

In contrast with earlier practice, Theodore was not crowned co-emperor with his father, though he has assisted in the government since about 1241.

At his father’s death on November 4, 1254, the army and the court had acclaimed Theodore emperor but he is crowned only after the appointment of a new patriarch, Arsenios Autoreianos, at the beginning of 1255.

Theodore’s succession is exploited by the Bulgarians, who, under the young and inexperienced Tsar Michael II Asen, invade Thrace and Macedonia.

In spite of his own scholarly predisposition, Thedore immediately marches against the Bulgarians, waging two victorious campaigns against them.

Bulgaria has lost significant territories to its enemies by the time of the death of Michael II Asen in 1256; not by suffering any major military disaster, but because disloyal nobles have surrendered territories for personal enrichment.