Tsar Ivan Asen I:
Bulgaria
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Ivan Asen the first is an important and revered tsar in Bulgarian history. Ivan Asen I was the
emperor of Bulgaria between 1189 and 1196AD and was the founder of the Second Bulgarian
Empire.
Today all Bulgarian people see Asen I as one of the most important Bulgarians to have lived
after people like Asparukh and Khan Kubrat.
emperor of Bulgaria between 1189 and 1196AD and was the founder of the Second Bulgarian
Empire.
Today all Bulgarian people see Asen I as one of the most important Bulgarians to have lived
after people like Asparukh and Khan Kubrat.
Although there is no written literature to say when Ivan Asen was born it is known that he has a
brother called Theodore.
Legend has it that Ivan Asen and his brother Theodore went to the ruling Byzantine Empire
asking for land grants under a system known as Pronoia. After being turned down they returned
to Bulgaria and raised a revolt with the strength of the Bulgarian people against the Byzantine
rulers who were very unpopular. The revolt was successful and Ivan Asens brother Theodore
was crowned Emperor of Bulgaria under the name of Peter the fourth in 1185. It was Peter IV,
the brother of Ivan Asen who proclaimed Veliko Tarnovo the capital city of Bulgaria.
brother called Theodore.
Legend has it that Ivan Asen and his brother Theodore went to the ruling Byzantine Empire
asking for land grants under a system known as Pronoia. After being turned down they returned
to Bulgaria and raised a revolt with the strength of the Bulgarian people against the Byzantine
rulers who were very unpopular. The revolt was successful and Ivan Asens brother Theodore
was crowned Emperor of Bulgaria under the name of Peter the fourth in 1185. It was Peter IV,
the brother of Ivan Asen who proclaimed Veliko Tarnovo the capital city of Bulgaria.
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A year after Theodore became Peter IV the Byzantine Empire raised a large army and
marched on Bulgaria, this is when fate turned and the borthers split as Peter IV stayed in
Bulgaria and Ivan Asen fled across the Danube to raise an army from the neighbouring Cuman
tribes.
During this time Ivan's brother made a truce by the Byzantine Empire and promised to be
obedient to their rules.
Ivan Asen came back to Thrace (Southern Bulgaria today) with his force evading large
Byzantine armies and causing trouble for the smaller Byzantine forces as he went.
In 1187 times took a change for the worst as the Byzantine Emperor took the first wife of Ivan
Asen called Moria hostage during a long three month siege of Lovech, this siege was only
finished with Ivan Asen swapping his younger brother Kaloyan for his wife.
The Byzantine Emperor was growing tired of the Bulgarian revolt and wanted to take the lands
back so he raised a huge army to march on the capital city of Veliko Tarnovo. Fortunately Ivan
Asen sensed what was about to happen and knew he did not have the forces to combat this
huge advancing army so spread rumours of a huge Cuman army coming to join the Bulgarians
which caused the Byzantine Emperor to retreat with his forces out of the Bulgarian lands. Ivan
Asen had already planned on this happening and created an ambush of the retreating armies
causing the retreating Byzantine army to be virtually wiped out.
It was during this period that Tsar Peter IV, the brother of Ivan Asen relinquished part of the
throne of Bulgaria as he grew tired of the raging war with the Byzantine Empire, Ivan Asen
became joint Emperor of Bulgaria with his brother and was crowned Tsar Ivan Asen the first
while his brother retired in to the town of Prelav.
Over the reign of Tsar Ivan Asen I, Asen was able to increase the boundaries of Bulgaria and
start the Second Bulgarian Empire by taking present day Belgrade, as well as present day
Melnik that is still part of the Bulgarian motherland today.
In 1196 Ivan Asen the first was murdered by one of his own military commanders called Ivanko
who he accused of having an affair with his first wife Moria's sister.
Tsar Peter IV, the brother of Ivan Asen stayed the Tsar for one year after Ivan Asens death.
marched on Bulgaria, this is when fate turned and the borthers split as Peter IV stayed in
Bulgaria and Ivan Asen fled across the Danube to raise an army from the neighbouring Cuman
tribes.
During this time Ivan's brother made a truce by the Byzantine Empire and promised to be
obedient to their rules.
Ivan Asen came back to Thrace (Southern Bulgaria today) with his force evading large
Byzantine armies and causing trouble for the smaller Byzantine forces as he went.
In 1187 times took a change for the worst as the Byzantine Emperor took the first wife of Ivan
Asen called Moria hostage during a long three month siege of Lovech, this siege was only
finished with Ivan Asen swapping his younger brother Kaloyan for his wife.
The Byzantine Emperor was growing tired of the Bulgarian revolt and wanted to take the lands
back so he raised a huge army to march on the capital city of Veliko Tarnovo. Fortunately Ivan
Asen sensed what was about to happen and knew he did not have the forces to combat this
huge advancing army so spread rumours of a huge Cuman army coming to join the Bulgarians
which caused the Byzantine Emperor to retreat with his forces out of the Bulgarian lands. Ivan
Asen had already planned on this happening and created an ambush of the retreating armies
causing the retreating Byzantine army to be virtually wiped out.
It was during this period that Tsar Peter IV, the brother of Ivan Asen relinquished part of the
throne of Bulgaria as he grew tired of the raging war with the Byzantine Empire, Ivan Asen
became joint Emperor of Bulgaria with his brother and was crowned Tsar Ivan Asen the first
while his brother retired in to the town of Prelav.
Over the reign of Tsar Ivan Asen I, Asen was able to increase the boundaries of Bulgaria and
start the Second Bulgarian Empire by taking present day Belgrade, as well as present day
Melnik that is still part of the Bulgarian motherland today.
In 1196 Ivan Asen the first was murdered by one of his own military commanders called Ivanko
who he accused of having an affair with his first wife Moria's sister.
Tsar Peter IV, the brother of Ivan Asen stayed the Tsar for one year after Ivan Asens death.
