List of Bulgarian monarchs

The monarchs of Bulgaria ruled Bulgaria during the medieval First (c. 680–1018) and Second (1185–1422) Bulgarian empires, as well as during the modern Principality (1879–1908) and Kingdom (1908–1946) of Bulgaria. This list includes monarchs from the establishment of the First Bulgarian Empire until modern times, omitting earlier mythical rulers as well as rulers of separate states such as Old Great Bulgaria and Volga Bulgaria.

Tsar of the Bulgarians
Царь на Българитѣ
Standard of the Tsar of Bulgaria (1946)
Last to reign
Simeon II
28 August 1943 — 15 September 1946
Details
StyleHis Majesty
First monarchAsparuh (Kanasubigi)
Boris I (Prince)
Simeon I (Tsar)
Last monarchSimeon II
Formationc. 680
Abolition15 September 1946
ResidenceVarious historically
Tsarevets (1185–1393)
Royal Palace (1882–1946)
AppointerVariously hereditary or elective
Pretender(s)Simeon II

Various titles have been used by the rulers of Bulgaria. The earliest recorded title, used before Bulgaria's conversion to Christianity, is kanasubigi, perhaps related to titles such as khan or khagan.[1] When Bulgaria converted to Christianity in the ninth century, the ruler Boris I (852–889) adopted the title knyaz (prince).[2] For much of its later history under the first and second empires, Bulgaria functioned as a multi-ethnic imperial state modelled on the neighbouring Byzantine Empire,[3] which contributed to the adoption of the title of tsar (emperor) by Bulgarian monarchs beginning with Simeon I (893–927) in 913.[4] Some powerful medieval Bulgarian rulers challenged Byzantine authority by proclaiming themselves as both Bulgarian and Roman emperors.[5]

When Bulgaria re-emerged as a state in 1878 in the form of the Principality of Bulgaria, the rulers initially used the title knyaz since they were autonomous vassals of the Ottoman Empire and not fully independent.[6] From Bulgaria's complete independence from the Ottomans in 1908 until the abolition of the monarchy in 1946, Bulgarian monarchs once more used the title tsar,[7] though this time generally translated internationally as "king" rather than "emperor".[7][8]

Titles

Titles in the First Bulgarian Empire (681–1018)
Simeon I (893–927) was the first Bulgarian ruler to rule as tsar. His official title translates to "Emperor of the Bulgarians and the Romans".

Evidence concerning the titles used by the rulers of the First Bulgarian Empire (681–1018) prior to the conversion to Christianity in the 860s is scant. The only title known from contemporary sources is kanasubigi, recorded in ten Greek-language inscriptions (as ΚΑΝΑΣΥΒΙΓΙ) from the ninth century in reference to Omurtag (814–831) and his son Malamir (831–836). Two gold medallions struck for Omurtag also use the same title.[1] It is possible that the "kana-" part of the title is an abbreviation for khan or khagan, though this hypothesis is unconfirmed.[1]

Upon his conversion to Christianity in 864/865, Boris I (852–889) adopted the new ruling title knyaz, generally translated as "prince" (though sometimes alternatively as "king").[2] This title was used by the Bulgarian rulers until 913, when the knyaz Simeon I (893–927), Boris I's son, invaded the Byzantine Empire. Simeon aspired to make Bulgaria into the new "universal monarchy" (a role the Byzantines viewed themselves as having) by absorbing and replacing the empire centered in Constantinople. Due to the threat presented by Simeon, who reached the walls of Constantinople, the Byzantines relented and the Patriarch of Constantinople, Nicholas Mystikos, granted him an imperial crown.[9] The only other monarch recognized as a basileus (i.e. emperor) by the Byzantines was (at times) the Holy Roman emperor.[10] The Byzantines did not consider Simeon as outranking their own emperors and designated him as the "Emperor of the Bulgarians". Simeon himself used the grander title "Emperor of the Bulgarians and the Romans".[9] The title of emperor was in Bulgarian translated as tsar (deriving from the Latin caesar), seen as equivalent to the Greek basileus or Latin imperator.[4]

Bulgarian rulers from the death of Simeon I in 927 until the fall of the First Bulgarian Empire in 1018 used the simpler "Emperor of the Bulgarians", ceasing to claim Byzantium's universal monarchy.[9]

Titles in the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1422)
Bulgarian royal titles
680?–864 Kanasubigi
864–913 Knyaz
913–927 Tsar of the Bulgarians and the Romans
927–1018 Tsar of the Bulgarians
1018–1185 —
1185–1204 Tsar of the Bulgarians
1204–1207 Tsar of the Bulgarians and Vlachs
1207–1230 Tsar of the Bulgarians
1230–1241 Tsar and Autocrat of the Bulgarians and Greeks
1241–1340s Tsar and Autocrat of the Bulgarians
1340s–1395 Tsar and Autocrat of the Bulgarians and Greeks
1395–1422 Tsar and Autocrat of the Bulgarians
1422–1879 —
1879–1908 Knyaz of Bulgaria
1908–1946 Tsar of the Bulgarians

The first rulers of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1422) revived the style used by Simeon I's successors, "Emperor of the Bulgarians", rendered tsr’ Bl’garom in Bulgarian documents and imperator Bulgarorum in Latin.[11] The second empire's third ruler, Kaloyan (1196–1207), adopted the grander title "Emperor of Bulgarians and Vlachs" (imperator Bulgarorum et Blachorum).[12][13] He unsuccessfully sought recognition of this title from the Papacy, though Pope Innocent III merely recognized him as "King of the Bulgarians and Vlachs" (rex Bulgarorum et Blachorum), not wishing to recognize any other emperor than the Holy Roman emperor.[13]

The fifth ruler of the second empire, Ivan Asen II (1218–1241) after 1230 extended his original title "Emperor of the Bulgarians" to the grander "Emperor of the Bulgarians and Greeks" (tsr’ Bl’garom i Gr’kom, Latin: imperator Bulgarorum et Grecorum). This title was taken to reflect his extensive conquests in formerly Byzantine territory and was effectively a revival of Simeon I's title since both "Greeks" and "Romans" were envisioned as referring to the inhabitants of the Byzantine Empire.[5][11] Ivan Asen II also introduced the element "autocrat" (Bulgarian: samodrzac, Latin: moderator) into the Bulgarian imperial title, modelled on its usage in the Byzantine imperial title,[11] and eventually in full styled himself as the "Emperor and Autocrat of the Bulgarians and Greeks"[5][11] (Bulgarian: tsr’ i samodrzac Bl’garom i Gr’kom, Latin: imperator et moderator Bulgarorum et Grecorum).[11]

Ivan Asen II's successors kept "autocrat" in the title but returned to the simpler style "Emperor and Autocrat of the Bulgarians".[14] His extended title was later revived by Ivan Alexander (1331–1371), who also proclaimed himself as the "Emperor and Autocrat of the Bulgarians and Greeks"[14] to challenge the authority of the then weakened Byzantine Empire.[15] Ivan Alexander's son Ivan Shishman (1371–1395) is also recorded to have used this extended imperial title.[14]

Titles in modern Bulgaria (1878–1946)

The Tarnovo Constitution of the modern Principality of Bulgaria (1878–1908) stipulated that the monarch was to use the title "Knyaz of Bulgaria" (i.e. "Prince of Bulgaria") rather than tsar due to the principality being an autonomous vassal state of the Ottoman Empire rather than a fully independent country.[6]

When Bulgaria achieved complete independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1908, the former knyaz Ferdinand I (1887–1918) adopted the higher title of "Tsar of the Bulgarians", as had been used by Bulgarian monarchs in the Middle Ages. The assumption of the title of tsar was met with opposition from both the Ottomans and the Russian Empire.[7] Although tsar had been understood as equivalent to emperor in medieval times,[4] the title of the new Bulgarian tsars was generally translated as "King of the Bulgarians" internationally.[8]

Names and regnal numbers
See also: Regnal number
Alexander I (1879–1886) was the first Bulgarian monarch to officially use a regnal number

Regnal numbers for monarchs have only been officially used in Bulgaria in modern times, beginning with Alexander I in 1879.[16] Modern historiography retroactively also assigns sequential regnal numbers to medieval Bulgarian rulers, even if they ruled different Bulgarian states and used different titles; Boris I (852–889) ruled the First Bulgarian Empire as a prince (knyaz), his great-grandson Boris II (967–977) ruled the same state as emperor, and Boris III (1918–1943) ruled the modern Kingdom of Bulgaria as tsar (king).[16]

There were three different types of names used by medieval Bulgarian monarchs after Bulgaria converted to Christianity; names drawn from Bulgar or Slavic tradition (i.e. Boris, Boril, Vladimir, Presian), names drawn from Christian tradition (i.e. Michael, Simeon, Peter, Ivan, Samuel), or double names combining both (i.e. Ivan Vladislav, Gavril Radomir, Ivan Sratsimir, Theodore Svetoslav). When using a double name, the Christian name always preceded the name drawn from local tradition. Very rarely, Bulgarian rulers used double names combining two Christian names (i.e. Ivan Stephen, Ivan Alexander).[16]

The use of double names by Bulgarian monarchs, sometimes not used consistently in contemporary sources,[lower-alpha 1] has in cases led to confusion and misunderstanding in modern efforts to assign regnal numbers. In particular, it has sometimes erroneously been assumed that the usage of double names indicated that the monarchs employed family names; this interpretation has in the past resulted in the use of names such as Ivan II Asen (for Ivan Asen II), George I Terter (for George Terter I) and Michael III Shishman (for Michael Asen III). Names of clans were prominently used in Bulgaria in pre-Christian times, though disappeared from usage sometime after the conversion to Christianity, despite family names being used in some of Bulgaria's closest neighbours (such as the Byzantine Empire).[16] Although names such as Asen or Terter could serve as genealogical and political markers to demonstrate a ruler's position in an illustrious lineage they were also fully part of the ruler's regnal names, as demonstrated by those rulers whose double names excluded genealogical connections (such as Ivan Alexander). Double names with genealogical connotations were at times also claimed by rulers not belonging to the same dynastic lineage, such as Mitso Asen (1256–1257; who married into the Asen dynasty).[16]

First Bulgarian Empire (c. 680–1018)
Main article: First Bulgarian Empire

Early Bulgarian rulers (c. 680–803)

The First Bulgarian Empire is regarded to have been established c. 680 when the Bulgarian ruler Asparuh crossed the Danube.[17][18] Asparuh's family, the Dulo clan, claimed descent from the Hunnic ruler Attila, through Attila's son Ernak.[17] References to political developments within Bulgaria prior to the reign of Krum (c. 803–814) are extremely scant, making the dates and family relationships of the rulers recorded in contemporary and later sources highly uncertain.[19] The rulers below may all belong to the Dulo clan or might alternatively have belonged to various competing clans.[19] Several alternate chronologies of early Bulgarian rulers have been proposed, with some presented below:

House of Krum (803–997)
Main article: Krum's dynasty
Image Name Reign Succession and notes
Krum
Крум		 c. 803–814[20]
(c. 11 years)		 Possibly a descendant of the Dulo clan.[23] Successful warrior and conqueror; defeated the Avars and incorporated parts of Transylvania and eastern Serbia into Bulgaria. Replaced customary law in Bulgaria with written legislation. Most known for his wars against the Byzantine Empire. In 811 his forces defeated and killed Emperor Nikephoros I at the Battle of Pliska, whereafter the emperor's skull was fashioned into a drinking cup. Died suddenly while preparing a campaign intended to conquer Constantinople.[2]
Dukum[18][21][24]
Дукум		 814
(briefly)		 Brother of Krum.[18][19] An experienced military commander who played an important role in Krum's military campaigns.[19] Seized the throne after Krum's death but died almost immediately,[17][19] presumably of natural causes.[19]
Ditzeng[18][21][24][lower-alpha 2]
Диценг		 814–815[18]
(1 year)		 Unknown relation;[19] presumably a brother of Krum.[18][19] Recorded to have persecuted Christian prisoners.[17] May have been in ill health at the time of his accession.[19]
Omurtag
Омуртаг		 815[18]–831
(16 years)		 Son of Krum.[18] May have seized the throne from Ditzeng.[17] Signed a 30-year peace treaty with the Byzantine Empire in 815.[1][12] Devoted much of his reign to construction projects. At times aided the Byzantines, such as joining the war against the Byzantine pretender Thomas the Slav.[12] Solidified the Bulgarian central government.[26]
Malamir
Маламир		 831–836
(5 years)		 Son of Omurtag.[18] Malamir was underage throughout his reign and the Bulgarian administration was headed by the regent Isbul. His five-year reign saw renewed conflict and warfare with the Byzantine Empire.[12] Died of unknown causes, no longer occupying the Bulgarian throne by 836.[26]
Presian I
Пресиян		 836–852
(16 years)		 Son of Zvinitsa, a son of Omurtag.[12][18] Underage at the time of his accession, the administration was initially headed by the regent Isbul.[12] Although hostile to the Byzantine Empire, Presian spent the better part of his reign working to expand Bulgaria rather than fighting the Byzantines. His reign saw the Bulgarians push west of the Vardar river for the first time and led to considerable territorial gains in the west.[26]
Boris I[lower-alpha 3]
Борисъ		 852–889
(36 years)		 Son of Presian I.[18] Unsuccessfully warred against Serbia and Croatia.[27] Under pressure from the Byzantine emperor Michael III,[27] Boris was responsible for converting Bulgaria to Christianity, he himself being baptized in 864/865.[27][28] Adopted the new ruling title of knyaz (prince) at the time of his conversion.[2] Defeated a major uprising of pagans against his rule. Abdicated in favour of his son Vladimir in 889 and retired to a monastery, dying in 907.[27] Considered a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.[27]
Vladimir
Владимир Расате		 889–893
(4 years)		 Son of Boris I. The Bulgarian nobility revolted against Christianity after Boris's abdication and Vladimir took part in persecuting Christians and destroying churches. Also abandoned relations with the Byzantine Empire. Boris returned from retirement in 893 and deposed, blinded, and imprisoned Vladimir. Boris's other son Simeon was thereafter made ruler.[27]
Simeon I
Симеон		 893–927
(34 years)		 Son of Boris I.[18] Made knyaz (prince) after the deposition of Vladimir.[27] Aspiring to supplant or conquer the Byzantine Empire, Simeon was in 913 the first Bulgarian ruler to assume the title of tsar (emperor) and was recognized as such by the Byzantines.[9] Fought many wars with the Byzantine Empire, though never succeeded in capturing Constantinople. Extended Bulgarian rule far into Macedonia, Albania, and Serbia but appears to have lost the Bulgarian lands north of the Danube. Proclaimed the Bulgarian Orthodox Church to be independent under its own patriarch.[29]
Peter I
Петър		 927–969
(42 years)		 Son of Simeon I.[18] Faced invasions from the Magyars and uprisings by some of his brothers. Otherwise had a relatively peaceful reign; achieved important diplomatic gains from the Byzantines, such as the recognition of his imperial title, the recognition of the Bulgarian church's independence, and an imperial marriage. Abdicated and retired to a monastery in 969 after suffering a stroke.[30] Considered a saint in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.[30]
Boris II
Борисъ		 969–977[lower-alpha 4]
(8 years)		 Son of Peter I.[32] Contended with invasions by the Kievan Rus' and the Byzantine Empire.[32] The Bulgarian capital of Preslav was captured by the Byzantine Empire in 971, resulting in Boris and his brother Roman being brought to Constantinople as prisoners.[31][33] Power in Bulgaria fell to a group of four nobles, the cometopuli brothers, who upheld the rights of Boris while he was held prisoner.[32][31] The two brothers escaped back to Bulgaria in 977, though Boris was killed during the journey.[32]
Roman
Роман		 977–997[lower-alpha 5]
(20 years)		 Son of Peter I.[32] Previously held captive by the Byzantines in Constantinople.[31][33] Infrequently mentioned in surviving sources and appears to have been more of a figurehead for the cometopuli than an active ruler.[26] Captured by the Byzantines again in 991 and died in captivity six years later.[34]

House of Cometopuli (997–1018)
Main article: Cometopuli dynasty
Image Name Reign Succession and notes
Samuel
Самуил		 997–1014
(17 years)		 The youngest of the cometopuli. Samuel and his brothers had some relation to the preceding royal dynasty,[32] possibly being cousins of Boris II and Roman.[35] One of the primary Bulgarian military leaders from 971 onwards and proclaimed emperor after Roman's death.[32][35] Relatively successful in staving off the Byzantine conquest of the remaining Bulgarian territories. Died of a heart attack brought on by the sight of the thousands of Bulgarian soldiers blinded by the Byzantine emperor Basil II after the Battle of Kleidion.[31]
Gavril Radomir
Гаврил Радомир		 1014–1015
(less than a year)		 Son of Samuel. Murdered by his cousin Ivan Vladislav after a reign of less than a year.[28]
Ivan Vladislav
Иван Владислав		 1015–1018
(3 years)		 Son of Aron, a brother of Samuel. Led the defense against the Byzantine Empire as Emperor Basil II once more invaded Bulgaria and killed at the Battle of Dyrrhachium in 1018. After his death, the Bulgarian nobility became divided among two parties, one headed by Ivan Vladislav's widow Maria and one headed by his son Presian II. Maria formally surrendered Bulgaria to Basil.[28]
Bulgaria was conquered by the Byzantine Empire in the Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria (968–1018), resulting in the fall of the First Bulgarian Empire

Pretenders during Byzantine rule (1018–1185)

Various Byzantine military governors (with the title strategos) were appointed in formerly Bulgarian lands over the course of the Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria, from the 970s onwards.[36] Following the completion of the conquest of Bulgaria in 1018, Emperor Basil II organized much of the central Balkans into the Theme of Bulgaria, which was governed by an imperially appointed official titled (depending on the time) as the doux (duke) or katepano of Bulgaria.[36][37] The capital of Byzantine Bulgaria was Skopion (modern-day Skopje).[36][37] There were several attempts at restoring the Bulgarian Empire during the nearly two centuries of Byzantine rule.

Image Name Reign Succession and notes
Presian II
Пресиян		 1018
(less than a year)		 Son of Ivan Vladislav. Although most of the Bulgarian aristocracy surrendered to the Byzantine Empire alongside Maria, Presian II and some of his brothers continued to lead a small resistance,[28][38] based around the Tomorr mountain range.[28] They were eventually also forced to surrender to the Byzantines.[28][38]
Peter Delyan[lower-alpha 6]
Петър Делян		 1040–1041
(1 year)		 Claimed to be a grandson of Gavril Radomir, though his ancestry is unverified. Servant of a Byzantine aristocrat; escaped to Belgrade and proclaimed himself emperor with the support of Bulgarian aristocrats. Fought against the Byzantine Empire for control of Bulgaria until betrayed and blinded by Alusian. Continued to lead some troops until his defeat at the Battle of Ostrovo; later fate unknown.[39]
Tihomir
Тихомир		 1040
(less than a year)		 Bulgarian military commander in Dyrrhachium. Proclaimed himself emperor after hearing of Peter Delyan's revolt. Deposed and executed after Delyan proved to be more popular among the Bulgarians.[39]
Alusian
Алусиан		 1041
(less than a year)		 Son of Ivan Vladislav. Governor of one of the Byzantine Empire's Armenian provinces. Travelled to Bulgaria to join Peter Delyan's uprising as a military leader. After relations between the two deteriorated, Alusian betrayed and blinded Delyan and was proclaimed emperor in his stead. Surrendered to the Byzantines after losing a battle.[39]
Constantine Bodin[lower-alpha 7]
Константин Бодин		 1072
(less than a year)		 Matrilineal great-great-grandson of Samuel[40] and son of the anti-Byzantine Serbian ruler Mihailo I.[41] Invited by Bulgarian nobles and acclaimed Bulgarian emperor[3] during Georgi Voyteh's uprising against the Byzantine Empire.[41] The uprising was defeated after a few months and Bodin was in Byzantine captivity until 1078.[42] Later reigned as King of Dioclea 1081–1101.[42]

Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1422)
Main article: Second Bulgarian Empire

House of Asen (1185–1256)
Main article: Asen dynasty
Image Name Reign Succession and notes
Peter II[lower-alpha 8]
Петър		 1185–1197
(12 years)		 Aristocrat, probably of Vlach origin,[20][43] with no relation to previous monarchs.[43][lower-alpha 9] Revolted against the Byzantine Empire alongside his brother Ivan Asen 1185 after being slighted by Emperor Isaac II Angelos. Proclaimed himself Bulgarian emperor in November 1185. After years of fighting, Isaac in 1188 recognized the brothers as rulers of an independent Bulgarian state, though skirmishes continued thereafter. Ivan Asen was later made the senior co-ruler (ruling from Tarnovo), with Peter ruling from Preslav.[20] Murdered in 1197.[44]
Ivan Asen I
Иван Асен		 c. 1188–1196
(c. 8 years)		 Brother of Peter II;[16] co-leader in their revolt against the Byzantine Empire. Made senior co-ruler at some point between 1187 and early 1190.[20] Murdered in 1196.[44]
Kaloyan (Ivan I)[16][lower-alpha 10]
Калоян (Иван)		 1196–1207
(9 years)		 Brother of Peter II and Ivan Asen I.[16] Foiled efforts at separatism by some of the nobility and consolidated royal power. Considerably expanded Bulgarian territory through wars with Serbia, Hungary, and the Byzantine Empire. Increased his expansion into Byzantine lands following the collapse of the Byzantine Empire due to the Fourth Crusade (1202–1204). Later fought against the Latin Empire, defeating its first emperor (Baldwin I). Believed to have been murdered.[2]
Boril
Борил		 1207–1218
(11 years)		 Son of a sister of Peter II, Ivan Asen I and Kaloyan.[2][16] Boril's reign saw unsuccessful wars against Serbia, the Latin Empire, and the competing successor states of the Byzantine Empire, as well as the spread of the Bogomilist sect in Bulgaria. Deposed and blinded by his cousin Ivan Asen II.[2]
Ivan Asen II
Иван Асен		 1218–1241
(23 years)		 Son of Ivan Asen I.[16] Overthrew Boril.[2] Ivan Asen II aspired to make himself the ruler of a joint Bulgarian-Byzantine Empire[44] and his reign saw the Second Bulgarian Empire reach its greatest extent.[2] Defeated the Empire of Thessalonica at the Battle of Klokotnitsa (1230), whereafter much of its territory was annexed and Bulgaria became the most powerful state in southeastern Europe.[41] Re-established the independent Bulgarian Orthodox Church under a patriarch in 1235.[2]
Kaliman Asen I
Калиман Асен		 1241–1246
(5 years)		 Son of Ivan Asen II.[16] Underage at the time of his accession. Murdered after a reign of five years.[12]
Michael Asen I[lower-alpha 11]
Мицо Асен		 1246–1256
(10 years)		 Son of Ivan Asen II.[16] Underage at the time of his accession.[12] Ambushed and killed in 1256 by a group of Bulgarian nobles after a treaty in which Michael Asen I returned all of Bulgaria's territorial gains in former Byzantine territory to the Empire of Nicaea.[45]
Kaliman Asen II
Калиман Асен		 1256
(less than a year)		 Grandson of Ivan Asen I.[16] Proclaimed emperor after Michael Asen I's death.[45] Married his predecessor's widow but was ineffective at maintaining power[16] and died within a year.[45] His death extinguished the male line of the House of Asen.[45]

Successors of the Asenids (1256–1280)

The end of the male line of the House of Asen plunged Bulgaria into a chaotic period of fragmentation and civil wars between numerous lines of claimants.[45]

Image Name Reign Succession and notes
Mitso Asen
Мицо Асен		 1256–1263
(7 years)		 Husband of Maria Asenina, a daughter of Ivan Asen II.[16] Proclaimed emperor in southeastern Bulgaria either in opposition to Kaliman Asen II[12] or after his death. Unclear if he ever gained control of the capital of Tarnovo,[46] though he may have held it briefly[45] in 1256–1257.[16] Later established himself in the lands surrounding Mesembria. Gave Mesembria the Byzantine Empire in 1263 after attacks by Constantine I Tih, in return being allowed to live out his life in exile in Anatolia.[46]
Rostislav Mikhailovich
Ростислав Михайлович
(Pretender in Vidin)		 1257–1262
(5 years)		 Father-in-law of Michael Asen I and Kaliman Asen II.[45] Invaded Bulgaria, though was unable to take the capital of Tarnovo. Occupied Vidin and governed the surrounding area as self-proclaimed Bulgarian emperor, supported by the Kingdom of Hungary.[45] Left landless after an attack by Constantine I Tih in 1260, though restored with Hungarian aid in 1261, claiming the same title again until his death in 1262.[46]
Constantine I Tih[lower-alpha 12]
Константин Асен		 1257–1277
(20 years)		 Elected emperor in Tarnovo in 1257 by the Bulgarian nobility, in opposition to both Mitso Asen and Rostislav. Married Irene Doukaina Laskarina, a granddaughter of Ivan Asen II, in order to boost his legitimacy.[45] Ultimately victorious in the civil wars of the 1250s and 1260s.[45] Later remarried to Maria Palaiologina Kantakouzene, a niece of the Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos.[16] Defeated and killed in battle by the peasant rebel Ivaylo.[16][43]
Jacob Svetoslav
Яков Светослав
(Pretender in Vidin)		 1266–c. 1273
(c. 7 years)		 Noble of princely Russian origin.[46] Initially loyal to Constantine I Tih, fighting on his side with the title of despot in the wars against Hungary (1261) and the Byzantine Empire (1262–1263). Came in possession of Vidin c. 1263 and gradually fell under Hungarian suzerainty. Referred to as "Bulgarian emperor" in Hungarian documents from 1266 onwards. Asserted his independence from Hungary c. 1273 and re-aligned himself with Constantine again; adopted as a second son by Constantine's wife (making him second-in-line to the throne) but later poisoned by her c. 1275.[46]
Michael Asen II
Михаил Асен		 1277–1279
(2 years)		 Son of Constantine I; previously junior co-emperor c. 1272–1277.[16] Underage at the time of his accession, his mother Maria Palaiologina Kantakouzene ruled as regent.[16] In 1278 made co-ruler with Ivaylo, who married Maria.[16] Deposed by the Byzantine-supported Ivan Asen III and sent as a captive to Constantinople.[43]
"Ivaylo"[lower-alpha 13]
Ивайло		 1278–1279
(1 year)		 An illiterate swineherd[43] who became leader of a peasant uprising and seized control of much of Bulgaria. Became a legitimate monarch through marriage with Maria Palaiologina Kantakouzene, Michael Asen II's mother,[16][43] who married him on the condition that Michael Asen II's rights continued to be respected.[43] Escaped to the Golden Horde in exile after Ivan Asen III took control of Bulgaria. Killed by Nogai Khan after requests from the Byzantines.[47]
Ivan Asen III
Иван Асен		 1279–1280
(1 year)		 Son of Mitso Asen.[16] Supported as puppet emperor of Bulgaria by the Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, against Ivaylo and Michael Asen II. Took control of Bulgaria with the help of the Byzantine army.[43] Fled to the Byzantine Empire after a brief reign due to fearing the ambitions of the aristocrat George Terter, whereafter the Bulgarians proclaimed George Terter emperor in his stead.[16]

House of Terter (1280–1292, first time)
Main article: Terter dynasty
Image Name Reign Succession and notes
George Terter I
Георги Тертер		 1280–1292
(12 years)		 Leading member of the Bulgarian aristocracy. Wishing to safeguard the position of Ivan Asen III, the Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos arranged for George Terter to divorce his wife and marry Kira Maria Asenina (Ivan Asen III's sister). Despite this, George Terter plotted against Ivan Asen III, who eventually fled to the Byzantines. The Bulgarians thereafter proclaimed George Terter emperor.[16] Overthrown by Nogai Khan of the Golden Horde and fled to Byzantium.[48][43]

House of Smilets (1292–1299)
Main article: Smilets dynasty
Image Name Reign Succession and notes
Smilets
Смилец		 1292–1298
(6 years)		 Member of a prominent Bulgarian noble family[43] though without known connections to previous Bulgarian royalty.[16] Husband of Smiltsena Palaiologina, a niece of the Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos.[16] Made emperor of Bulgaria (as a puppet ruler) by Nogai Khan of the Golden Horde.[48][43]
Ivan II[lower-alpha 14]
Иван		 1298–1299
(1 year)		 Son of Smilets.[16] Underage at the time of his accession, Ivan II briefly succeeded his father before being deposed after Chaka's invasion of Bulgaria.[48] Later lived out his life in exile in the Byzantine Empire.[49] Due to the small number of sources (two documents) some historians have disputed whether Ivan II actually reigned.[49]

House of Borjigin (1299–1300)
Main article: Borjigin
Image Name Reign Succession and notes
Chaka
Чака		 1299–1300
(1 year)		 Son-in-law of George Terter I and son of Nogai Khan of the Golden Horde. Invaded Bulgaria, assisted by Theodore Svetoslav (a son of George Terter I). Proclaimed himself as emperor of Bulgaria and achieved some recognition with Svetoslav's help. Came into conflict with the Golden Horde khan Toqta and then overthrown and strangled by Svetoslav.[48][43]

House of Terter (1300–1323, second time)
Main article: Terter dynasty
Image Name Reign Succession and notes
Theodore Svetoslav
Тодор Светослав		 1300–1322
(22 years)		 Son of George Terter I; previously junior co-emperor c. 1285–1292.[16] Overthrew and strangled Chaka, with support from Toqta of the Golden Horde.[48][43] Ended the period of Mongol dominion over Bulgaria[41] and waged wars against both the Byzantine Empire and various autonomous Bulgarian nobles.[50] Mostly successful;[50] succeeding in reconsolidating the empire.[41]
George Terter II
Георги Тертер		 1322–1323
(1 year)		 Son of Theodore Svetoslav; previously junior co-emperor c. 1321–1322.[16] Intervened in the Byzantine civil war of 1321–1328[25] and spent much of his brief reign warring with the Byzantines, for instance recapturing Plovdiv.[46] His death marked the extinction of the Terter line.[46]

House of Shishman (1323–1331)
Main article: House of Shishman
Image Name Reign Succession and notes
Michael Asen III[lower-alpha 15]
Михаил Асен		 1323–1330
(7 years)		 Matrilineal great-grandson of Ivan Asen II.[16] Previously semi-independent despot of Vidin. Elected as emperor by the Bulgarian nobility after George Terter II's death due to being considered the strongest local candidate. Retook some territory that had been lost to the Byzantines during the brief interregnum before his election.[46]
Ivan Stephen
Иван Стефан		 1330–1331
(1 year)		 Son of Michael Asen III; previously junior co-emperor c. 1323–1330.[16] Deposed after a brief reign in favour of his cousin Ivan Alexander in a coup d'état headed by elements of the Bulgarian nobility. After his deposition, Ivan Stephen fled to Serbia and then to the Byzantine Empire.[46]

House of Sratsimir (1331–1422)
Main article: Sratsimir dynasty

The rulers of the House of Sratsimir, patrilineal descendants of the despot Sratsimir, are in lists of monarchs often designated as part of the Shishmanid dynasty, with which they only share matrilineal descent. Through their matrilineal descent from the House of Shishman, the rulers of the House of Sratsimir were also descendants of the House of Asen.[16]

Image Name Reign Succession and notes
Ivan Alexander
Иван Александър		 1331–1371
(40 years)		 Son of Keratsa Petritsa, a sister of Michael Asen III.[16] Proclaimed emperor following a coup d'état headed by elements of the Bulgarian nobility.[46] Allied with Stefan Dušan of the Serbian Empire, who was eclipsing Bulgaria's power. Managed to capture some territories from the Byzantine Empire.[46] Divided the empire among his sons to avoid succession problems, leading to Bulgaria's fragmentation. Allied with the Ottoman Turks against the Byzantines, inadvertently accelerating the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans.[2]
Michael Asen IV[16]
Михаил Асен
(Junior co-ruler)		 Never ruled in his own right Eldest[51] son of Ivan Alexander; junior co-emperor c. 1332–1355.[16] Led an army in the defense against an Ottoman invasion in 1354–1355, during which he was killed in battle near Sofia.[51]
Ivan Asen IV[16]
Иван Асен
(Junior co-ruler)		 Never ruled in his own right Son of Ivan Alexander; junior co-emperor c. 1337–1349.[16] Led an army in the defense against an Ottoman invasion in 1349, during which he was killed in battle near Sofia.[51]
Ivan Sratsimir
Иван Срацимир
(Ruling in Vidin)		 1356–c. 1397
(c. 41 years)		 Son of Ivan Alexander; previously junior co-emperor c. 1337–1356.[16] Granted Vidin and the surrounding lands by his father as autonomous emperor while his younger brother Ivan Shishman inherited Tarnovo.[2] Immediately tried to take control of all of Bulgaria after his father's death, though was defeated by Ivan Shishman.[46] The Vidin empire was largely conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1396/1397 and Ivan Sratsimir was deposed and taken prisoner.[2][32]
Ivan Shishman
Иван Шишман
(Ruling in Tarnovo)		 1371–1395
(24 years)		 Son of Ivan Alexander; previously junior co-emperor c. 1356–1371.[16] Made the heir to Tarnovo over the elder Ivan Sratsimir due to the influence of his mother Sarah-Theodora. Fought off Ivan Sratsimir's attempt at capturing Tarnovo.[46] Made a vassal of the Ottoman Empire. Tried to gain Hungarian aid to reassert his independence, which led to the Ottomans invading his lands. Tarnovo and most of Bulgaria was captured in 1393,[46] followed by Nikopol and Ivan Shishman's other remaining territory in 1395. Allegedly murdered by the Ottomans after the capture of Nikopol.[52]
Ivan Asen V[16]
Иван Асен
(Junior co-ruler)		 Never ruled in his own right Son of Ivan Alexander; junior co-emperor 1356–c. 1388.[16] Recorded to have presided over church synods at Tarnovo (1360) together with his father and Ivan Shishman.[53]
Bulgaria was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the Bulgarian–Ottoman wars (1345–1396), resulting in the fall of the Second Bulgarian Empire
Constantine II
Константин[lower-alpha 16]
(Ruling in Vidin)		 c. 1397–1422
(c. 25 years)		 Son of Ivan Sratsimir; previously junior co-emperor c. 1395–1397.[16] Remained in control of at least some parts of his father's domains around Vidin,[16] probably initially as an Ottoman vassal,[32] for most of the time until his death in 1422.[16]

Pretenders during Ottoman rule (1422–1878)
See also: Ottoman Bulgaria

Following the gradual conquest of Bulgaria in the 14th and 15th centuries, the Ottomans incorporated the Bulgarian lands into the vast province of Rumelia.[54] In the late 16th century, the new province of Silistra was created due to persistent northern attacks from the Cossacks.[54] Later on, much of modern-day northern Bulgaria was organized into the Danube vilayet, which in terms of borders closely corresponded to the succeeding autonomous Principality of Bulgaria.[55] Like under the period of Byzantine rule, the Ottoman authorities were sometimes faced with Bulgarian uprisings aimed at independence, at times also involving the proclamation of new Bulgarian monarchs.

Image Name Reign Succession and notes
Fruzhin
Фружин		 1422–1460
(38 years)		 Son of Ivan Shishman. Fled to Hungary after the fall of the Second Bulgarian Empire, where he was made the ruler of the County of Temes. His titular claim to the Bulgarian throne was recognized by the Hungarian king Sigismund (1387–1437).[56] Fruzhin was counted as emperor in some later Bulgarian sources.[12]
Ivan Shishman II[lower-alpha 17]
Иван Шишман		 1598
(less than a year)		 Allegedly a descendant of the House of Sratsimir.[60] Proclaimed tsar during the First Tarnovo Uprising (1598)[58][60] and briefly ruled at Tarnovo.[58] The first attempt at mass liberation in Bulgaria, this uprising was eventually crushed by the Ottomans.[60]
Rostislav Stratimirovic
Ростислав Стратимирович		 1686
(less than a year)		 Allegedly a descendant of the House of Sratsimir. Proclaimed knyaz (prince) during the Second Tarnovo Uprising (1686). Hoped to gain support from the Tsardom of Russia, though the uprising began prematurely and was crushed by the Ottomans.[25][61]

Principality (1878–1908) and Kingdom of Bulgaria (1908–1946)
Main articles: Principality of Bulgaria and Kingdom of Bulgaria

House of Battenberg (1879–1886)
Main article: Battenberg family
Image Name Reign Succession and notes
Alexander I
Александър I		 29 April 1879 –
7 September 1886
(7 years and 131 days)		 A new Bulgarian state was established through the treaties of San Stefano and Berlin (1878) following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. The first National Assembly elected[lower-alpha 18] Alexander of Battenberg, a German prince, as monarch.[63] Since Bulgaria was stipulated to remain an autonomous vassal state of the Ottoman Empire, Alexander used the title knyaz (prince) rather than tsar.[6] Deposed in a coup led by pro-Russian army officers. Briefly reinstated following a counter-coup before abdicating the throne.[63]

House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1887–1946)
Main articles: House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Bulgarian royal family
Image Name Reign Succession and notes
Ferdinand I
Фердинанд I		 7 July 1887 –
3 October 1918
(31 years and 87 days)		 Chosen as knyaz (prince)[64] after Prince Valdemar of Denmark declined the throne after being approached.[65] Secured Bulgaria's complete independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1908, whereafter he adopted the style of tsar (king). Leading figure in the First Balkan War (1912–1913) though Bulgaria's actions after victory led to the Second Balkan War (1913) which deprived the country of most of its gains. Aligned with the German Empire in World War I (1914–1918) and was forced to abdicate after the war's conclusion.[64]
Boris III
Борѝс III		 3 October 1918 –
28 August 1943
(24 years and 330 days)		 Son of Ferdinand I. Succeeded to the throne after his father's abdication.[64] Bestowed near-dictatorial powers by a pro-monarchical regime in 1935.[66] Aligned with Nazi Germany during World War II (1939–1945),[64][67] mainly out of a desire to increase Bulgarian territory.[67] Bulgaria participated in the invasions of Yugoslavia and Greece,[66] though Boris refused to send Bulgarian soldiers to aid the German invasion of Russia.[64] His government oversaw the Holocaust in Bulgaria.[66][68][69][lower-alpha 19] Died in mysterious circumstances shortly after a visit to Adolf Hitler.[64]
Simeon II
Симеон II		 28 August 1943 –
15 September 1946
(3 years and 17 days)		 Son of Boris III. Underage at the time of his accession and thus placed under a regency for the entire duration of his reign, until the Bulgarian monarchy was abolished[64] through a referendum[70] by Georgi Dimitrov's communist government. Went to exile in Spain and later returned to Bulgaria as a politician.[64] Has never formally renounced his claim to the throne.[70][lower-alpha 20] Simeon's party NDSV was victorious in the 2001 Bulgarian parliamentary election and Simeon served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria 2001–2005.[64]

Family trees

See also

Notes
  1. Monarchs with double names are in formal contexts most often recorded with both names. Ivan Asen II (1218–1241) is sometimes recorded merely using his second name (Asen). His sons Kaliman Asen I (1241–1246) and Michael Asen I (1246–1256) are sometimes recorded to only use their first names (Kaliman, Michael). Similarly, George Terter I (1280–1292) is in at least one contemporary source referred to merely as George. In most official documents, Ivan Alexander (1331–1371) and his sons Ivan Sratsimir (1356–1397) and Ivan Shishman (1371–1395) are referred to with their full double names, but in less formal contexts they are sometimes referred to merely by their more characteristic second names (Alexander, Sratsimir, and Shishman).[16]
  2. "Tsok", a Bulgarian ruler briefly mentioned in a single Byzantine source as persecuting Christian prisoners,[17] is presumably the same person as Ditzeng.[25]
  3. Sometimes referred to as Boris-Michael or Michael I given that he was baptized under the name Michael. Boris I however continued after his baptism to most often only use the name "Boris".[16]
  4. De facto ruled only 969–971 and thereafter in Byzantine captivity, though remained recognized and unchallenged as the legitimate monarch in Bulgaria itself.[31]
  5. De facto ruled only 977–991 and thereafter in Byzantine captivity,[34] though remained recognized and unchallenged as the legitimate monarch in Bulgaria itself.[32]
  6. Sometimes enumerated as Peter II.[16]
  7. Took the regnal name Peter and is therefore sometimes enumerated as Peter III.[16]
  8. Enumerated as Peter IV if the rebels Peter Delyan (Peter II) and Constantine Bodin (Peter III) are also counted.[16]
  9. The House of Asen has in the past sometimes been suggested to have descended from the monarchs of the First Bulgarian Empire given that Kaloyan (1196–1207) was identified by Pope Innocent III (1198–1216) in a letter as descended from them. This is conventionally interpreted as the pope merely recognizing Kaloyan as the legitimate successor (and not a genealogical descendant) of the earlier tsars, in a way common for the time.[43]
  10. In his formal titulature, Kaloyan referred to himself by the name Kaloyan (rendered in Latin as Calojoannes).[14] He is additionally counted as "Ivan I" since Ivan (without a double name) was his original name; "Kaloyan" derives from the Greek Kaloïōannēs and is an ornate and flattering nickname meaning "John [Ivan] the Good".[16]
  11. Often referred to as Michael II Asen, although this is incorrect. This enumeration derives from Boris I (852–889) having been baptized under the name Michael. Boris I however continued to most often merely use "Boris" and the emperors of the Second Bulgarian Empire used the double name Michael Asen (Asen being part of the name and not some other form of qualifier) rather than just "Michael".[16]
  12. The actual regnal name of this monarch was Constantine Asen, as attested in contemporary Bulgarian documents. The conventional designation "Konstantin Tih" (meaning "Constantine, the son of Tih[omir]") was never used in medieval Bulgaria itself and instead derives from Byzantine sources.[16]
  13. It is doubtful that Ivaylo was this ruler's real name given that the only medieval source using it (the Svrljig gospels) might instead be informally referring to his successor Ivan Asen III. The only other names applied to him in medieval sources are the Greek nicknames Lakhanas and Kordokoubas, attested in Byzantine sources.[16]
  14. Sometimes referred to as Ivan IV Smilets, numbered after Ivan Asen I–III (then considered Ivan I–III) and not counting Kaloyan as Ivan I nor counting Ivan Vladislav. The rulers named Ivan Asen however used that name as a double name and are more appropriately numbered as such; Ivan Vladislav also used a double name. The combination Ivan Smilets for this ruler is modern and does not occur in any contemporary sources.[16]
  15. Many sources erroneously refer to this emperor as Michael III Shishman. His regnal name, attested in both Bulgarian and Byzantine sources, was the double name Michael Asen. The designation "Michael Shishman" (which connects him to his father Shishman of Vidin) is not attested in contemporary sources.[16]
  16. All known contemporary documents refer to Constantine II merely by the name Constantine. It is possible that he (like Constantine I) used the double name Constantine Asen, especially given that Asen was incorporated into the double names of three of his uncles. None of the surviving documents are from Constantine's chancery and no known seals or charters exist, making it impossible to confirm this hypothesis.[16]
  17. Enumerated after Ivan Shishman (1371–1395). He is sometimes alternatively referred to as Shishman II,[57] or (also counting Shishman of Vidin, who did not reign as tsar) as Ivan Shishman III[58] or Shishman III.[59]
  18. Alexander I was not the only choice proposed for the first modern Bulgarian monarch. The Russian prince Alexander Mikhailovich Dondukov-Korsakov (1820–1893), who headed the Russian administration in Bulgaria at the time, put himself forth for the position though was rejected. The Congress of Berlin decided that no Russian or Bulgarian should be allowed to become Prince of Bulgaria.[62] In addition to Alexander, other European royalty considered included Prince Valdemar of Denmark, Prince Henry XXV of Reuss, and Prince Carol of Romania.[62] Alexander was ultimately selected by the Bulgarian parliament due to having served in the Russo-Turkish War, his close relationship with (and endorsement by) Alexander II of Russia, and his known conservative political stance.[62]
  19. After the conclusion of World War II, royalists and nationalists began to hail Boris as a "rescuer of the Bulgarian Jews", though scholars consider this a dubious honour.[69] Under Boris III's regime, thousands of Jews were deported to Germany from Bulgarian-occupied lands in Thrace and Macedonia,[69] resulting in 11,343 deaths.[68] It was further intended to also deport the Jews of Bulgaria proper, though the regime abandoned these plans following intense public outcry.[69] 48,000 Jews of Bulgaria's pre-war territory consequently survived the Holocaust,[68][69] though were subjected to other forms of discrimination, including being forbidden from holding public office,[66] forcible internal deportation, and dispossession.[68] Bulgaria was the only country to sign a written agreement "to supply Jews to Germany".[66] Romani people were also subject to discrimination, being forced to register for forced labor and being barred from marrying Bulgarians.[66]
  20. Simeon operating as a politician within the Bulgarian republican framework and swearing allegiance to the republic has however been interpreted as effectively rejecting the restitution of the monarchy.[70]
  21. Omitting earlier monarchs since their family relationships are too uncertain to construct a family tree

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