Shishman
Encyclopedia
Shishman also Shishmanids or Shishmanovtsi , was a medieval Bulgaria
n royal dynasty of partial Cuman
origin.
The Shishman dynasty consecutively ruled the Second Bulgarian Empire
for approximately one century, from 1323 to 1422, when it was conquered by the Ottomans
. The Shishmanids were related to the earlier Asen dynasty
, and according to the Ragusan
historian Lukarić
, also to the immediately preceding Terter dynasty
. In Plamen Pavlov's view, the Shishman dynasty's founder, despot Shishman of Vidin
, may have been the brother of George I
, the first Bulgarian Terterid ruler, thus also coming to Bulgaria from the Kingdom of Hungary
after 1241.
Main branch:
Sratsimir
branch:
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...
n royal dynasty of partial Cuman
Cumans
The Cumans were Turkic nomadic people comprising the western branch of the Cuman-Kipchak confederation. After Mongol invasion , they decided to seek asylum in Hungary, and subsequently to Bulgaria...
origin.
The Shishman dynasty consecutively ruled the Second Bulgarian Empire
Second Bulgarian Empire
The Second Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state which existed between 1185 and 1396 . A successor of the First Bulgarian Empire, it reached the peak of its power under Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II before gradually being conquered by the Ottomans in the late 14th-early 15th century...
for approximately one century, from 1323 to 1422, when it was conquered by the Ottomans
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...
. The Shishmanids were related to the earlier Asen dynasty
Asen dynasty
The Asen dynasty ruled a medieval Bulgarian state, called in modern historiography the Second Bulgarian Empire, between 1187 and 1280.The Asen dynasty and the Second Bulgarian Empire rose as the leaders of a rebellion against the Byzantine Empire at the turn of the year 1185/1186 caused by the...
, and according to the Ragusan
Republic of Ragusa
The Republic of Ragusa or Republic of Dubrovnik was a maritime republic centered on the city of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia , that existed from 1358 to 1808...
historian Lukarić
House of Lukaric/Lucari
The House of Lukarić were an old noble family from Dubrovnik. They were one of the leading families of the Republic of Ragusa....
, also to the immediately preceding Terter dynasty
Terter dynasty
Terter , also Terterids or Terterovtsi , was a Bulgarian noble and royal house that ruled the Second Bulgarian Empire between 1280 and 1292, as well as between 1300 and 1323.The Terterids were originally of Cuman origin Terter , also Terterids or Terterovtsi (Тертеровци), was a Bulgarian noble and...
. In Plamen Pavlov's view, the Shishman dynasty's founder, despot Shishman of Vidin
Shishman of Vidin
Shishman, Despot of Vidin was a Bulgarian noble who ruled a semi-independent realm based out of the Danubian fortress of Vidin in the late 13th and early 14th century...
, may have been the brother of George I
George I of Bulgaria
George Terter I ruled as emperor of Bulgaria 1280-1292. The date of his birth is unknown, and he died in 1308/1309.The reign of George Terter I represents a continuation of Bulgaria's precipitous decline during the second half of the 13th century...
, the first Bulgarian Terterid ruler, thus also coming to Bulgaria from the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
after 1241.
Members
Among its more notable members were:Main branch:
- despot Shishman of VidinShishman of VidinShishman, Despot of Vidin was a Bulgarian noble who ruled a semi-independent realm based out of the Danubian fortress of Vidin in the late 13th and early 14th century...
- Michael Shishman of BulgariaMichael Shishman of BulgariaMichael Asen III ), ruled as emperor of Bulgaria from 1323 to 1330. The exact year of his birth is unknown but it was between 1280 and 1292. He was the founder of the last ruling dynasty of the Second Bulgarian Empire, the Shishman dynasty...
(Michael Asen III) (b. after 1280, ruled 1323-1330)
-
-
- Ivan Stephen of BulgariaIvan Stephen of BulgariaIvan Stefan ruled as emperor of Bulgaria for eight months from 1330 to 1331. He was the eldest son of emperor Michael III Shishman and Anna Neda of Serbia, a daughter of King Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia. Ivan Stephen was descendent to the Terter dynasty, the Asen dynasty and the Shishman...
(ruled 1330-1331)- despot BelaurBelaurBelaur was a Bulgarian noble and despot of Vidin and brother of the Bulgarian Emperor Michael Shishman . The son of Shishman of Vidin, he was among the most elaborate Balkan diplomats of his time...
of VidinVidinVidin 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...
(d. 1336)
- despot Belaur
- Ivan Stephen of Bulgaria
-
Sratsimir
Sratsimir dynasty
The House of Sratsimir, also Sracimir or Sratsimirovtsi was a medieval Bulgarian dynasty that ruled the Tsardom of Tarnovo and Tsardom of Vidin, the Principality of Valona and Kanina, and the Despotate of Lovech...
branch:
-
-
- Ivan Alexander of BulgariaIvan Alexander of BulgariaIvan 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...
(nephew of Michael Shishman) (ruled 1331-1371)
-
- co-emperor Michael Asen IV оf Bulgaria (b. c. 1322, co-emperor 1332-1355)
- Ivan Sratsimir of BulgariaIvan Sratsimir of BulgariaIvan 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...
(b. 1324/1325, ruled 1356-1397 in Vidin)
-
- Queen Dorothea of BosniaDorothea of BulgariaDorothea of Bulgaria was the first Queen of Bosnia.-Early life:She was the daughter of Emperor Ivan Sratsimir of Bulgaria and his wife Anna of Wallachia....
- Constantine II of BulgariaConstantine II of BulgariaConstantine II , ruled as emperor of Bulgaria in Vidin from 1397 to 1422. He was born in the early 1370s, and died in exile at the Serbian court on 17 September 1422...
(b. early 1370s, ruled 1397-1422 in Vidin and in exile)
- Queen Dorothea of Bosnia
- Ivan Shishman of BulgariaIvan Shishman of BulgariaIvan Shishman ruled as emperor of Bulgaria in Tarnovo from 1371 to 3 July 1395. The authority of Ivan Shishman was limited to the central parts of the Bulgarian Empire. His indecisive and inconsistent policy did little to prevent the fall of his country under Ottoman rule. In 1393 the Ottoman...
(b. 1350/1351, ruled 1371-1395 in TarnovoVeliko TarnovoVeliko 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...
)
-
- Patriarch Joseph II of ConstantinoplePatriarch Joseph II of ConstantinopleJoseph II was Patriarch of Constantinople from 1416 to 1439.Born the son of Ivan Shishman of Bulgaria in 1360, little is known of his early life before he became a monk on Mount Athos. He became Metropolitan of Ephesus in 1393, before being elected Patriarch of Constantinople on 21 May 1416...
? (possible illegitimate son) (Patriarch of Constantinople 1416-1439) - FruzhinFruzhinFruzhin was a 15th-century Bulgarian noble who fought actively against the Ottoman conquest of the Second Bulgarian Empire. A son of one of the last Bulgarian tsars, Ivan Shishman of the Tarnovo Tsardom, Fruzhin co-organized the so-called Uprising of Konstantin and Fruzhin along with Constantine...
(d. c. 1460)
- Patriarch Joseph II of Constantinople
- Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
-
Monarchs
| Portrait | Title | Name | Rule | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emperor | Michael III Shishman Michael Shishman of Bulgaria Michael Asen III ), ruled as emperor of Bulgaria from 1323 to 1330. The exact year of his birth is unknown but it was between 1280 and 1292. He was the founder of the last ruling dynasty of the Second Bulgarian Empire, the Shishman dynasty... |
1323-1330 | Bolyar 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... . Mortally wounded in the battle of Velbazhd on 28 July 1330 against the Serbs. |
|
| Emperor | Ivan Stephen Ivan Stephen of Bulgaria Ivan Stefan ruled as emperor of Bulgaria for eight months from 1330 to 1331. He was the eldest son of emperor Michael III Shishman and Anna Neda of Serbia, a daughter of King Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia. Ivan Stephen was descendent to the Terter dynasty, the Asen dynasty and the Shishman... |
1330-1331 | Son of Michael III Shishman. Deposed in March 1331 and fled to Serbia. Might have died in 1373. | |
 |
Emperor In Christ the Lord Faithful Emperor and Autocrat of all Bulgarians and Greeks |
Ivan Alexander 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... |
1331-1371 | Bolyar of Lovech Lovech Lovech is a town in north-central Bulgaria with a population of 36,296 as of February 2011. It is the administrative centre of the Lovech Province and of the subordinate Lovech Municipality. The town is located about 150 km northeast from the capital city of Sofia... . Descended of the Asen, Terter and Shishman dynasties. Second Golden Age of Bulgarian culture. Died of natural death on 17 February 1371, leaving Bulgaria divided among his sons. |
 |
Emperor In Christ the Lord Faithful Emperor and Autocrat of all Bulgarians and Greeks |
Ivan Shishman Ivan Shishman of Bulgaria Ivan Shishman ruled as emperor of Bulgaria in Tarnovo from 1371 to 3 July 1395. The authority of Ivan Shishman was limited to the central parts of the Bulgarian Empire. His indecisive and inconsistent policy did little to prevent the fall of his country under Ottoman rule. In 1393 the Ottoman... |
1371-1395 | Fourth son of Ivan Alexander. Beheaded by the Ottomans on 3 June 1395. |
| Emperor Emperor of the Bulgarians |
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... |
1356-1396 | Third son of Ivan Alexander. Ruled in Vidin. Captured by the Ottomans in 1396 and imprisoned in Bursa where he was strangled. | |
| Emperor Emperor of the Bulgarians |
Constantine II Constantine II of Bulgaria Constantine II , ruled as emperor of Bulgaria in Vidin from 1397 to 1422. He was born in the early 1370s, and died in exile at the Serbian court on 17 September 1422... |
1396-1422 | Spent most of his life in exile. Most historians do not include him in the list of the Bulgarian monarchs. | |