Iwan Wladislav

Ivan Vladislav reigned like tsar of the empire of Bulgaria of August or September 1015 at February 1018. The year of its birth is unknown, but is at least a decade before 987.

Biography

Ivan Vladislav was wire of Aron, brother of the emperor Samuel Ier of Bulgaria. In 987 Samuel made carry out Aron and his family for treason. Massacre survived only Ivan Vladislav, saved by the intervention of his/her cousin Gabriel Radomir, wire of Samuel.

The fate of Ivan Vladislav during the following decades is unknown, but in 1015 it was encouraged by Byzantine agents to assassinate his cousin Gabriel Radomir to become emperor of Bulgaria.

Ivan Vladislav took measures to ensure its positions against the potential rivals. Although it started negotiations with the Byzantine emperor Basile II, it quickly took again the policy of resistance to Byzance of its predecessors. It reconstituted into 1015 the fortifications of Bitola, located on the grounds still not-conquered by the Byzantines. The Byzantines took Ohrid, but gave up in front of Pernik, Basile II having been informed that Ivan Vladislav sought to be combined with the Pechenegues to come to its assistance, continuing the general practice of its predecessors. This alliance was not carried out and in 1016, the Byzantine armies penetrated still deeply in Bulgaria.

The winter 1018, Ivan Vladislav gathered its forces and put the seat in front of Durazzo. It was killed during a battle delivered in front of the city. After its death most of the Bulgarian nobility and court, including its Marija widow, subjected themselves to Basile II in exchange of guarantees for the conservation of their lives, statute, and property.

A faction of noble and army gathered around Presijan II the oldest son of Ivan Vladislav and continued to resist during several months, until they were forced to subject.

Random links: