The last Bulgarian Tsaritsa of Hungarian origin (1255/6)
The last Bulgarian Tsaritsa of Hungarian origin (1255/6)

Summary/Abstract: The article focuses on the evidence preserved in the sources about the last Hungarian princess who was tsaritsa in Tarnovo as the wife of Tsar Mihail II Asen and then of Tsar Kaliman II. Though her name is unknown, her origin is clear – she was granddaughter of Bela IV and daughter of the Russian prince and Hungarian vassal Rostislav Mikhailovich. Her two consecutive marriages, which made her consort of two Bulgarian rulers, were concluded in a very short period of about a year – year and a half. Both marriages probably took place on the initiative of the Bulgarian tsar – first Mihail II Asen, after that Kaliman II. The objective of both was to attract Hungary on their side, but while Mihail Asen wanted to use his new ally’s military assistance against the external enemy Nicaea, Kaliman repose his hopes on the Hungarian ban to help him against his internal political opponents. They both failed to achieve their goals and it cost them their lives. Rostislav Mikhailovich came to help his new son-in-law but it was too late as he had been already killed, so the Hungarian ban took his daughter and from then on started to call himself Emperor of the Bulgarians.

• Details
• Contents