Alexius Slav

Alexius Slaw ( Bulgarian Алексий Слав / Alexy slaw ) was a Bulgarian Boljar and the late 12th, early 13th century despot and independent ruler of the Rhodope Mountains, located in the fortress Žepina. In 1209 he moved his seat to Melnik.

Slaw originate in the house Asen and was a nephew of Tsar Ivan Asen I. brothers, Peter VI. Asen and Kaloyan. His mother was their sister. He was also related to the Tsar and the Boril Sebastocrator Strez.

As Tsar Kaloyan 1207 died in mysterious circumstances at the siege of Thessaloniki, located Boril declared to the Tsar. In the following time he pursued his closest relatives. So the throne successor Ivan Asen II fled to the Cumans. However, Alexius Slaw declared himself independent ruler. In order to strengthen its position against the usurper to 1208 Slaw declared a vassal of the Latin Empire of Constantinople Opel. Of the Latins ( Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade ) Alexius slaw was given the title " despot ", the recognition of his country and the minor, illegitimate daughter of Emperor Henry of Flanders for his wife. Nevertheless succeeded Tsar Boril to conquer 1208 Melnik and the entire region of the middle Strumatals by the combined forces of slaw and the Latins. However, in 1211 Slaw regained his capital again. However, the covenant with the Crusaders lasted until 1216, when the young woman died of slaw.

His relative Ivan Asen returned to Tarnovo back, overthrew the usurper Boril and consolidated his power. However, he was too far away to ensure SLAWS security. Slaws kingdom that lay between the Latins and the Despotate of Epirus was conquered in constant danger of one of the two powers to will. In this situation, slaw chose a covenant with the Despot of Thessalonica Theodoros I. Angelos enter into and married the daughter of his brother- Theodoros Petralifa ( Bulg Теодор Петралифа ). He saw himself confirmed in his actions, as Theodoros I. by the Archbishop of Ohrid to the Byzantine Emperor and thus was anointed rival emperors of Constantinople Opel.