Ivan Asen I of Bulgaria

Ivan Asen I ( † 1196 Tarnowgrad ) was a Bulgarian Tsar, who ruled from 1190 to 1195. Ivan Asen I. (often just Asen, his birth name was Johann or Ivan ) was also surnamed Belgun ( from Proto Bulgarian: wise, knowing) known.

Ivan Asen I. administered first under Byzantine rule jointly with his brother Teodor -Peter, the region around Lovech, before he led an uprising against the Byzentiner. The revolt soon spread in the area between the Balkan Mountains and the Danube. He ended with the 1187 peace treaty signed in Lovech with Byzantium, thus the establishment of the Second Bulgarian Empire "de jure" was sealed. As new capital Tarnowgrad was chosen.

His brother Teodor -Peter still reigned one year after the death of Ivan Asen I. Ivan Asen I., together with his brothers Teodor - Kaloyan Asen and Petar co-founder of the dynasty of Asseniden. Under the leadership of this dynasty, the Bulgarian Empire came to independence from Byzantium and again to new power. It again dominated the Balkan Peninsula, both militarily and culturally.

As an important source to Ivan Asen applies the Byzantine historian Nicetas Choniates. Nicetas Choniates reported that Ivan Asen was a determined tactician and merciless to his enemies. He describes him as a proud and confident, and that his lack of gentleness and his fiery character with a reason for its demise was.

Restoration of the Bulgarian State

Under the leadership of Asen and Teodor -Peter 1185 a riot broke out in Bulgaria. Nicetas Choniates reported that the reason for the outbreak of the revolt, the refusal of the Byzantine Emperor Isaac II, the two brothers was incorporated into the Pronoiai system, a kind Steuerpächtertum as a substitute for pay. The two brothers much needed land and to be purchased from money income to pay for a new significant tax to the emperor can. This new tax was introduced Isaac II to raise money for the wedding of the daughter of Béla III. to get from Hungary together.

In the spring of 1185 and beginning of 1186 the insurgents had successes recorded. The Byzantine emperor undertook several campaigns against the Bulgarians. In one of the campaigns of the Byzantine army was stopped in 1187 due to the strong fortress of Lovech. After the siege was unsuccessful by the Byzantines, they were forced to make peace. This meant practically the restoration of the Bulgarian Empire.

Establishment of an independent Bulgarian church

One of the first tasks of the new rulers was to clarify the Church question. Until then, the Bulgarian lands were under the jurisdiction of the Archbishopric of Ohrid. However, as an independent state, the independent, new Bulgarian Empire aspired to their own church. As the head of the Bulgarian Church Wasiliji is selected, the then Teodor crowned tsar. To emphasize the succession of the First Bulgarian Empire took Teodor to the dynastic name Petar IV.

Third Crusade

Frederick I Barbarossa in 1189 led the German knights on their Third Crusade. Asen and Petar decided that this German king can anchor the status of Bulgaria by law. Therefore, they offered him on two occasions to their military aid in the fight against Byzantium.

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