Constantine II of Bulgaria facts for kids

Constantine II (Bulgarian: Константин, Konstantin) was an emperor, also called a tsar, of Bulgaria. He ruled the area of Vidin from 1397 to 1422. He was born around 1369. Constantine II died on September 17, 1422, while living away from his home country in Serbia.

Constantine II was known as the Emperor of Bulgaria by other countries. However, he is sometimes not included in lists of Bulgarian rulers. This is because much of Bulgaria was under Ottoman control during his time.

Who Was Constantine II?

Constantine II Asen was the son of Ivan Sratsimir. His mother was Anna, who was the daughter of Prince Nicolae Alexandru from Wallachia.

Around 1395, his father made him a co-emperor. This meant they ruled together. Constantine II was then sent on an important trip to Tarnovo, which was an old capital of Bulgaria.

Struggles with the Ottomans

In 1396, Constantine's father, Ivan Sratsimir, was captured. He was put in prison by Sultan Bayezid I of the Ottoman Empire. At this time, Ivan Sratsimir was helping Christian nations fight against the Ottomans.

After a big battle called the Battle of Nicopolis, the city of Vidin came under Ottoman control. This happened because of Sultan Bayezid I's army.

Some historians believe that Constantine II might have kept control of the western parts of Vidin. This could have lasted almost until he died in 1422.

Fighting for Freedom

Constantine II worked with his cousin, Fruzhin. Fruzhin was the son of Ivan Shishman. They used a time when the Ottoman Empire was having problems, called the Ottoman Interregnum, to start a rebellion. This was an uprising against the Ottomans in northwestern Bulgaria.

Constantine II also had allies. These included Stefan Lazarević, who was the ruler of Serbia. He also allied with Mircea I, the leader of Wallachia. This fight against the Ottomans lasted for about five years, from 1408 to 1413. The rebellion spread across much of Bulgaria. However, the rebels were eventually defeated by the Ottoman Sultan Musa.

The Bulgarians tried to improve their situation. They sided with Musa's brother and rival, Sultan Mehmed I. But even after Mehmed I won in 1413, things did not get much better for them.

Later Life and Legacy

After Mehmed I's victory in 1413, Constantine II spent most of his life in Hungary and Serbia. His last lands in Bulgaria were taken over by the Ottomans in 1422. This happened under Sultan Murad II.

Soon after, Constantine II died at the Serbian court on September 17, 1422. He was the last emperor of Bulgaria. His death and the loss of his lands marked the end of the Second Bulgarian Empire. The Ottoman conquest had started much earlier, around 1369. Ottoman rule then lasted until 1878.

Honours

There is a place named after Constantine II of Bulgaria. It is called Konstantin Buttress. This is a rock formation on Nordenskjöld Coast in Graham Land, Antarctica.

Images for kids

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  This image shows the coats of arms of the last Bulgarian rulers, Fruzhin and Konstantin II Asen. It is found in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in Munich.