Beloslava of Bulgaria
| Beloslava | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Tenure | 1234-1243 |
| Spouse | Stefan Vladislav I |
| House | Asen→Nemanjić |
| Father | Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria |
| Mother | Anna-Anisia |
Beloslava (Bulgarian: Белослава) was Bulgarian princess and Queen consort of Serbia (1234–1243). She was wife of King Stefan Vladislav I of Serbia.
Beloslava was the daughter of tsar Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria and his first wife Anna (religious name Anisia), mentioned in the . Ivan Asen II and Anna had another daughter - Maria, who married Manuel of Epirus. In fact Beloslava and her sister Maria were illegitimate children of Ivan Asen II, because his first marriage with Anna was unrecognized by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. There was no dоubt about the noble birth of Beloslava and Maria so both princesses were married persons of high aristocratic status.
After the battle of Klokotnitsa Bulgaria become first politic power on the Balkans and Beloslava was married to Serbian prince Stefan Vladislav. The marriage was arranged by his uncle - Rastko Nemanjić in order to secure good relations between Serbia and Bulgaria.
Beloslava and Stefan Vladislav had three children:
In 1234 a Bulgarian-aided coup d'état in Serbia toppled king Stefan Radoslav, a son-in-law and protege of despots Theodore of Epirus, and replaced him with Stefan Vladislav, who was half-brother of Stefan Radoslav. Stefan Vladislav assumed the Serbian throne as King Stefan Vladislav I and Beloslava become the new queen consort of Serbia.
Bulgarian political influence in Serbia was over after the dead of tsar Ivan Asen II, during the invasions of Tatars in Western Europe. In 1243 Stefan Vladislav was overthrown by his younger brother Stefan Uroš I and Beloslava fled in Dubrovnik, where she took refuge. The new Serbian king insisted that Beloslava should be kept under strict control by authorities of Dubrovnik. In replay Dubrovnik sent an oath in writing to the Stefan Uroš I that Beloslava would not be allowed to return in Serbia in any occasion.
Soon the conflict between Stefan Vladislav I and Stefan Uroš I was solved. After negotiations Stefan Vladislav renounced the crown and Stefan Uroš I allowed him to rule Zeta as governor, but Stefan Vladislav maintained the title of king. Soon Beloslava returned in Serbia and joined to Stefan Vladislav I in the governing of Zeta. She maintained the title of queen too.
Sources
See also
Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beloslava_of_Bulgaria
