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Tsar Ivan Vladislav


Preferred Parents:
Father: Aron Kometopulos, b. ABT 942 in Ohrid, Macedonia, Yugoslavia   d. 14 de junio de 0976 in Dupntsa or Ramatanitze, Bulgaria
Mother: Sofia De Armenia, b. 948 in Armenia, Seljuk   

Family 1: Marija ,      
Family 2: Marija of Bulgaria ,    b. in Byzantium (Constantinople), Istanbul, Turkey    d. desde 1029 hasta 1031 in Bulgaria
  1. Alusian Cometopuli of Bulgaria, b. um 1000 in Veliko Tarnovo, Veliko Tarnovo Province, Bulgaria     d. AFT 1068 in Yugoslavia
  2. Troian of Bulgaria , b. ABT 990 in Ohrid, Montana Province, Bulgaria     d. 19 MAY 1038 in Constantinople, Byzantium Empire, Turkey
Sources:
  1. Title: rootsweb > Famille Pinsonnault: Ivan Wladislaw Comitopuli BULGARIE DE L'OUEST
    Publication: Name: https://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=pinsonnault&id=I69820;
    Note: ID: I69820 Name: Ivan Wladislaw Comitopuli BULGARIE DE L'OUEST Surname: Bulgarie de l'Ouest Given Name: Ivan Wladislaw Comitopuli Prefix: Tsar Sex: M Birth: c. 966 in Ohrid, Macédoine, Bulgarie Death: c. Fév. 1018 in Bataille de Durranchium, Durazzo _UID: 3540AF3B3F891E498F5CB8A2683DC6B1EF3F Change Date: 13 Dec 2008 at 15:58:53 Father: Aaron Amitopulos BULGARIE DE L'OUEST b: c. 944 in Ohrid, Makedonija, Bulgarie Marriage 1 Marija de BULGARIE b: c. 972 in Ohrid, Macédoine, Bulgarie Children Has Children Ivan Wladislaw BULGARIE DE L'OUEST b: c. 995 in Bulgaria
  2. Title: "Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists who Came to America Before 1700: Lineages from Alfred the Great, Charlemagne, Malcolm of Scotland, Robert the Strong, and Other Historical Individuals," by Frederick Lewis Weis, Walter Lee Sheppard, William R
    Author: Genealogical Publishing Com, 2004
    Publication: Name: https://books.google.com/books?id=3F9nG8aFJ7MC&pg=PA53&lpg=PA53&dq=John+Vladislav,+Tsar+of+West+Bulgaria&source=bl&ots=9mzgoLKnwn&sig=ACfU3U2Gz1aftpZFPsaEW2uInSE1d6dOVA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjgqOCup63iAhXsRd8KHZk-D24Q6AEwC3oECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=John%20Vladislav%2C%20Tsar%20of%20West%20Bulgaria&f=false;
    Note: Full Title: "Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists who Came to America Before 1700: Lineages from Alfred the Great, Charlemagne, Malcolm of Scotland, Robert the Strong, and Other Historical Individuals," by Frederick Lewis Weis, Walter Lee Sheppard, William Ryland Beall, Kaleen E. Beall
  3. Title: The Middle Ages: Information from Procopius Caesarienses1 about a Slav attack on the Balkan Peninsula, in the region of Nis and Thessalonica
    Publication: Name: http://macedonia.kroraina.com/en/ban/ma1.html#18;
    Note: Information from Procopius Caesarienses about a Slav attack on the Balkan Peninsula, in the region of Nis and Thessalonica 6th c. While in the Illyrian town of Serdica (Sofia) Germanus was gathering and arming a host and was most diligently preparing everything for the war2, the land of the Byzantines was invaded by Slavs in numbers never previously seen. They crossed the river Isterus (the Danube) and came to Nis. When several of them strayed from their camp and went wandering each by himself around the lands there, they were captured and bound by some Byzantines, who asked them why and with what intent that Slav force had crossed the river Isterus. They declared that they had come to lay siege to Thessalonica itself and the towns around it. On hearing that, the Emperor was much alarmed and wrote to Germanus to postpone forthwith the march on Italy, and to defend Thessalonica and the other towns, and to repel the Slav attack with all his might. And Germanus set to work. But the Slavs took fright on learning from the prisoners that Germanus was in Serdica, for he had gained a name among those barbarians for the following reason: When Germanus's uncle, Justinian,4 began to rule, the Antae, who lived very close to the Slavs, had crossed the river Isterus with a great army and invaded the Byzantine land. Not long before that, the Emperor had appointed Germanus strategus of the whole of Thrace. It was he that had joined battle with the enemy army, and routed it completely, killing almost all. With this victory, Germanus became famous among all people and especially among those barbarians. That is why the Slavs, as I said, fearing him and also believing that he was in command of a very great army, for he had been sent by the Emperor against Totila and the Goths, immediately gave up their march on Thessalonica and no longer dared to descend onto the plain, but crossed all the Illyrian mountains and reached Dalmatia. Procopii Caesariensis Opera omnia, rec. J. Haury, I-III, Lipsiae 1905-1913, pp. 475-477; cp. Greek Sources on Bulgarian History, III, pp. 134-135; the original is in Greek 1 A Byzantine chronicler of the 6th c., author of works on the age of Emperor Justinian 2 The war which was being prepared against the Goths, who were led by Totila 3 The Slav invasion of the year 550 4 Justinian I, a Byzantine Emperor (R. 527-565) 2 Information from John of Ephesus on the settlement of Slavs in the Balkan Peninsula 6th c. In the third year following the death of Justinian and the accession of Tiberius Triumphator2 to the throne, the accursed Slav people appeared and conquered the whole of Hellas, the area around Thessalonica and the whole of Thrace. They captured many towns and fortresses, plundered and laid waste the country with fire and the sword, and lorded it there as freely as in their own country. This lasted for four years, while the Emperor was fighting the Per­sians. That is why they lorded it over the country until God chased them away. Their plundering reached as far as the outer wall.3 All of the Emperor's herds became their spoil. And even now they live carefree and fearless in the Byzan­tine provinces, pillaging, murdering and burning. They have become rich, and they have gold and silver, whole herds of horses and numerous weapons. They have learned to wage war better than the Byzantines. Johannes von Ephesus, Kirchengeschichte. Aus dem Syrischen von Schonfalder, Munchcn 1862. See K. Irecek, History of the Bulgarians, pp. 58-59. 1 John of Ephesus, a Byzantine chronicler who lived in Constantinople between 558 and 575 2 Tiberius, a Byzantine Emperor (R. 578-582) 3 The wall was built by Emperor Anastasius I early in the 6th c. to protect Constantinople from Slav, Proto-Bulgar and other raids. It reaches from Derkos on the Black Sea to Silimbria on the Sea of Marmara 3 Information about the miracle of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica and the settlement of the Proto-Bulgars Maurus and Kouber1 on the Bitola plain 7th c. On the internecine war secretly plotted against our town by the Bulgarians Maurus and Kouber. As you know, Christ-loving people, in the preceding chapters we told you in part about the Slavs, i.e. about he who is called Hatson and about the Avars. We also related how they devastated almost all Illyricum, namely its provinces: the two Pannonias, also the two Dacias, Dardania, Moesia, Praevalitana, Rhodopa and all other provinces, besides Thrace and the lands by the Long Wall at Constantinople, and the remaining towns and settlements as well. They carried off the whole population to the land lying beyond, towards Pannonia by the Danube River. The main town of that province was once that which is called Syrmium. And so, there, as we have said, the above-mentioned hagan settled all the captive people, already as his dependents. It was from that time that they mixed with the Bulgarians, Avars and other tribes and became a huge and numerous people. Every child inherited from his father his inborn qualities and their people's passion for the Byzantine lands ... And so, Kouber victoriously crossed the aforesaid Danube River with all the above-mentioned people who were with him, came to our lands and took possession of the Keremissian plain. Having settled there, they wanted to return to their native towns, chiefly because they had retained their Orthodox faith: some - to our town of Thessalonica, protected by the martyr, others, to the most fortunate town and queen of cities,8 and still others, to the other towns of Thrace. Miracula Sancti Demetrii, ed. Byeus: AASS, octobris IV, p. 179 C -180 DE; cf. Greek Sources of Bulgarian History, III, pp.158 -159; the original is in Greek 1 Kouber, the Proto-Bulgar chief appointed by the hagan (Khan) of the Avars to head the captured Slw population, who had already mixed with the Proto-Bulgars, the Avars and other tribes. 2 i.e. a reference to the third Avaro-Slav assault on Thessalonica. Hatson was a Slav chieftain 3 i.e. the Avars. 4 Probably at the beginning of the 7th c. 5 The Old Bulgarian Srem, today Sremska Mitrovitsa. 6 Mainly Slavs 7 Most probably the present plain of Bitola 8 i.e. Constantinople 4 Information from the Byzantine writer Ioannes Cameniata1 about some settlements on the plain of Thessalonica paying taxes to the Bulgarian (Scythian) people 9th-10th c. In the middle of this plain there are some mixed settlements: some of them pay taxes to the town (Thessalonica) - these are the so-called Dragoviti and Sagoudati;2 other settlements pay taxes to the neighbouring Scythian people,3 situated nearby. Moreover, the settlements are situated in close proximity to each other. They are in contact with the Scythians through trading. This, in ad­dition to the other circumstances, is of great benefit to the people of Thessalonica, particularly when they are in good relations with each other and are not in arms for a cruel war. For a long time in the past this used to be a matter of concern for both sides. They exchange things mutually essential for a joint way of life, preserving a marvelous and profound peace with each other. Big rivers come from the country of the Scythians and, by dividing the above-mentioned plain, bring great abundance to the town through the revenue from fishing and through passage of ships from the sea up the rivers. These ships en­sure a varied flow of goods along these rivers. loannis Cameniatae De excidio Thessalonicensi, ed. Bonn., pp.495 - 496; V, p.22; the original is in Greek 1 Ioannes Cameniata, a citizen of Thessalonica, who witnessed the Arab conquest of the city in 904. Author of the book The Capture of Thessalonica 2 Slav tribes 3 i.e. the Bulgarians 5 Excerpt from the second Life of Nahum concerning the arrival of the disciples of Cyril and Methodius in the Bulgarian lands, and the big monastery and church built by Nahum in Ohrid on the orders of the Bulgarian Tsar Boris 10th c. The Reverend and Great Father Nahum grew up in Moesia1 and, in ac­cordance with the education /which he received/ from his noble parents, he regarded nobility, wealth and all as the weeds of the field, and he joined Constantine the Philosopher and his brother Methodius, equal to the Apostles, who went about teaching the Moesian and Dalmatian peoples and he followed them everywhere, even as far as ancient Rome ... After the death of Methodius, the archbishopric was assumed by a Latin named Viglisco. Being filled with the heresy of Macedonius and Appolinarius, he corrupted the whole teaching of Methodius and he greatly tortured his dis­ciples and put them in dungeons and chains. And when the saints prayed to God, there was a mighty earthquake, and a second time and a third, and everybody ran out of their homes, and the doors of the dungeons were flung open and the chains on arms and legs were torn asunder. And all marveled at this miracle and called the saints great. But the heathens attributed it to Beelzebub, as the Judeans did with my Christ, and with great torture they chased them away from that land. And they shook the dust from off their feet, as it is said in the Scriptures, and they came to the lands near the Danube. And there, after they had raised by prayer the dead only son of a certain nobleman and had enlightened his household, together with many other /people/ from the village, for which reason they were greatly honoured by all, they at once departed for the great river Danube. There, with prayer and a heavenly miracle they tied three trees with virgin's flower, called on the name of the Holy Trinity and crossed the river and came to Belgrade.4 And there they were greatly honoured by Knyaz Radislav,5 and they gave blessing and joy. Thus, some went towards Moesia, and others to Dalmatia and Dacia, and everywhere they multiplied the word of God a hundred-fold. Nahum and Clement came to the Illyr...
  4. Title: Wikiwand: Battle of Dyrrhachium (1018)
    Author: Primary sources John Skylitzes, Synopsis Historion, Excerpt describing the conquest of Bulgaria in 1014-1018 (Bozhinov, V. and L. Panayotov: Macedonia. Documents and Materials, Sofia 1978; online edition Books about Macedonia, retrieved on September 20, 2008) Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja (partial translation by Paul Stephenson), part 2, chapter XXXVI, p. 341 - an alternative account, according to which Vladislav was killed by Saint John Vladimir (retrieved on September 20, 2008)
    Publication: Name: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Battle_of_Dyrrhachium_(1018);
    Note: The Battle of Dyrrhachium in February 1018 was a part of the Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars. It happened as the Bulgarian tsar Ivan Vladislav tried to establish his power on the southeastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. He led an army against Dyrrhachium (present-day Durrës, in Albania) and besieged it, but was killed during a counterattack of the city’s defenders. This was the final battle of the centuries long struggle between the First Bulgarian Empire and Byzantium. Within months after Vladislav’s death most of his realm was subjugated by the Byzantine emperor Basil II, with the last independent region (Sirmium) subdued in 1019. Historical background After the battle of Kleidion and the death of tsar Samuil in 1014 the Bulgarian state was destabilized by internal turmoil. In the year that followed, tsar Gavril Radomir, Samuel’s son and heir, was killed by his cousin, Ivan Vladislav, at the instigation of the Byzantine emperor. The new Bulgarian ruler negotiated a brief peace as he promised to submit to Basil II in return for the control over Dyrrhachium. Neither side kept its promises and the war broke out again in the autumn of 1015. While Vladislav attacked Dyrrhachium, Basil II captured his capital Ohrid, but later, as a result of the Battle of Bitola, was forced to abandon it. The war continued for two more years without a decisive outcome. In 1017 Basil defeated the Bulgarians at Setina, near Edessa, but failed to exploit his victory and returned to Constantinople. Vladislav used this to launch another assault against Dyrrhachium, which was defended by the strategus Nicetas Pegonites. In the battle that ensued after a sortie of the garrison the Bulgarian tsar was killed and his troops were forced to retreat. This event prompted the majority of the Bulgarian nobles (boyars) to surrender to Basil. The isolated resistance was suppressed and Bulgaria became a Byzantine province.
  5. Title: CHRONICLE OF THE PRIEST OF DUKLJA (Ljetopis' Popa Dukljanina), Chapter 36
    Publication: Name: https://web.archive.org/web/20110514005239/http://homepage.mac.com/paulstephenson/trans/lpd2.html;
    Note: XXXVI. Once he had acceded to the kingdom, the young Vladislas matured into a wise and pious fellow. While Vladimir was still a youth ruling in his father's stead, the aforementioned Samuel, emperor of the Bulgars, mustered a mighty army which he led into the Dalmatian lands which lay beyond the territory of King Vladimir. The king, who was truly a holy man, did not want any of his people to die. Therefore, he withdrew humbly and, with all his people, climbed the Black Mountain. Subsequently, when the emperor arrived he saw that he could not engage the king in battle. Therefore, he left part of his army at the foot of the mountain, and led the rest to attack the city of Ulcinj. Meanwhile, the venomous serpents which inhabited the Black Mountain did great damage, for they began to strike immediately, and whatever they bit died without delay, whether man or beast. So a weeping King Vladimir offered up a prayer to the Lord, entreating the almighty to spare his people from such a pestilential demise. The Lord heard his servant's prayer, and from that day forward none were struck down. Indeed, until the present day if man or beast is bitten by a snake on that mountain he survives healthy and without any other injury. From the day that St. Vladimir prayed until today, it has been as if the snakes on that mountain have no venom. The emperor sent messengers to King Vladimir to encourage him and his followers to descend from the mountain, but the king declined. However, a zupan of that same place, like the traitor Judas sent a message to the emperor, stating: "Master, if it pleases your eminence, I will deliver the king to you"; to which the emperor replied: "if you manage to do this, know that I will make you rich and powerful". The king then gathered all the men with him, and spoke to them thus: "Dearest brethren, it seems fitting to me that I fulfil the adage of the evangelist, which states: 'the good shepherd devotes his being to his flock'. Therefore, brothers, it is better that I devote my being to all of you and deliver my body voluntarily for butchery [333] or slaughter, and thereby deliver you from famine or the sword." After he had said this, and much more he bade farewell to all and approached the emperor. Forthwith, the emperor sent him into exile to the territory of Ohrid, which is called Prespa, where that emperor had his court. Having regrouped his army, he [Samuel] persecuted a prolonged assault on Ulcinj, but failed to achieve anything of note. Consequently he flew into a rage, and proceeded to despoil, burn and plunder the whole of Dalmatia. He set fire to the cities of Lausium and Kotor, as well as villages throughout the whole of the province. It was as if the land was uninhabited. The emperor traversed the land destroying both maritime and mountainous regions as far as Zadar, before returning to his own land through Bosna and Rassa. Meanwhile, Vladimir was held in chains and offered supplication day and night, fasting and praying. An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a vision and comforted him with revelations of what would come to pass, how he would be liberated from his prison, and how, through his martyrdom, he would ascend to the heavenly kingdom and receive the everlasting crown and reward of eternal life. Galvanized by the angelic vision, St. Vladimir held forth with greater and greater prayers and fasts. It came to pass that Samuel's daughter, Cossara, was animated and inspired by a beatific soul. She approached her father and begged that she might go down with her maids and wash the head and feet of the chained captives. Her father granted her wish, so she descended and carried out her good work. Noticing Vladimir among the prisoners, she was struck by his handsome appearance, his humility, gentleness and modesty, and the fact that he was full of wisdom and knowledge of the lord. She stopped to talk to him, and to her his speech seemed sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. Therefore, in no wise on account of lust, but rather profoundly affected by his youth and beauty, and since she heard that he was a king, the scion of royal blood, she desired him. Having bade him farewell, she was intent upon securing his release from bondage. She approached the emperor, threw herself at his feet and addressed him thus: "My Father, my lord, I know that you mean to present me with a husband, as is customary. Now, if it pleases your eminence, I would have you give me the king Vladimir whom you are holding in chains. You should know that I would rather die than accept another man". The emperor was overjoyed when he heard this, and granted her request because he loved his daughter deeply, and knew that Vladimir was of royal lineage. Immediately he sent for Vladimir, and ordered that he be brought before him bathed and clothed in the manner of a king. Then, gazing fondly upon him, and kissing him in front of the nobles of his kingdom, he gave his daughter to him for his wife. Having celebrated his daughter's marriage in a regal manner, the emperor made Vladislas a king, and gave him both the land of his patrimonial kingdom, and the whole territory of Dyrrachium. Then the emperor sent to Vladimir's uncle Dragimir, so that he might come down [from the Black Mountain] and receive the land of Tribunia, where he might gather his people and settle there. This was done. Therefore King Vladimir lived with his wife Cossara in all sanctity and chastity, worshipping God and serving him night and day, and he ruled the people entrusted to him in a Godfearing and just manner. Not long after the emperor Samuel died and his son Radomir acceded to the empire. This brave and courageous man waged numerous wars against the Greeks during the reign of the Greek emperor Basil, and conquered all the lands as far as Constantinople. [Samuel died 6 October 1014. After this Basil II rapidly recovered all the lands lost to Samuel and more. Clearly the account given here attributes too much to [Gabriel] Radomir as his father's successor. However, there is no reason to dismiss the whole episode as unreliable. Radomir may well have, indeed almost certainly would have fought alongside his father as he established his control over various Balkan lands. Cf. J. V. A. Fine, Early Medieval Balkans, pp. 193-8.] Therefore, fearing the loss of his empire, the emperor Basil secretly sent ambassadors to Vladislas, Radomir's cousin, who asked: "Why do you not avenge the blood of your father ? Take our gold and silver, as much as you desire to be at peace with us, and take Samuel's kingdom because he killed your father, his own brother. If you get the upper hand, kill his son Radomir, who now rules the kingdom". Vladislas consented to these words, and on an appointed day while Radomir was out hunting, he rode out with him and struck him dead. In this way Radomir died, and Vladislav, his murderer, ruled in his stead. Once he had taken over the empire, he sent messengers to King Vladimir to demand his attendance. When Queen Cossara heard this she grabbed him saying: "My lord, do not go, lest - God forbid - he does to you as he did to my brother. Send me instead, so that I may see and hear what the king has in mind. If he wants to murder me, let him murder me, so long as you do not perish." Therefore, the queen willingly took her husband's place, and approached her cousin, who received her with honour, but under false pretences. Then, he once again sent messengers to the king, giving him a gold cross and [a pledge of] faith, and saying: "Why do you hesitate to come ? You can see that your wife is with me and has come to no harm. Rather, she is treated with honour by myself and my men. Accept my pledge on the cross and come, so that I might see you and you can return to your land with due honour, gifts and your wife." The king replied to him: "We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, was suspended not on a golden cross, but on a wooden one. Therefore, if both your faith and your words are true, send me a wooden cross in the hands of religious men, then in accordance with the belief and conviction of the Lord Jesus Christ, I will have faith in the life-giving cross and holy wood. I will come." So [the emperor] summoned two bishops and a hermit and, concealing his bad faith from them, gave them the wooden cross and sent them to the king. When they reached the king they greeted him and gave him the oath and cross. Accepting the cross, the king prostrated himself on the ground in reverence, kissed it and clutched it to his chest. He then collected a few followers, and set off to the emperor. Meanwhile the emperor had given instructions that ambushes be set along the route so that as the king passed by they would leap out from the roadside and kill him. However, almighty God, who had cared for His servant from his infancy, did not wish to remain dormant above these men, but sent His angels to guard them. Thus, as the king passed through the area of the ambushes, his enemies that he was accompanied by soldiers who appeared to have wings who were carrying trophies in their hands. When they realised that these were the Lord's angels all of them fled home. The king carried on to the emperor's court, at a place called Prespa. As soon as he arrived he offered prayers to the God on high, as was his custom. In this way the emperor realised that the king had arrived, and flew into a towering rage. He had been sure in his heart that he [the king] would be murdered en route, that is before he reached him, so that he should not appear to be implicated in or consent to the death. [This was important] because he had given him [the king] his word, and entrusted the cross to the hands of the bishops and the hermit, so that he could set the ambushes for him along the route. Therefore, when he saw that his despicable deed had been exposed [Vladislav] sent swordsmen to decapitate him. While the king prayed the soldiers surrounded him. When the king notice...
  6. Title: Foundation for Medieval Genealogy: IVAN VLADISLAV, son of AARON [Kometopoulos]
    Publication: Name: http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BULGARIA.htm#IvanVladislavdied1018B;
    Note: IVAN VLADISLAV, son of AARON [Kometopoulos] & his wife --- (-killed in battle Durazzo Feb 1018). Zonaras records that "fratrem Aaronem cum omni familia" was killed by Samuil, with the exception of "uno…filio…Joannes Sphandosthlavus." Lupus Protospatarius records that "Samuel rex" died in 1015 and was succeeded by his son, but that the latter was killed in 1016 by "suo consobrino filio Aronis" who reigned in his place. Zonaras records that "Gabrielem filium, qui et Romanus dicebatur" succeeded Samuil in "principatu Bulgarorum" but one year later was killed by "frater patruelis, Aaronis filius Uladisthlavus Joannis." Cedrenus records that "filius Gabrielus qui et Romanus dicebatur" succeeded Samuil but was poisoned by "Joanne, qui et Bladisthlabus, filio Aaronis" after ruling for one year. He succeeded in 1015 as IVAN VLADISLAV Tsar of the Bulgarians. He reconquered Duklja in 1016 after murdering Knez Ivan Vladimir. Cedrenus records that "Thessalonicensium duce Constantino Diogene" defeated "Joannis et eius patruelem" 9 Jan "indictione 15" and that Ivan was killed while attempting to recapture Durazzo. Cedrenus records that "frater et filius…Cracræ" delivered Adrianople to Emperor Basileios and that they and "Cracram" were created patrikios, that "Dragomuzus" yielded "Strumpitzam" and was made patrikios, and that "Bogdanus interiorum castellorum dominus" submitted and was also created patrikios, while "Davidum patricium Arianitum" left "Scopia" and retired to "castella Stypeium et Prosacum", and that the emperor appointed "Nicephoro patricio Pegonita" as governor of Durazzo. The Chronicle of Matthew of Edessa records that “en l´année 460 [19 Mar 1011/17 Mar 1012]” Emperor Basileios II defeated the Bulgarians and poisoned “le vaillant Alusianus, leur souverain” and took his wife and children to Constantinople, which would appear to refer more probably to the death of Tsar Ivan Vladislav than to his son Alusian. Cedrenus records that Emperor Basileios entered "Ionium…apud Eilisson castellum…caput…totius Bulgariæ," appointed "Eustathium patricium Daphnomelum" as governor, and received the submission of "Joannis Bladisthlabi viduam cum filiis tribus et sex filiabus et duas filias Radomeri, filii Samueli, ac filios quinque" (of whom one had been blinded by "Joanne"). Bulgaria was divided into three themes. m MARIJA, daughter of --- (-after [1029/31]). Zonaras names "Maria…Joannis Uladisthlavi uxor" and adds that the couple had three sons and six daughters. Cedrenus records that "Joannis Bladisthlabi viduam cum filiis tribus et sex filiabus…" submitted to Emperor Basileios II (in 1018), adding that the couple had three other sons, of whom two had escaped "in montem Tmuroum." Cedrenus records that "Mariam Joannis quondam uxorem" was sent to Constantinople "cum filiis suis" with gifts. She settled in Constantinople where she adopted the name ZOE and became patrikia in 1019. Cedrenus records that "Prusianus Bulgarus magister…mater eius" was exiled by Emperor Romanos Argyros, dated to [1029/31]. Ivan Vladislav & his wife had [nine] children:
  7. Title: Wikiwand: Ivan Vladislav of Bulgaria
    Publication: Name: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Ivan_Vladislav_of_Bulgaria;
    Note: Ivan Vladislav (Bulgarian: Иван Владислав) ruled as emperor (tsar) of Bulgaria from August or September 1015 to February 1018. The year of his birth is unknown; he was born at least a decade before 987, but probably not much earlier than that. Saved from death by his cousin Gavril Radomir, the Bulgarian Emperor, in 976, Ivan Vladislav murdered him in October 1015 and seized the Bulgarian throne. Due to the desperate situation of the country following the decades-long war with the Byzantine Empire, and in an attempt to consolidate his position, he tried to negotiate truce with the Byzantine emperor Basil II. After the failure of the negotiations he continued the resistance, attempting unsuccessfully to push the Byzantines back. During his period of rule, Ivan Vladislav tried to strengthen the Bulgarian army, reconstructed many Bulgarian fortresses and even carried out a counter-offensive, but he died at the Battle of Dyrrhachium in 1018. After his death his widow, Empress Maria, the Patriarch and most of the nobility finally surrendered to Basil II, who soon suppressed the last remnants of resistance and brought about the end of the First Bulgarian Empire. Ivan Vladislav left a mixed heritage, varying from a reputation of being a ruthless murderer to a hero defending his country as best as he could. The descendants of Ivan Vladislav entered the Byzantine nobility and rose to the highest ranks of the hierarchy. Two women of his family became empresses of the Byzantine Empire and others became military commanders or high-ranking officials. He was an ancestor of the Byzantine emperor John II Komnenos. Life before the accession of the throne Ivan Vladislav was the son of Aron, the brother of Emperor Samuel (r. 997–1014) of the Cometopuli dynasty. In 976 or 987 Samuel ordered his brother Aron executed for treason together with his entire family near Razmetanitsa. Ivan Vladislav was the only survivor, being spared through the intercession of his cousin, Samuel's son Gavril Radomir. His life during the subsequent decades and until his accession is unknown. Assumption of power By 1015, Bulgaria had been embroiled in almost thirty years of war with the Byzantine Empire, and Gavril Radomir had succeeded Samuel, who died on 6 October 1014 after the disastrous Battle of Kleidion. However, from the outset Radomir's position was insecure: Ivan Vladislav, as a son of the elder of the Cometopouli brothers, could lay claim on the throne based on seniority. During that time the Byzantine Emperor Basil II campaigned deep into Bulgarian territory. He retook the previously lost town of Voden (Edessa) and laid siege to the massive fortress of Maglen, situated to the north-west. Gavril Radomir did not have enough forces and was unable to interfere and could only watch the course of the events from the nearby Lake Ostrovo. His inability to cope with the Byzantine threat aroused discontent among the nobility and Ivan Vladislav became their chosen leader. The fall of Maglen sealed Gavril Radomir's fate—in the late summer of 1015, while hunting near Ostrovo (Arnissa), he was murdered by his cousin, perhaps at the behest of Byzantine agents. Ivan Vladislav then seized the Bulgarian throne and took steps to ensure his position against potential rivals. Emperor First months of the reign After assuming the throne, Ivan Vladislav immediately sent a delegation to Basil II, which arrived five days after the fall of Maglen. In his letter, Ivan Vladislav notified Basil that he had personally murdered Gavril Radomir and had seized all the power in the country and promised Basil deep humility and obedience, an act of submission which some in the nobility supported. After Ivan Vladislav firmly secured his hold on the throne, however, he openly declared to be against any kind of compromise with the Byzantines and quickly began to follow the determined policy of his predecessors against the ongoing Byzantine conquest. Basil II soon understood that Ivan Vladislav's letter was a ruse and plotted a retaliatory action, bribing the kavkhan Theodore, who was in Byzantine captivity, to murder the Bulgarian ruler. Theodore in turn paid a trusted man in Ivan Vladislav's employ to commit the murder, but in the event the assassin actually killed Theodore himself. In the meantime Basil II continued his march, forcing the Bulgarian emperor to retreat to the Albanian mountains, and advanced into the heart of the Bulgarian state. The Byzantines took the capital Ohrid and burned the imperial palaces; news, however, arrived that Ivan Vladislav had laid siege to Dyrrhachium and that to the south the Bulgarian general Ibatzes had defeated the Byzantine rear army near Bitola. With his supply routes cut, Basil II had to retreat back to Thessalonica leaving a small garrison in Ohrid, which was swiftly retaken by the Bulgarians. Back in his base at Mosynopolis, Basil divided the Byzantine army to harass the areas of Strumitsa and Sofia. In January 1016 the Byzantine emperor returned to Constantinople. Consolidation Meanwhile, Ivan Vladislav consolidated his positions in the mountains of Albania and Macedonia. As early as October 1015 he began the reconstruction of many strongholds destroyed during the war, including the fortress at Bitola (as testified in the Bitola inscription). In 1016 he invited his vassal Prince Jovan Vladimir of Doclea, who was married to Gabriel Radomir's sister Theodora Kosara, to come to his court. The emperor probably desired to seize the prince and so secure his western flank. The Prince was determined to attend the invitation of Tsar, but his wife Theodora Kosara did not trust the murderer of her brother, and fearing for her husband's life persuaded him not to go. Ivan Vladislav however vowed not to threaten his vassal's life, and sent him a golden cross as a proof of good will. Jovan Vladimir still hesitated, saying that God was nailed to a wooden not golden cross, but Ivan Vladislav repeated his vow and gave him a guarantee of safe-conduct, also guaranteed by the Bulgarian patriarch David. Eventually Jovan Vladimir travelled to the court of the Tsar in Prespa, but upon his arrival on 22 May, he was immediately beheaded, and the emperor refused to allow the burial of his body. It was not until a number of miraculous events related to the corpse of the prince were observed that Vladislav returned the body to Kosara. In the spring of 1016 Basil II led his armies along the Struma valley and besieged the strong fortress of Pernik. The fort's defence was headed by the capable commander Krakra, who remained loyal to the Bulgarian cause. As all the previous attempts against Pernik, the 88-day siege was a failure, costing the Byzantines many casualties before they were forced to retreat south and regroup at Mosynopolis. Fighting in 1017 In the early days of 1017 the Byzantine emperor renewed his campaigns. He sent David Arianites and Constantine Diogenes to pillage along the River Vardar and captured the castle of Longos. After that he marched south and besieged Kastoria. Under the walls of the town Basil II received messages from Tzitzikios, the Byzantine strategos of Dorostolon (Silistra), that Ivan Vladislav had sent Krakra to negotiate assistance from the Pechenegs and that they were crossing the Danube. The Byzantine emperor immediately abandoned the siege and hurried northwards, but in the vicinity of Lake Ostrovo he learned that the Pechenegs were unwilling to risk war. Returning south, Basil II captured Setina, where Samuel used to have a palace and acquired for himself the large amount of provisions that were stored there. Ivan Vladislav, who was closely monitoring the Byzantine movements, ambushed the troops who were under the command of Constantine Diogenes, who would have perished had not Basil II come to relieve him. According to John Skylitzes, the Emperor charged alone in front of his army to Diogenes' rescue. When the Bulgarians saw him, they shouted "Run, the Emperor" ("Βεγεῖτε Τσαῖσαρ") and retreated in panic.[13] Contented with their victory, the Byzantines moved on to Voden and returned to Constantinople. Death In the early 1018 Ivan Vladislav besieged Dyrrhachium, but in February he was killed under the walls of the city. The accounts of his death are contradictory. According to some he became victim of a plot and was killed by his servants; according to others, he perished in battle. The Bulgarian additions to the Skylitzes Chronicle are more detailed, saying that Ivan Vladislav dueled with the strategos of Dyrrhachium, the patrikios Niketas Pegonites, on horseback, and while fighting, two Byzantine infantrymen from the audience rushed to the emperor and wounded him mortally in the belly. A later Byzantine historian claimed that the duel was fair and Pegonites stabbed Ivan Vladislav in the chest with his spear, killing him instantly. The Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja reports an altogether different story: while having a meal in his camp, the emperor was attacked by an unknown soldier, in whom Ivan Vladislav seemed to have recognized the murdered Jovan Vladimir. Terrified, he cried for help but no one rushed to his rescue and the unknown soldier mortally wounded the Bulgarian ruler. His death marked the effective end of the Bulgarian Empire. Ivan Vladislav's sons were young and inexperienced, and even the strongest Bulgarian leaders doubted the advisability of further resistance. Upon learning of the death of the Tsar, Basil II left Constantinople. In Adrianople he was met by the brother of Krakra who acknowledged Byzantine authority. His example was followed by the larger part of the Bulgarian nobility who pledged loyalty to Basil II, giving up their fortresses. In Serres, Krakra along with the commanders of 35 castles met the emperor and surrendered, and in Strumitsa he received a message sent by the Empress-dowager Maria to negotiate the surrender of the capital and the country. Basil II richly awarded tho...
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