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The Bulgarian policy in the Balkans during the first half of the 13th century

• Καραγιαννόπουλος, Ιωάννης

The Bulgarian policy of the first half of the 13th century in the south Balkan went through two phases. In the first one, with tzar Kalojan on the head, it showed no subtlety or refinement. Kalojan struk with cruelty his adversaries, concluded only temporary peace with them, changed abruptly his policy towards them, with final result the reanimation of the old hostility between Greeks and Bulgars. If he showed a greater deal of cunning towards the Greek population, the simple possibility of a steady Greek-bulgarian collaboration would be perhaps transformed to a reality. The second phase occurs in the reign of Ivan Äsen II. Ivan Asen, a politicaly and diplomaticaly incoparably greater personality than Kalojan,succeeded in making his State the biggest Balkan force of the time. Nevertheless he did not succeed fully to take advantage of the contrasts of his enemies to each other. He did not moreover, especially in the last time of his reign,show steadiness and consistency in his policy and could not therefore obtain positive and durable diplomatical gains. An important role in frustrating his plans certainly plaid the fact that in the person of the Emperor of Nikaia Ioannis Vatatzes he found an equally skilful adversary. Of great importance is the fact, that the amicable policy of Ivan Asen towards the Greeks bore quicly abundant fruits. If this policy had been inaugurated by the time of Kalojan, it would have been ripe by the time of Ivan Asen II and become a political reality. Then the fates of the Balkan peninsula, based on a close Greek-bulgarian collaboration would be quite different in the time which came after.

• History and Archaeology
• Political Science

• Ιστορία
• Πολιτική επιστήμη

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