# Belaur

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Belaur

**Belaur** ([Bulgarian](/source/Bulgarian_language): Белаур) (died 1336) was a [Bulgarian](/source/Bulgarians) noble and *[despot](/source/Despot_(court_title))* of [Vidin](/source/Vidin) and brother of the Bulgarian Emperor [Michael Shishman](/source/Michael_Shishman_of_Bulgaria) (1323–1330). The son of [Shishman of Vidin](/source/Shishman_of_Vidin), he was among the most elaborate [Balkan](/source/Balkan) diplomats of his time. Plamen Pavlov interprets Belaur's name as stemming from the [Hungarian](/source/Hungarian_language) personal name *Béla* and the title *ur* ("prince").[1] It may also come from [Balaur](/source/Balaur), a mythical dragon in Vlach/ Romanian culture, the dragon was supposedly also revered in [Cuman](/source/Cumans) culture, cf. Kipchak "uran, ewren". Vlach-Cuman cultural interactions are known through the Cuman origin of the [Basarab](/source/House_of_Basarab) dynasty and the Vlach identification of the [Asenid dynasty](/source/Asen_dynasty), named after the founder of the dynasty, Bilgun Asen, who carries a Cuman name and title.[2]

He participated in the campaign of Michael Shishman against the [Serbs](/source/Serbs) in the unfortunate [battle of Velbazhd](/source/Battle_of_Velbazhd). He was in command of the reserve together with the *despot* of [Lovech](/source/Lovech) Ivan Alexander and did not participate in the battle. However his troops were enough to prevent a Serbian invasion and he led the Bulgarian delegation which negotiated with the Serbian King [Stefan Decanski](/source/Stefan_Decanski). Belaur actively supported his nephew [Ivan Stefan](/source/Ivan_Stephen_of_Bulgaria), son of Michael Shishman from his first wife [Anna Neda](/source/Anna_Neda_of_Serbia) to succeed the Bulgarian crown and was the prime adviser of the new Emperor. He refused to acknowledge the dethronement of Ivan Stefan in 1331 and confronted with his other nephew [Ivan Alexander](/source/Ivan_Alexander_of_Bulgaria) who was son of his sister [Keratsa Petritsa](/source/Keratsa_Petritsa). In 1332 he detached the Vidin Province from the central government in [Tarnovo](/source/Tarnovo) and caused serious troubles for Ivan Alexander who had to fight against the [Byzantines](/source/Byzantine_Empire) in [Thrace](/source/Thrace).

After he defeated the Byzantines at [Rusokastro](/source/Battle_of_Rusokastro) in 1332 Ivan Alexander concentrated on his uncle. The war between the two waged for 5 years. In 1336 the Emperor sent 10,000 soldiers who defeated Belaur in a battle near the river [Vit](/source/Vit_(river)) and finally restored his authority over Vidin.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Plamen Pavlov](http://liternet.bg/publish13/p_pavlov/buntari/metezhnici.htm)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Voynikov, Zhivko. ["SOME BULGARIAN NAMES AND APPELATIONS DURING THE SECOND BULGARIAN EMPIRE"](https://www.uni-vt.bg/res/11694/42._Zhivko_Voynikov.pdf) (PDF). {{[cite journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_journal)}}: Cite journal requires |journal= ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#missing_periodical))

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