# Smilets of Bulgaria > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Smilets_of_Bulgaria > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Smilets_of_Bulgaria.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smilets_of_Bulgaria > Source revision: 1297933847 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Tsar of Bulgaria from 1292 to 1298 Smilets Tsar of Bulgaria Reign 1292–1298 Predecessor George I of Bulgaria Successor Ivan II of Bulgaria Died 1298 (1299) Spouse Smiltsena Palaiologina Issue Marina Smilets of Bulgaria Teodora of Bulgaria, Queen of Serbia Ivan II of Bulgaria **Smilets** ([Bulgarian](/source/Bulgarian_language): Смилец) reigned as [tsar of Bulgaria](/source/Tsar_of_Bulgaria) from 1292 to 1298. ## Life Although Smilets is credited with being descended "from the noblest family of the Bulgarians", his antecedents are completely unknown. Judging by the landholdings of Smilets’ brothers Radoslav and Vojsil, the family held extensive lands between the [Balkan Mountains](/source/Balkan_Mountains) and [Sredna Gora](/source/Sredna_Gora). Coat of arms of Smilets Before ascending the throne replacing [George I](/source/George_I_of_Bulgaria) in 1292, Smilets had married daughter of the *[sebastokratōr](/source/Sebastokrator)* [Constantine Palaiologos](/source/Constantine_Palaiologos_(half-brother_of_Michael_VIII)), a half-brother of Emperor [Michael VIII Palaiologos](/source/Michael_VIII_Palaiologos). Apart from the information that Smilets became emperor of Bulgaria according to the wishes of [Nogai Khan](/source/Nogai_Khan), we know nothing of the circumstances of Smilec's accession. Smilets was crowned by Patriarch [Joachim III](/source/Joachim_III_of_Bulgaria). Joachim was executed for treason in 1300 by emperor [Theodore Svetoslav](/source/Theodore_Svetoslav_of_Bulgaria), George I's son, and historian [John Van Antwerp Fine Jr.](/source/John_Van_Antwerp_Fine_Jr.) theorizes that the alleged treachery might be linked to the obscure period when Smilets overthrew George Terter I.[1] The reign of Smilets has been considered the height of Mongol overlordship in Bulgaria. Nevertheless, Mongol raids may have continued, as in 1297 and 1298. Since these raids pillaged parts of [Thrace](/source/Thrace) (then entirely in Byzantine hands), perhaps Bulgaria was not one of their objectives. In fact, in spite of the usually pro-Byzantine policy of Nogai, Smilets was quickly involved in an unsuccessful war against the [Byzantine Empire](/source/Byzantine_Empire) at the beginning of his reign. About 1296/1297 Smilets married his daughter [Theodora](/source/Theodora_Smilets_of_Bulgaria) to the future [Serbian King](/source/Kingdom_of_Serbia_(medieval)) [Stefan Dečanski](/source/Stefan_De%C4%8Danski), and this union produced Serbian king [Stefan Dušan](/source/Stefan_Du%C5%A1an). In 1298 Smilets disappears from the pages of history, apparently after the beginning of [Chaka's](/source/Chaka_of_Bulgaria) invasion. Smilets may have been killed by Chaka or died of natural causes while the enemy advanced against him. Smilets was briefly succeeded by his son [Ivan II](/source/Ivan_II_of_Bulgaria). [Smilets Point](/source/Smilets_Point) in [Antarctica](/source/Antarctica) is named after Smilets of Bulgaria. ## Family Smilec was married to an unnamed Byzantine princess, daughter of *sebastokratōr* [Constantine Palaiologos](/source/Constantine_Palaiologos_(half-brother_of_Michael_VIII)). She was called just *[Smiltsena](/source/Smiltsena_Palaiologina)* ([Bulgarian](/source/Bulgarian_language): Смилцена; *the wife of Smilets*). By her he had at least three children: 1. [Ivan II](/source/Ivan_II_of_Bulgaria), who succeeded as emperor of Bulgaria 1298–1299/1300 1. [Teodora of Bulgaria, Queen of Serbia](/source/Teodora_of_Bulgaria%2C_Queen_of_Serbia) 1. [Marina](/source/Marina_Smilets_of_Bulgaria) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Fine 1987](#CITEREFFine1987), p. 228 ## Sources - Fine, J. (1987). [*The Late Medieval Balkans, A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest*](https://archive.org/details/latemedievalbalk00fine). [University of Michigan Press](/source/University_of_Michigan_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-472-10079-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-472-10079-3). ## External links - [Detailed list of Bulgarian rulers](http://sitemaker.umich.edu/mladjov/files/bulgarian_rulers.pdf) Preceded by George Terter I Tsar of Bulgaria 1292–1298 Succeeded by Ivan II v t e Bulgarian monarchs First Empire (680–1018) Asparuh Tervel Sevar Kormisosh Vineh Telets Sabin Umor Toktu Pagan Telerig Kardam Krum Omurtag Malamir Presian I Boris I Vladimir Simeon I Peter I Boris II Roman Samuel Gavril Radomir Ivan Vladislav Rebels against the Byzantines Presian II Petar Delyan Tihomir Alusian Constantine Bodin Second Empire (1185–1422) Peter II Ivan Asen I Kaloyan Boril Ivan Asen II Kaliman Asen I Michael Asen I Kaliman Asen II Mitso Asen Rostislav I Constantine I Jacob Svetoslav Michael Asen II Ivaylo Ivan Asen III George Terter I Smilets Ivan II Chaka Theodore Svetoslav George Terter II Michael Asen III Ivan Stephen Ivan Alexander Michael Asen IV Ivan Asen IV Ivan Sratsimir Ivan Shishman Ivan Asen V Constantine II Rebels against the Ottomans Fruzhin Ivan Shishman II Rostislav II Modern Bulgaria (1878–1946) Principality (1878–1908) Alexander I Ferdinand I Tsardom (1908–1946) Ferdinand I Boris III Simeon II Authority control databases International VIAF GND WorldCat People Deutsche Biographie --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Smilets of Bulgaria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smilets_of_Bulgaria) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smilets_of_Bulgaria?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.