The Rise and Fall of the Second Bulgarian Empire That Dominated the Balkans

The Rise and Fall of the Second Bulgarian Empire That Dominated the Balkans

The founding of the Second Bulgarian Empire in the late 12th century saw the restoration of Bulgarian independence from Byzantine rule. Under the leadership of effective rulers such as Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II, Bulgaria conquered most of southeastern Europe from the Byzantines. The Bulgarian state was soon destabilized by the Mongol invasions and found itself frequently at war with other European neighbors. After a resurgence in the mid-14th cen…