WI: Isaac II Angelos killed at the Battle of Tryavna

Interest in an ATL about the Second Bulgarian Empire?


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The Battle of Tryavna in 1190 was something that I randomly came across recently. Apparently, it was quite a blow to the Byzantines and a morale booster for the ascendant Second Bulgarian Empire. The Bulgarians managed to capture the golden helmet of the Byzantine emperors, the crown, and the Imperial Cross. I have not been able to find the number of losses but apparently the Byzantines had heavy losses during this battle.

Isaac II Angelos barely escaped with his life at this battle. What if he was killed during the charge by the Bulgarians in the Tryavna Pass?
 
Bumping for interest. I know there are some people on here that are really into history of the Byzantine era....
 
Well for one, OTL's Alexios IV would succeed his father as TTL's Alexios III. However his reign would most likely be in the minority since he was 8 years old at this time. Which means a regency led by Isaac's second wife, Margaret (Maria) of Hungary.

Then again, considering how politics work in Byzantium, this could probably end badly...
 
Well for one, OTL's Alexios IV would succeed his father as TTL's Alexios III. However his reign would most likely be in the minority since he was 8 years old at this time. Which means a regency led by Isaac's second wife, Margaret (Maria) of Hungary.

Then again, considering how politics work in Byzantium, this could probably end badly...
I think that this would make it easier for OTL Alexios III Angelos to get to the throne ITTL considering his nephew is just a child. The situation in Byzantine Empire around this time was not great, IIRC. You state this this could probably end badly but I am curious as to how it could get worse.
 
I think that this would make it easier for OTL Alexios III Angelos to get to the throne ITTL considering his nephew is just a child. The situation in Byzantine Empire around this time was not great, IIRC. You state this this could probably end badly but I am curious as to how it could get worse.

Alexios III looks like the most likely candidate. He would get to the throne easily enough (staying on the throne for long is a different kettle of fish, though). But I also don't think this early replacement of Isaac with his even less competent brother would end well. I'd expect further losses to the Bulgarians and Serbs due to Alexios' incompetence, cowardice, and the inevitable turmoil that follows the Emperor's death. And from there on it only gets worse; a rapid decline in imperial authority, the corruption, decadence and wastefulness Alexios became infamous for, new dangers from the West (if he ever even deals with the more immediate threats from the north)...
 
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