Michael Asen I of Bulgaria

Michael II Asen
Еmperor of Bulgaria
A mural Emperor Michael Asen I.
Reign	1246–1256
Predecessor	Kaliman Asen I
Successor	Kaliman Asen II
Born	Between 1238-1241
Died	1256 near Tarnovo
Spouse	Unnamed daughter of Rostislav Mikhailovich
House	Asen dynasty
Father	Ivan Asen II
Mother	Irene Komnene of Epirus

Michael II Asen (Bulgarian: Михаил II Асен) ruled as emperor (tsar) of Bulgaria from 1246 to 1256. He was the son of Ivan Asen II and his third wife Irene Komnene of Epirus (nun Xene), daughter of Theodore I Ducas of the Despotate of Epirus. He was born between 1238 and 1241 and died in 1256.

Michael II Asen was still a child when he ascended the throne in succession to his brother Kaliman Asen I. It is assumed that his mother Eirene took over the government as regent, but there is little evidence to prove this hypothesis. At the news of a second underage monarch on the Bulgarian throne, the neighboring powers, the Empire of Nicaea, the Despotate of Epirus and the Kingdom of Hungary, invaded Bulgaria and annexed significant territories. The losses included Thrace to Nicaea, much of Macedonia to Epirus, and the Belgrade area and the banate of Severin to Hungary. In spite of the losses, in 1247 Bulgaria was forced to aid Nicaea against the Latin Empire.

In 1253 the government of Michael II Asen concluded a commercial and military treaty with the Republic of Ragusa (a.k.a. Dubrovnik) directed against Stefan Uroš I of Kingdom of Serbia. The Bulgarian attempt to conquer Serbia failed completely in spite of an inroad deep into Serbian territory.