Reign of Tsar Michael Shishman of Bulgaria in the 1320s

Timeline

1. 1323–1324Tarnovo · BulgariaIn 1323, Michael Shishman, with noble support, overthrew George Terter II and declared himself tsar of Bulgaria, ending the Terter dynasty. He promptly reorganized the court and local administration, and sought stable relations with Byzantium and Serbia to consolidate the new regime.
2. 1325–1327Plovdiv · BulgariaIn the mid-1320s, Shishman reformed taxes and military garrisons, controlling the passes of Thrace and northern Macedonia. He maintained dynastic diplomacy with Byzantine Andronikos III while keeping superficially friendly relations with Serbia, though latent territorial disputes existed in Macedonia and the Velbazhd region.
3. 1328–1330Velbazhd · BulgariaAfter 1328, Shishman and Stefan Dečanski went to war over succession and territorial issues. On July 28, 1330, Shishman led his army into a decisive battle against Serbia at Velbazhd; despite nominal Byzantine support he suffered a crushing defeat and was killed. The Bulgarian Second Empire was gravely weakened and thereafter became a Serbian vassal.