Battle of Dermantsi

The Battle of Dermantsi, also known as the Battle of the Vit River, was an internal political clash between Tsar Ivan Alexander and Belaur, the despot of Vidin.

After Michael III Shishman died at the Battle of Velbazhd in 1330, Belaur actively supported Ivan Stephen's coronation as tsar of Bulgaria and became the new tsar's chief adviser. He refused to accept Ivan Stephen's removal in 1331 to make Ivan Alexander tsar. In opposition, he rebelled immediately after Ivan Stephen's deposition. The rebellion lasted five years, with varying success. When events began to favour Belaur, he marched towards the capital, Tarnovo, to remove the tsar. His troops were intercepted near Dermantsi.

 The battle ended in victory for Tsar Ivan Alexander. Belaur died. Ivan Alexander placed Michael, the son of Tsar Michael III Shishman by his second marriage to Theodora Palaiologina, on the throne of the Despotate of Vidin. This arrangement lasted until 1356, when Ivan Alexander installed his son by the Wallachian princess Theodora Basarab, Ivan Sratsimir, as tsar in Vidin.