Battle of Edirne

In 1330, Michael III Shishman Asen died at the Battle of Velbazhd, defeated by the Serbs through deception. King Stefan Dečanski imposed Ivan Stephen, the dead tsar's son and a Serbian puppet, on the peace envoys from Tarnovo. After only eight months, however, Ivan Stephen was deposed in a palace coup in 1331, and Ivan Alexander ascended the throne. A short time later, Shishman II, the son of Michael Shishman, appeared in the capital. He was received by the emperor, who recognised his title of "Tsar of Bulgaria". Dissatisfied, Ivan Alexander sent Andronikos III a warning letter demanding that Shishman II be handed over. The emperor nevertheless refused to comply. Angered by this refusal, the Bulgarian tsar began mobilising his troops. Fearing that he could not withstand another defeat, Andronikos appealed to the Turkish emirs who had taken much of his territory in Asia Minor. Ivan Alexander nevertheless successfully assembled his troops near Sliven. They were intercepted near Edirne, where the battle took place.

The winner of the battle is unclear. Nevertheless, Bulgaria and Byzantium concluded a peace treaty.