Tsar Coloman II Asen

Coloman II Asen, a first cousin of Tsar Michael II Asen, was tsar of Bulgaria in 1256. His origins and reign are subjects of dispute and uncertainty.

According to George Akropolites, Michael II Asen’s murderer was his cousin. A note written in 1258 by the Armenian priest Arakel states that the Bulgarian ruler was killed by his uncle’s son. Kaliman II is considered to have been a son of Sebastokrator Alexander Asen, and Michael II Asen is thought to have had no other uncle. Nevertheless, Kaliman II’s identity is disputed: some authors identify him with Sebastokrator Kaloyan, but more recent historiography rejects this claim.

There is also disagreement about the correct pronunciation of the tsar’s name. Some write and read it as Kaloman, drawing on the name’s Hungarian origin and Latin sources that spell it Coloman. Others call him Kaliman, which is regarded as a Hellenised form of the Hungarian name.

Tsar Kaliman II was crowned in 1256 after Michael II Asen’s death. He soon became caught up in internal struggles and conflicts. The boyars, dissatisfied with the humiliating Treaty of Regina, organised Michael II’s murder and Kaliman II’s accession. However, the new tsar was abandoned by his supporters and fled the capital. Rostislav Mikhailovich, father of the widowed Tsaritsa Anna, then took the throne, and Kaliman II died after a reign of one month.

Kaliman II’s marriage to Anna Rostislavna probably remained childless. According to George Pachymeres, after Kaliman II all male-line representatives of the Asen dynasty died, and power had to pass “by the second manner of swimming”, meaning through the female line. This gave Mitso Asen, a son-in-law of Ivan Asen II, an opportunity to claim the throne.