Tsar Ivan Vladislav: life and reign

John Vladislav, also frequently called Ivan Vladislav, was tsar of Bulgaria from August or September 1015 to February 1018. He belonged to the Cometopuli dynasty and took the throne after the death of his cousin Gavril Radomir.

John Vladislav was a son of Aaron, one of the Cometopuli, and a nephew of Tsar Samuel. He was the only survivor of Samuel’s order to massacre Aaron’s family. His cousin Gavril Radomir saved him in 987.

In August 1015, John Vladislav became tsar after killing Gavril Radomir during a hunt, according to the Chronicle of Duklja. Subsequently, in 1016, he also killed the Serbian prince Jovan Vladimir, who was Samuel’s vassal and son-in-law.

During his reign, John Vladislav attempted to resist Byzantine aggression. He took steps to delay the Byzantine army’s advance by declaring himself willing to become a vassal. Basil II nevertheless sent assassins, and when they failed, the Byzantine army entered Bulgaria. Vladislav withdrew to Prespa, fortified it and abandoned Ohrid.

In 1016, John Vladislav successfully repelled the Byzantine forces, which withdrew after an unsuccessful 88-day siege of Pernik. In 1017, the Byzantine Empire sought support from the Rus’ and attacked Bulgaria’s north-eastern lands, capturing Preslav and giving the Rus’ substantial booty. John Vladislav’s attempt to enlist the Pechenegs as allies against the Rus’ failed. In the autumn of 1017, he was defeated by Basil II at the Battle of Setina.

In February 1018, John Vladislav besieged the Byzantines at Dyrrhachium, where he was killed either in battle or as the result of a conspiracy. After his death, Bulgaria finally fell under Byzantine rule. His son Presian II was briefly crowned tsar after him, but Bulgaria remained under Byzantine domination. Following Bulgaria’s conquest, John Vladislav’s relatives and descendants were resettled in Asia Minor and Armenia.