Michael II Asen
Michael II Asen (c. 1239–1256/1257), son of Ivan Asen II, was tsar of Bulgaria from 1246, succeeding his half-brother Kaliman I at the age of seven. Early in his minority Nicaea and Epirus overran the Vardar valley and western Macedonia.
In 1254 he allied with Ragusa against Serbia and marched against her without gaining territory. After John III Vatatzes died, Michael retook most of the lost Macedonian lands with local support, but Theodore II Laskaris counter-attacked in 1255 and forced peace. Shortly afterward discontented boyars murdered him, and his cousin Kaliman II seized the throne.