310:. In late 1209, Strez and Michael may have attempted a joint campaign against Thessaloniki, as they both lost lands to the Latins in what was likely a retaliation raid in late 1209 or early 1210. The failure of this attack prompted Michael to break away from his Bulgarian allies and support the Latins. In early 1211, Strez clashed with the Latins and Epirotes at Thessaloniki and required Boril's assistance after Michael and Henry invaded the western reaches of Strez's realm. In the early summer, the allied Bulgarian army suffered a heavy defeat at Bitola at the hands of Michael, Henry's brother Eustace and Bernard of Katzenellenbogen. Even though it resulted in no territorial losses, it prevented Strez from an expansion to the south. In relation to an anti-
388:
cliff into the Vardar River for his and his guests' entertainment. As the prisoners were falling to their death, Strez would sarcastically shout at them not to get their coats wet. Bulgarian historian Ivan
Lazarov dismisses these allegations as slanderous. In his biography of Strez, he hails the medieval ruler as a "true member of the Asen dynasty" and defends his actions due to him being a "child of his time". Lazarov assesses Strez as a characteristic, vivid personality who put his independence above all.
223:
153:
318:. The title was either conferred to him by Boril as part of their agreement in 1209, or was awarded to Strez by Kaloyan during his rule. In any case, Boril certainly recognized Strez's right to that appellation. There are signs that Strez divided his possessions into administrative units, each headed by a
298:
in 1209 was potentially a great danger to Boril, who could be facing their joint forces. Fearing such a coalition, Boril approached Strez, who was at the time gaining more power and was close to complete independence from Serbia. Strez agreed to a union with his former enemy, though only after Boril
340:
After a series of military failures against the Latins, Boril made peace with Henry in 1213, cemented through two royal marriages. As Boril's vassal, Strez joined the
Bulgarian–Latin union, the short-term goal of which was a double invasion of Serbia. In 1214, the forces of Boril and Henry attacked
198:
As happened to other members of the royal family, Boril's ascension forced Strez and his closest supporters to flee, in that case to neighbouring Serbia, where he was welcomed by the reigning Stefan
Nemanjić (1196–1228) in 1207 or early 1208. Even though Boril requested the extradition of Strez to
299:
reconfirmed his complete autonomy. Strez eliminated the remaining
Serbian troops in his lands in an act that the Serbs saw as devil-inspired treason. It is not impossible that Boril persuaded Strez through military action, though it is more likely that the union was achieved through negotiations.
387:
Contemporary
Serbian sources, such as the hagiography of Saint Sava, are highly critical of Strez's actions. The Serbs accused Strez of recklessness, drunkenness, ungodliness, treason and cruelty. The hagiography of Saint Sava tells of Strez's alleged tendency to have captives thrown from a high
282:
in the south. While Strez quickly gained the support of the local
Bulgarian population and possibly inherited the remaining administration from Boril's rule, Serbian units nevertheless remained in his domains, either to guarantee his loyalty or with the intent to oust him and annex his lands.
364:, though he was possibly murdered in a plot orchestrated by Sava. Historian John V. A. Fine theorizes that Sava may have found supporters among Strez's nobles, some of whom had turned against him and organized his murder, only to defect to Serbia immediately afterwards. According to the
191:, perhaps seeking to capitalize on his ancestral rights to the Bulgarian crown. However, Boril proved to be the more ambitious candidate. Boril persecuted the other candidates for the throne, and Alexius Slav, along with Ivan Asen's sons
1048:Мутафчиев, Петър (1993) . "Владетелите на Просек. Страници из историята на българите в края на XII и началото на XIII век" [The rulers of Prosek. Pages from the history of the Bulgarians in the late 12th and early 13th century].
199:
Bulgaria, the
Serbian ruler hoped to use Strez as a puppet in gaining Bulgarian-held territory. Stefan believed that Strez's royal ancestry and imperial aspirations would make it much easier to impose Serbian rule over Macedonia,
415:). Even though in reality his capital, Prosek, lay far to the south, the castle at Jegunovce may have formed part of Strez's border fortifications, or it may have been the site of his negotiations with Sava and his death.
183:
and
Kaloyan, who were the first three emperors of the Second Bulgarian Empire. However, it is unclear whether through his relation to the early Asens he was a first cousin or a brother of Boril (1207–1218).
211:, all captured by Bulgaria under Kaloyan. At the same time, Boril was unable to take military action against Strez and his Serbian patron, as he had suffered a major defeat at the hands of the Latins
379:, though Boril may have controlled some or all of it in the meantime. The Serbs failed to take advantage of Strez's death as far as they did not manage to acquire any of his former domains.
371:
While Strez's death meant an end to the Latin–Bulgarian campaign, Stefan did not undertake a campaign into
Macedonia due to the proximity of the coalition troops, which had halted at
360:
Even though Sava's diplomacy was of no effect either, Strez died the night after Sava's departure. Serbian sources present the death of Strez as a miracle, Strez being stabbed by an
1149:
341:
Serbia from the east, while Strez's army, deemed in contemporary sources to be "countless", penetrated
Serbian territory from the south and reached the
1139:
1124:
1061:
991:
945:
922:
899:
880:
861:
842:
345:. Facing a major invasion on two fronts, the Serbs were quick to ask for peace. After Stefan's envoys to Strez failed, he sent his brother,
1134:
395:
in the 18th century or later. At least one location throughout Macedonia was tied by the locals with Strez, whom the folk interpreted as a
144:
and then Serbia. Strez died amidst a major anti-Serbian campaign under unclear circumstances, sometimes described as a Serbian plot.
1144:
1088:
1014:
324:. In 1212, Strez was powerful enough to be considered one of the Latin Empire's chief adversaries, along with Boril, Michael and
968:
212:
391:
The name of Strez has become a part of Bulgarian folklore, including a legendary account of his life written down as the
1114:
132:, and Serbian support helped him establish himself as a largely independent ruler in a large part of the region of
118:
111:
873:
Knighthoods of Christ: essays on the history of the Crusades and the Knights Templar, presented to Malcolm Barber
303:
1033:
History of the Bulgarian State in the Middle Ages. Second Bulgarian Empire. Bulgaria Under the Asens (1187–1280)
1029:История на българската държава през средните векове. Второ българско царство. България при Асеневци (1187–1280)
376:
192:
126:
1154:
955:Бакалов, Георги; Куманов, Милен (2003). "СТРЕЗ (неизв.-ок. 1214)" [STREZ (unknown — c. 1214)].
247:
235:
180:
165:
107:
459:
Florin Curta, Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500–1250. Cambridge Medieval Textbook, pp. 377, 385.
292:
1129:
368:
of Saint Sava, in his dying words Strez claimed he was stabbed by a young soldier on the order of Sava.
204:
1119:
176:
1072:
329:
307:
161:
81:
854:
The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest
133:
77:
175:, another noble who would later emerge as a separatist, Strez was a nephew of the Asen brothers
129:
1084:
1057:
1036:
1010:
987:
964:
941:
918:
895:
876:
857:
838:
295:
114:
103:
984:
History of the Bulgarians: Military History of the Bulgarians from Antiquity to Modern Times
325:
259:
1024:
831:
435:
188:
160:
Nothing is mentioned of Strez until the events in the wake of the sudden death of Tsar
140:
to become a Bulgarian vassal and joined forces with his former enemy Boril against the
1108:
404:
216:
94:
32:
826:
350:
263:
251:
231:
172:
168:
141:
99:
65:
1035:] (in Bulgarian). Vol. Том III (2nd ed.). София: Наука и изкуство.
365:
411:
west of Skopje were known to the locals as "Strez's Fortress" (Стрезово кале,
354:
346:
311:
137:
1040:
1009:] (in Bulgarian). София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките.
219:
of Strez in a ceremony which Stefan was hoping would secure Strez's loyalty.
408:
980:История на българите: Военна история на българите от древността до наши дни
222:
152:
320:
208:
60:
266:
valley in the east, where he bordered the lands controlled by Boril, to
246:
valley from Bulgaria. He established himself as a Serbian vassal at the
396:
89:
1075:[Rivalries and bloody struggles for the throne of the Asens].
400:
275:
267:
255:
243:
227:
200:
122:
372:
110:
throne, Strez initially opposed the ascension of his close relative
447:
375:. In 1217, all of Strez's territory was under the Epirote rule of
361:
342:
279:
271:
221:
156:
Genealogical chart of the Asen dynasty, including Strez and Boril.
151:
53:
262:. By 1209, Strez's realm spread over much of Macedonia, from the
1007:
The Family of the Asens (1186–1460). Genealogy and prosopography
242:
In 1208, Strez headed a Serbian force which seized much of the
1003:Фамилията на Асеневци (1186–1460). Генеалогия и просопография
1054:
East and West in the European Middle Ages. Selected Works
302:
In the same year, Strez and Boril had come to peace with
187:
At the time of Kaloyan's death, Strez was in the capital
1073:"Съперничества и кървави борби за престола на Асеневци"
909:Андреев, Йордан; Лазаров, Иван; Павлов, Пламен (1999).
92:
1207–1214) was a medieval, semi-independent Bulgarian
1050:Изток и Запад в европейското Средновековие. Избрано
59:
47:
39:
23:
856:. University of Michigan Press. pp. 175–184.
830:
833:Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500–1250
963:] (CD) (in Bulgarian). София: Труд, Сирма.
737:
735:
733:
731:
712:
710:
708:
641:
639:
637:
635:
582:
580:
487:
485:
483:
481:
479:
477:
1077:Бунтари и авантюристи в средновековна България
940:] (in Bulgarian). Велико Търново: Абагар.
529:
527:
689:
687:
616:
614:
612:
610:
8:
467:
465:
1056:] (in Bulgarian). София: Христо Ботев.
314:council in 1211, Strez is referred to as a
291:Alexius Slav's marriage to the daughter of
543:
541:
539:
20:
1081:Rebels and Venturers in Medieval Bulgaria
961:Electronic edition "History of Bulgaria"
957:Електронно издание "История на България"
932:Андреев, Йордан; Пантев, Андрей (2004).
508:
506:
1083:] (in Bulgarian). Варна: LiterNet.
423:
407:. Some ruins by the Vardar River near
1150:Medieval Bulgarian military personnel
7:
403:who defended the people against the
215:. Stefan went as far as to become a
164:(1197–1207) during his siege of the
136:. However, Strez turned against his
986:] (in Bulgarian). София: Труд.
917:] (in Bulgarian). Петър Берон.
148:Throne contender and Serbian vassal
911:Кой кой е в средновековна България
14:
234:was the site of Strez's capital,
1027:(1972) . Димитър Ангелов (ed.).
894:. St Vladimir's Seminary Press.
915:Who is Who in Medieval Bulgaria
852:Fine, John Van Antwerp (1994).
336:Anti-Serbian campaign and death
1140:People from medieval Macedonia
837:. Cambridge University Press.
1:
1125:13th-century Bulgarian people
890:Velimirović, Nikolaj (1989).
102:and a cousin or a brother of
88:; original spelling: Стрѣзъ;
106:. A major contender for the
1135:Medieval Bulgarian nobility
786:Андреев (1999), pp. 355–356
393:Biography of Prince Stregan
254:), formerly the capital of
1171:
450:sources. Златарски, p. 270
938:Bulgarian Khans and Tsars
934:Българските ханове и царе
304:Michael I Komnenos Doukas
98:. He was a member of the
85:
30:
1145:Bulgarian murder victims
978:Бакалов, Георги (2007).
871:Housley, Norman (2007).
377:Theodore Komnenos Doukas
121:, where he accepted the
1071:Павлов, Пламен (2005).
195:had to leave Bulgaria.
16:Bulgarian sebastokrator
1001:Божилов, Иван (1994).
875:. Ashgate Publishing.
777:Velimirović, pp. 60–62
741:Андреев (1999), p. 356
716:Андреев (2004), p. 183
693:Бакалов (2007), p. 154
681:Андреев (2004), p. 182
645:Андреев (1999), p. 355
604:Андреев (2004), p. 181
586:Андреев (2004), p. 180
556:Андреев (2004), p. 179
533:Андреев (1999), p. 354
521:Андреев (1999), p. 353
430:Rendered as Στρέαζος,
274:in the west, and from
250:fortress (near modern
239:
157:
383:Assessment and legacy
225:
155:
892:The life of St. Sava
419:References and notes
332:, by Henry himself.
1115:12th-century births
357:) to Strez's camp.
330:Theodore I Laskaris
238:, from 1208 to 1214
759:Velimirović, p. 62
574:Velimirović, p. 61
240:
158:
1063:978-954-445-079-3
993:978-954-621-235-1
947:978-954-427-216-6
924:978-954-402-047-7
901:978-0-88141-065-5
882:978-0-7546-5527-5
863:978-0-472-08260-5
844:978-0-521-81539-0
813:Мутафчиев, p. 280
804:Мутафчиев, p. 276
795:Мутафчиев, p. 110
750:Fine, pp. 103–104
672:Fine, pp. 100–101
296:Henry of Flanders
226:The gorge of the
104:Boril of Bulgaria
71:
70:
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278:in the north to
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436:Byzantine Greek
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306:, the ruler of
289:
150:
130:Stefan Nemanjić
52:
26:
17:
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117:. He fled to
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95:sebastokrator
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50:
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42:
38:
35:
34:
33:sebastokrator
29:
22:
19:
1130:Asen dynasty
1094:. Retrieved
1080:
1076:
1053:
1049:
1032:
1028:
1006:
1002:
983:
979:
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956:
937:
933:
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768:Fine, p. 104
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725:Fine, p. 103
721:
702:Fine, p. 101
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270:and perhaps
252:Demir Kapija
241:
232:Demir Kapija
197:
193:Ivan Asen II
186:
173:Alexius Slav
171:. Just like
169:Thessaloniki
159:
127:Grand Prince
100:Asen dynasty
93:
73:
72:
66:Asen dynasty
61:Noble family
54:Polog Valley
43:12th century
31:
18:
1120:1214 deaths
1096:11 November
663:Fine, p. 98
500:Fine, p. 94
366:hagiography
258:separatist
1109:Categories
970:954528613X
355:Saint Sava
347:archbishop
230:at modern
213:at Plovdiv
82:Macedonian
1041:611774943
409:Jegunovce
351:canonized
205:Braničevo
181:Ivan Asen
138:suzerains
134:Macedonia
123:vassalage
108:Bulgarian
78:Bulgarian
829:(2006).
444:Stratius
432:Streazos
405:Ottomans
328:emperor
321:sebastos
209:Belgrade
820:Sources
440:Straces
438:and as
397:voivode
326:Nicaean
312:Bogomil
189:Tarnovo
162:Kaloyan
1087:
1060:
1039:
1013:
990:
967:
944:
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264:Struma
248:Prosek
244:Vardar
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228:Vardar
201:Kosovo
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1098:2010
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1037:OCLC
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373:Niš
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