Ivan Asen I vs Michael I Rangabe

Ivan Asen I, along with his brother Peter IV, led a successful uprising of Bulgarians and Vlachs against Byzantine rule. The rebellion began in Tarnovo and quickly spread, leading to the restoration of the Bulgarian state.

Ivan Asen I and his brother Peter IV established the Second Bulgarian Empire with its capital at Tarnovo. They were crowned co-emperors, marking the restoration of Bulgarian independence after nearly 170 years of Byzantine rule.

Ivan Asen I was assassinated by his cousin Ivanko, a boyar, during a period of internal conflict. His death temporarily destabilized the Second Bulgarian Empire, but his brother Peter IV continued to rule.

Michael I Rangabe was proclaimed emperor after the death of Nikephoros I in the Battle of Pliska. He was a son-in-law of Nikephoros and a member of the court. His reign was short and marked by military setbacks.

Michael I reversed the iconoclast policies of his predecessor and restored the veneration of icons. He also restored the rights of monks and monasteries that had been persecuted under Constantine V. This aligned him with the iconophile faction.

Michael I led a Byzantine army against the Bulgars under Khan Krum at Versinikia. The battle ended in a decisive Bulgarian victory. The Byzantine army fled, and Michael's reputation was severely damaged.

After the defeat at Versinikia, Michael I abdicated the throne and became a monk under the name Athanasios. He spent the remainder of his life in a monastery, avoiding further involvement in politics. He died in 844.