Despotate of Dobruja

Despotate of Dobruja
Добруджанско Деспотство (Bulgarian)
Dobrudzhansko Despotstvo (Bulgarian)
1356–1411
Flag of Dobruja
Flag around 1350 mentioned by Spanish Franciscan friar probably belongs to Dobruja[A]
Coat of arms of Terter dynasty (ruling despots) of Dobruja
Coat of arms of Terter dynasty
(ruling despots)
The successors of the Second Bulgarian Empire after the death of Ivan Alexander[1]
The successors of the Second Bulgarian Empire after the death of Ivan Alexander[1]
StatusPrincipality
Despotate
CapitalKarvuna (Balchik)
Common languagesBulgarian, Romanian
Religion
Eastern Orthodox
GovernmentHereditary monarchy
Despot / Prince 
• 1340s-1347
Balik
• 1356-1386
Dobrotitsa
• 1385-1389, 1393-1399
Ivanko
Historical eraLate Middle Ages
• Established
1340s
• Conquest and incorporation into the Ottoman Empire
1411
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Second Bulgarian Empire
Ottoman Empire
Today part of Bulgaria
 Romania
 Ukraine

The Despotate of Dobruja or Principality of Karvuna (Bulgarian: Добруджанско деспотство or Карвунско княжество; Romanian: Despotatul Dobrogei or Țara Cărvunei) was a 14th-century quasi-independent Bulgarian polity in the region of modern Dobruja, that split off from the Second Bulgarian Empire under the influence of the Byzantine Empire. The Despotate of Dobruja existed from 1356 to 1411.

The principality's name is derived from the fortress of Karvuna (present-day Balchik, not to be confused with Karnava/Kavarna), mentioned in Bulgarian and Byzantine documents and Italian portolans of the 14th century as its first capital,[citation needed] and located between Varna and Cape Kaliakra.


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  1. ^ Based on Lalkov, Rulers of Bulgaria