The sister he sent to Bayezid's harem cost him his realm

Child Kings of History · Sep 2, 2026 · 15m

A Bulgarian emperor, facing Ottoman expansion, sends his sister to the Sultan's harem as a peace offering. But his refusal to fully serve his new overlords sets him on a collision course.

The sister he sent to Bayezid's harem cost him his realm

This episode explores the reign of Ivan Shishman, a Bulgarian emperor who inherited a fractured realm and navigated the rising power of the Ottoman Empire. What choices did he make to preserve his kingdom, and what were the consequences?

Person: Ivan Shishman

Date: 1350 (approximate birth)

Location: Bulgaria

Event: Battle of Maritsa (1371)

Status…