Principality of Karvuna
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The Principality of Karvuna (Bulgarian: Карвунско деспотство or Добруджанско деспотство Romanian: Ţara Cărvunei) was a 14th-century quasi-independent state in the region of modern Dobruja. It emerged as a polity under the influence of the Byzantine Empire, and had a population probably composed of Vlachs, Slavs, Greeks, Gagauz and Tatars.
The principality's name is derived from the fortress of Karvuna (Cărvuna, Carbona, Cavarna), mentioned in the documents and maps of the 14th century as its first capital city, and located between Varna and Cape Kaliakra.
The principality was established around 1320 and its first leader was Balik/Balica, a local feudal lord. A "Metropolitan of Varna and Carbona" was mentioned in 1325. Under Balik's son Dobrotitsa/Dobrotici (1347-1386; ruling with a title of "despot" after 1357) the principality came to its greatest power and extention, the capital being moved to Kaliakra.
Dobrotitsa's son, Ivanko/Ioancu was attacked in 1386 by the Bulgarian tsar Ivan Shishman; helped by his uncle Dan I of Wallachia, he managed to defeat the tsar, but two years later he did not succeed in defending the principality from the Ottoman invasion and died in battle in 1388, although he first attempted to make peace with the Ottomans.
The principality was liberated later that year by Wallachia's prince, Mircea the Elder, and its territory continued to be a disputed land between the Ottomans and Wallachia for over 30 years, until it was occupied by the Ottoman Empire in 1420.
