Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago

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The life of Elena Asanina, daughter of Tsar Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria. She was the wife and empress of Theodore II Doukas Laskaris. Though facts about her life are quite sparse, Theodore, whose extensive works make him one of the great intellects of his age, dedicated his Twelfth chapter of his Moral Pieces to the memory of his dead wife.

This video is dedicated to the memory of E. Frances G. Maynard (AD 1925-2022)

Chapters:
00:00 Life of Elena Asanina - Chapter 1
04:47 Death of Elena Asanina - Chapter 2
07:04 Theodore II's Eulogy for Elena - Chapter 3
12:45 Epilogue

Bibliography:
Primary Sources
George Akropolites, The History, Translated by Ruth Macrides, (2007).
Theodore II, Letters
Theodore II, Moral Pieces

Scholarship
Angelov, D. (2019) The Byzantine Hellene: The Life of Emperor
Theodore Laskaris and Byzantium in the Thirteenth Century, Cambridge.
Angelov, D. (2013) 'Theodore II Laskaris, Elena Asenina and Bulgaria',
273-297.

Email
easternromanhistory@gmail.com

Discord
discord.gg/wxVmswV

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Music Credits:
'Euro Strat Summer 1', 'Euro Strat Summer 2', 'Euro Strat Winter 1' 'Euro Strat Winter 2', 'Euro Battle 1', 'Euro Battle 2' by Jeff Van Dyck from Medieval Total War by Creative Assembly.

All images used are for educational purposes, if I have used a piece of art and you would like me to credit you, please contact me and I shall do so.