| Lodovico | |
|---|---|
| Emperor of Bulgaria (titular) | |
| Predecessor | Ivan Stephen? |
| Born | before 1324 |
| Died | after 1363 |
| Spouse | Maria of Taranto |
| House | Šišman |
| Father | Michael Asen III "Šišman" |
| Mother | Ana of Serbia |
Lodovico (as attested in Italian sources; Latin Ludovicus; Bulgarian: Людовик, Ljudovik) was a son of Emperor (tsar) Michael Asen III "Šišman" of Bulgaria (1323–1330) and his first wife, Ana, daughter of King Stefan Uroš II Milutin of Serbia[1] by Elizabeth of Hungary.[2] He may have borne a different name before becoming a catechumen and converting to Catholic Christianity.[3] Although he has been variously identified with any of his three known brothers, Ivan Stephen, Šišman, and Michael, but was probably a distinct person.[4] Recent research has established he is definitely distinct from Ivan Stephen.[5]
- ^ Božilov 1985: 148-149.
- ^ Mladjov 2011: 613-614.
- ^ Mladjov 2011: 615.
- ^ Božilov 1985: 148; Mladjov 2011: 609.
- ^ Mladjov 2011: 609, inter alia. Nikolov-Zikov 2021: 151-170 still ignores the implications of the evidence to the contrary and identifies Lodovico as the new Catholic name of Ivan Stephen.