Background
Before ascending the throne in 1292, Smilec had married an unnamed Byzantine princess, the daughter of the sebastokratōr Constantine Palaiologos, a half-brother of Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos.
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Smilets Bulgaria
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The date of his birth is unknown. Although Smilec is credited with being descended "from the noblest family of the Bulgarians", his antecedents are completely unknown. Apart from the information that Smilec became emperor of Bulgaria according to the wishes of Nogai Khan, we know nothing of the circumstances of Smilec"s accession.
Accordingly, the reign of Smilec has been considered the height of Mongol overlordship in Bulgaria.
Nevertheless, Mongol raids may have continued, as in 1297 and 1298. Since these raids pillaged parts of Thrace (then entirely in Byzantine hands), perhaps Bulgaria was not one of their objectives.
In fact, in spite of the usually pro-Byzantine policy of Nogai, Smilec was quickly involved in an unsuccessful war against the Byzantine Empire at the beginning of his reign. In 1298 Smilec disappears from the pages of history, apparently after the beginning of Chaka"s invasion.
He may have been killed by Chaka or died of natural causes while the enemy advanced against him.
Smilets Point in Antarctica is named after Smilets of Bulgaria. Smilec was married to an unnamed Byzantine princess, daughter of sebastokratōr Constantine Palaiologos. She was called just Smiltsena (Bulgarian: Смилцена.
The wife of Smilets).
By her he had at least three children:
Ivan II, who succeeded as emperor of Bulgaria 1298–1299/1300
Teodora of Bulgaria, Queen of Serbia
Marina.
