Merope (region) explained

In the 14th-century Balkans, Merope (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Μερόπη, Bulgarian: Меропа, Meropa) was a subregion of Thrace in modern Northern Greece and southern Bulgaria. The region lay in the western and middle part of the Rhodope Mountains.^[1]

The term is only found in the writings of Byzantine Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos.^[2] Merope extended to the Nestos River in the west and to the town of Gratianopolis in the east.^[3] Bulgarian historian Plamen Pavlov defines Merope as encompassing the course of the Arda River up north until the Chepelare River and including the fortresses Sveta Irina ("Saint Irene") and Podvis.^[4]

In 1343, John VI Kantakouzenos granted Merope to Bulgarian brigand Momchil for his military assistance in the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347.^{[2] [4]} After Momchil changed sides in the civil war and was ultimately defeated by Kantakouzenos in 1345, Merope returned to Byzantine sovereignty.

Notes and References

1. Book: Делев, Петър (Petar Delev) . История и цивилизация за 11 клас (History and Civilization for 11th Grade) . collective . 19. България при цар Иван Александър (Bulgaria under Emperor Ivan Alexander) . 1996 . bg . Труд, Сирма (Trud, Sirma) . 954-439-701-9 . dead . https://archive.today/20121205153036/http://212.39.92.39/e/prosveta/istoria_11/19.html . 2012-12-05 .
2. Book: Soustal, Peter. Tabula Imperii Byzantini, Band 6: Thrakien (Thrakē, Rodopē und Haimimontos). Vienna. Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. 1991. de. 3-7001-1898-8. 51, 117ff., 354.
3. John V. A. Fine Jr., The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest, 1994,, p. 303-305.
4. Book: Павлов, Пламен . Бунтари и авантюристи в средновековна България . Rebels and Venturers in Medieval Bulgaria . LiterNet . Varna . 2005 . Родопският юнак Момчил и цар Иван Александър . The Rhodopean hero Momchil and Tsar Ivan Alexander . http://liternet.bg/publish13/p_pavlov/buntari/rodopskiiat.htm. bg.