V. Stoyanov explains the name through Turkic balik - 'city', or balïk - 'fish'.[4] But another Turkic etymology can also be indicated. balq – 'shines, sparkles, shines', balqï, Turkish dial. balqïn – 'beautiful, shining', balqïr – 'lightning', or with Turk. Chagatai balga, Kalmyk balig – 'mace'.[5][6]
During the Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347 he supported the regent Anna of Savoy against pretender John VI Kantakouzenos. Balik died in 1347, either during an outbreak of the Black Death or killed during a retaliation campaign led by Umur Beg, on behalf of John V Palaiologos, that destroyed Dobruja's seaports. In 1359, Balik's brother Dobrotitsa was appointed head of a new province created by the Anna of Savoy as his reward for helping her gain the Byzantine throne.[7] He succeeded Balik after he recaptured Karvuna (Balchik) in 1354.[7]
References
^Detrez, Raymond (2014). Historical Dictionary of Bulgaria, Third Edition. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 101. ISBN9781442241794.
^Hupchick, Dennis (2002). The Balkans: From Constantinople to Communism. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 108. ISBN9781403964175.
^Stoyanov, Valeri (2000). История на изучаването на Codex Cumanicus. Кумано-печенежка антропонимия в България през XV в. Sofia. p. 205.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Sevortyan, E.V. (1978). евортян. Этимилогический словарь тюркских язывов. Общетюркские и межтюркские основы на букву (Б). Moscow. pp. 57–58.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)