Ivan Alexander rules as Emperor (Tsar) of Bulgaria from 1331 to 1371, during the Second Bulgarian Empire.

The date of his birth is unknown.

He dies on February 17, 1371.

The long reign of Ivan Alexander is considered a transitional period in Bulgarian medieval history.

Ivan Alexander begins his rule by dealing with internal problems and external threats from Bulgaria's neighburs, the East Roman (Byzantine) Empire and Serbia, as well as leading his empire into a period of economic recovery and cultural and religious renaissance.

However, the emperor is later unable to cope with the mounting incursions of Ottoman forces, Hungarian invasions from the northwest and the Black Death.

In an ill-fated attempt to combat these problems, he divides the country between his two sons, thus forcing it to face the imminent Ottoman conquest weakened and divided.