Lardea was captured by the Byzantines along with Ktenia in 1278 during the Uprising of Ivaylo. In 1304, emperor Theodore Svetoslav (r. 1300–1321) regained north-eastern Thrace including Lardea for Bulgaria. The fortress became part of the enlarged Despotate of Kran, which served as the appanage of Aldimir, a Bulgarian noble loyal to his nephew Theodore Svetoslav.