Mircea cel Batran (real name Mircea I of Wallachia) was born in 1355 and was among the most important rulers of Wallachia. He received the name "Mircea the Elder" after he died because he mustn't be confused with his grandson, Mircea II or "Mircea the Younger".

Biography and Career :

During his reign he strengthened the power of the state and organized the country in an administrative way so that he could obtain an economic development and raise the country's incomes. He minted silver money and many talk about the amount of coins that he was able to produce.

He also offered trade privileges to Polish and Lithuanian merchants. He gathered a great army and fortified the Danube citadels and of course didn't forget about the Church.

Because he wanted to keep the independenc e of the country he formed alliances with Vladislav the II of Poland in 1389 and Sigismund of Luxemburg, king of Hungary. He needed them to fight against the Ottoman Empire.

In October 1394 he fought with Baiazid I at Rovine and even if his army was four times smaller that the Turk's he won the battle. After that and with the help of Sigismund of Luxemburg he got rid of Vlad Uzurpatorul who was supported by Ottomans.

In 1397 and 1400 he won again battles against the Ottomans who were returning from Transylvania after they had gone there to steal.

Timur Lenk beat Baiazid I in Ankara in 1402 and Mircea organized with a Hungarian emperor a campaign against the Turks. In 1404 he was again ruling over Dobrogea and he helped Musa to occupy the Ottoman throne.

Leunclavius, a German historic called him "the bravest and ablest of the Christian princes". Mircea had reigned for 32 years. He won many battles against the Ottoman Empire and is known also like an art lover. He had built the Cozia Monastery and other beautiful monuments.

At the end of his reign he had signed a treaty with the Ottoman Empire in which they recognized Valahia as a free and independent territory in return of 3000 gold pieces annually.

He passed away on January 31, 1418 and was buried in Cozia Monastery. The throne was given to his son, Mihail II.

Trivia :

- The Communist historic men named him "Mircea the Great".
- His parents were voievode Radu I and lady Calinica, who was a descendant of an aristocratic family, the House of Basarab.
- During his reign Walachia had the largest area in the medieval times: from river Olt in the north to Danube in the south, and from Danube's Iron Gates in the west to the Black Sea in the east.
_{Mircea cel Batran Image : presidency.ro}

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Category: Others  - ( Others Archive)

Date Added: 22 October '06

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