Vlad Înecatul
Encyclopedia
Vlad VI of Wallachia was the voivode [prince] who ruled Wallachia between June 1530 and September 1532. He has been historically referenced as Vlad Înecatul ["Vlad the Drowned"], as a description of the manner of his death.
One of three (along with Moldavia
and Transylvania
) primary historic and geographic regions of Romania
, Wallachia
was founded as a principality in the early 14th century by Basarab I but, by 1415, had accepted the suzerainty
of the Ottoman Empire
, albeit with considerable self-rule. Descendants of the House of Basarab
continued to rule Wallachia and, as recounted in surviving records from the time of Mihnea Turcitul
(the young voivode in 1577–83 and 1585–91), the chronology of a century earlier indicates that the grandfather of Vlad VI, Vlad IV Călugărul [Vlad the Monk] was voivode from 1481 until his death in 1495. His son Vlad cel Tânăr [Vlad V, the Younger] (ca. 1488–1512) became voivode in 1510, at the age of about 22 and, less than two years later, was captured following a defeat at the Battle of Bucharest
and executed.
Although no specific historical documentation of his birth remains, the son of Vlad the Younger was about four years old at the time of his father's death. He became voivode at about the same age as his father, 22, in the aftermath of his predecessor Moise
's rebellion against the Ottomans, but was immediately contested by Moise himself and the Craioveşti
boyar
family. On 29 August 1530, at the Battle of Viişoara
, Vlad VI defeated Moise who died in combat. In October, after a further unsuccessful rebellion of the Oltenia
n nobility led by Craioveşti pretender to the throne Drăghici Gogoaşă, who was subsequently executed in Constantinople
, Vlad ended Craioveşti's line of succession to the Banat
of Craiova
.
In his two years as voivode, Vlad is noted as having effected the construction of Dâmboviţa County
's famed Viforâta Monastery, in Aninoasa. His life was cut short at about the same age as that of his father, 24, and the historical detail behind his posthumous cognomen
is described in the contemporary text of Adolf Armbruster (Dacoromano-Saxonica, p. 198). The account indicates that, following a prolonged banquet, at which, as customary, large quantities of alcoholic beverages were served, Vlad mounted his horse for a ride in the direction of Dâmboviţa River
in which, near the village of Popeşti, south of Bucharest, he drowned. His burial at the Deal Monastery was arranged by his mother.
One of three (along with Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
and Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
) primary historic and geographic regions of Romania
Historical regions of Romania
At various times during the late 19th and 20th centuries, Romania extended over the following historical regions:Wallachia:*Muntenia or Greater Wallachia: as part of Wallachia, joined Moldavia in 1859 to create modern Romania;...
, Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
was founded as a principality in the early 14th century by Basarab I but, by 1415, had accepted the suzerainty
Suzerainty
Suzerainty occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a...
of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, albeit with considerable self-rule. Descendants of the House of Basarab
House of Basarab
The Basarabs were a family which had an important role in the establishing of the Principality of Wallachia, giving the country its first line of Princes, one closely related with the Muşatin rulers of Moldavia...
continued to rule Wallachia and, as recounted in surviving records from the time of Mihnea Turcitul
Mihnea Turcitul
Mihnea II Turcitul was Prince of Walachia between September 1577 and July 1583, and again from April 1585 to May 1591....
(the young voivode in 1577–83 and 1585–91), the chronology of a century earlier indicates that the grandfather of Vlad VI, Vlad IV Călugărul [Vlad the Monk] was voivode from 1481 until his death in 1495. His son Vlad cel Tânăr [Vlad V, the Younger] (ca. 1488–1512) became voivode in 1510, at the age of about 22 and, less than two years later, was captured following a defeat at the Battle of Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
and executed.
Although no specific historical documentation of his birth remains, the son of Vlad the Younger was about four years old at the time of his father's death. He became voivode at about the same age as his father, 22, in the aftermath of his predecessor Moise
Moise of Wallachia
Moise was a Voivode of Wallachia from January or March 1529 to June 1530, son of Vladislav III. His rule marks the willingness of the boyars to compromise, in order to prevent rules like that of Basarab V - in which the Ottomans appointed the Prince and profited of his submission.Moise initially...
's rebellion against the Ottomans, but was immediately contested by Moise himself and the Craioveşti
Craiovesti
The Craiovești , later Brâncovenești , were a boyar family in Wallachia who gave the country several of its Princes and held the title of Ban of Oltenia for ca...
boyar
Boyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
family. On 29 August 1530, at the Battle of Viişoara
Viisoara, Teleorman
Viişoara is a commune in Teleorman County, Romania. It is composed of a single village, Viişoara....
, Vlad VI defeated Moise who died in combat. In October, after a further unsuccessful rebellion of the Oltenia
Oltenia
Oltenia is a historical province and geographical region of Romania, in western Wallachia. It is situated between the Danube, the Southern Carpathians and the Olt river ....
n nobility led by Craioveşti pretender to the throne Drăghici Gogoaşă, who was subsequently executed in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, Vlad ended Craioveşti's line of succession to the Banat
Ban (title)
Ban was a title used in several states in central and south-eastern Europe between the 7th century and the 20th century.-Etymology:The word ban has entered the English language probably as a borrowing from South Slavic ban, meaning "lord, master; ruler". The Slavic word is probably borrowed from...
of Craiova
Craiova
Craiova , Romania's 6th largest city and capital of Dolj County, is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians and the River Danube . Craiova is the chief...
.
In his two years as voivode, Vlad is noted as having effected the construction of Dâmboviţa County
Dâmbovita County
Dâmbovița ; also spelt Dîmbovița is a county of Romania, in Muntenia, with the capital city at Târgoviște.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 541,763 and the population density was 134/km²...
's famed Viforâta Monastery, in Aninoasa. His life was cut short at about the same age as that of his father, 24, and the historical detail behind his posthumous cognomen
Cognomen
The cognomen nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of Ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. The cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name in order to identify a particular branch within...
is described in the contemporary text of Adolf Armbruster (Dacoromano-Saxonica, p. 198). The account indicates that, following a prolonged banquet, at which, as customary, large quantities of alcoholic beverages were served, Vlad mounted his horse for a ride in the direction of Dâmboviţa River
Dâmbovita River
Dâmbovița is a river in Romania. It has its sources in the Făgăraş Mountains, on the Curmătura Oticu. The upper reach of the rivers, upstream of the confluence with the Boarcăşu River is also known as Izvorul Oticului River or Oticu River....
in which, near the village of Popeşti, south of Bucharest, he drowned. His burial at the Deal Monastery was arranged by his mother.