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[[Image:Stema Mihai Viteazul.jpg|thumb|right|Seal of Michael the Brave after the union of the three Romanian principalities]]
[[Image:Stema Mihai Viteazul.jpg|thumb|right|Seal of Michael the Brave after the union of the three Romanian principalities]]


There are two inscriptions on the seal. First, circular, in Cyrillic "''IO MIHAILI UGROVLAHISCOI VOEVOD ARDILSCOI MOLD ZEMLI''", meaning "''I Michael Voivode of Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldavia Land''". Second, placed along a circular arc separating the Wallachian coat from the rest of the heraldic composition, "''NML BJE MLRDIE''", could be translated "''Through The Very Grace of God''".<ref name="Elements of Romanian Heraldry">Elements of Romanian Heraldry</ref>
There are two inscriptions on the seal. First, circular, in Cyrillic "''IO MIHAILI UGROVLAHISCOI VOEVOD ARDILSCOI MOLD ZEMLI''", meaning "''[[Io]] Michael Voivode of Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldavia Land''". Second, placed along a circular arc separating the Wallachian coat from the rest of the heraldic composition, "''NML BJE MLRDIE''", could be translated "''Through The Very Grace of God''".<ref name="Elements of Romanian Heraldry">Elements of Romanian Heraldry</ref>


== Notes ==
== Notes ==

Revision as of 11:24, 17 February 2008

Michael the Brave
Prince of Wallachia
Portrait of Michael the Brave by Mişu Popp
Michael the Brave, portraited by Mişu Popp
Reign11 October, 1593 – 9 August, 1601
CoronationSeptember, 1593
PredecessorAlexandru cel Rău
SuccessorSimion Movilă
Wife
  • Doamna Stanca
Names
Mihai Pătraşcu
FatherPătraşcu cel Bun
MotherTeodora Cantacuzino
"Mihai Viteazu" redirects here. For other uses, see Mihai Viteazu (disambiguation).

Michael the Brave (born under Pătraşcu family name) (Romanian: Mihai Viteazul, Hungarian: Vitéz Mihály) (1558-9 August 1601) was the Prince of Wallachia (1593-1601), of Transylvania (1599-1600), and of Moldavia (1600). During his reign, which coincided with the Long War, these three principalities forming the territory of present-day Romania and Moldova were united for the first time under a single Romanian ruler, though the unification lasted for less than six months. He is regarded as one of Romania's greatest national heroes.

Michael's reign began in late 1593, two years before war with the Ottomans started, a conflict in which the Prince fought the most important battle of his entire reign, the Battle of Călugăreni. Although the Wallachians emerged victorious in it, Michael was forced to retreat with his troops and wait for aid from his allies. The war continued until a peace finally emerged in January 1597, but this only lasted for a year and a half. A peace was again reached in late 1599, when Michael was unable to continue the war due to lack of support from his allies.

In 1600 Michael won the Battle of Şelimbăr and soon entered Alba Iulia, becoming the Prince of Transylvania. A few months later, Michael's troops invaded Moldavia and reached its capital, Suceava. The Moldavian leader Ieremia Movilă fled to Poland and Michael was declared Prince of Moldavia. As he received insufficient support from his allies, Michael proved unable to keep the control of all three provinces and boyar uprisings emerged, especially in Transylvania. Michael, allied with the Austrian General Giorgio Basta, defeated an uprising by the Hungarian nobility at Gurăslău. Immediately after this, Basta ordered the assassination of Michael, which took place on 9 August 1601.

Early life

He is argued by most historians [1] to have been the illegitimate son of Wallachian Prince Pătraşcu cel Bun, while others [2] believe he merely invented his descent in order to justify his rule. His mother was named Teodora, of the Oraşul de Floci, and was a member of the Cantacuzino family. Michael's political career was quite spectacular, as he became the Ban of Mehedinţi in 1588, stolnic at the court of Mihnea Turcitul by the end of 1588, and Ban of Craiova in 1593 - during the rule of Alexandru cel Rău. The latter had him swear before 12 boyars that he was not of princely descent [3]. Still, in May 1593 conflict did break out between Alexandru and the Ban and Michael was forced to flee to Transylvania. He was accompanied by his half-brother Radu Florescu, Radu Buzescu and several other supporters. After spending two weeks at the court of Sigismund Bathory he left for Constantinople, where with help from his cousin Andronic Cantacuzino and Patriarch Jeremiah II he negotiated Ottoman support for his accession to the Wallachian throne. He was invested Prince by the Sultan in September 1593 and started his effective rule on October 11.[4]

Wallachia

File:Mihai Viteazul's army.jpg
Michael the Brave and his troops (Gheorghe Tattarescu's 19th century rendition)

Not long after this, he began to fight his Ottoman overlord. The next year he joined the Christian alliance of European powers formed by Pope Clement VIII, against the Turks, and signed treaties with Sigismund Bathory of Transylvania, Aron Vodă of Moldavia and the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II. He started a campaign against the Turks in the autumn of 1594, conquering several citadels near the Danube, including Giurgiu, Brăila, Hârşova, and Silistra, while his Moldavian allies, defeated the turks in Iaşi and other parts of Moldova.[5]

Michael the Brave defeating the Turks in Târgovişte, October 1595

In 1595 Sigismund Bathory staged an elaborate plot and had Aron of Moldavia removed from power[6]. Ştefan Răzvan arrested Aron on alleged treason charges on the night of April 24 and sent him to Alba Iulia with his family and treasure. Aron would die poisoned by the end of May in the castle of Vint. Bathory was forced to justify his actions before the European powers, since Aron had actively joined the anti-Ottoman coalition and replaced him with hatman Ştefan Răzvan. Sigismund himself gave the latter both the investment act and the insignia of power, thus acting in overlord of Moldavia. On May 24 1595 at Alba Iulia, Ştefan Răzvan signed a binding treaty, formally placing Moldavia under Transilvanian sovereignty.[7]

Only a month later in the same city of Alba Iulia, Wallachian boyars signed on Michael's behalf a similar treaty. Thus, by July 1595 Sigismund Bathory was de facto Prince of all the three countries: Transilvania, Wallachia and Moldavia.[8]. From the point of view of Wallachian internal politics, the Treaty of Alba Iulia officialized what could be called a boyar regime, reinforcing the already important political power of the noble elite. According to the treaty, a council of 12 great boyars was to take part alongside the voivode in the executive rule of the country. Boyars could no longer be executed without the knowledge and approval of the Transilvanian Prince and if convicted for treason their fortunes could no longer be confiscated. Apparently Michael was displeased with the final form of the treaty negotiated by his envoys but had to comply [9]. He would try to avoid the obligations imposed on him for the rest of his reign.[7]

Engraving of Michael the Brave

It should be noted however, that Michael relied heavily on the loyalty and support of a group of west-Wallachian lords (of which the Buzescus were probably the most important) and that of his own relatives on his mother's side the Cantacuzinos [10], and protected their interests throughout his reign. One of the laws he passed was the land-binding of serfs which clearly favored the land-owning aristocracy.[11].

From an ecclesiastical point of view the Treaty of Alba Iulia had another important consequence, as it placed all the Eastern Orthodox bishops in Transylvania under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Seat of Târgovişte[7].

Michael the Brave defeating the Turks in Giurgiu, October 1595

Meanwhile, the Ottoman army, based in Ruse, was preparing to cross the Danube and undertake a major attack. Michael was quickly forced to retreat and the Turk forces started to cross the Danube on August 4 1595. As his army was overwhelmed by numbers, Michael was unable to carry a battle in open field, and he decided to fight in a swamp located near the village of Călugăreni, on the Neajlov river. The Battle of Călugăreni started on August 13, and Michael defeated the Ottoman army led by Sinan Pasha.[7] Despite the victory, because he had too few troops to mount a full scale attack against the remaining Ottoman forces, he retreated to his winter camp in Stoeneşti. Subsequently, he joined forces with Sigismund Bathory's 40,000 men army (led by István Bocskay), counterattacked the Ottomans and freed the towns of Târgovişte (October 8), Bucharest (October 12) and Brăila, temporarily removing Wallachia from Ottoman rule. The fight against the Ottomans continued in 1596, when Michael made several incursions south of the Danube at Vidin, Pleven, Nicopolis, and Babadag, where he was assisted by the local Bulgarians during the massive First Tarnovo Uprising.[12]

During late 1596, Michael was faced with an unexpected attack from the Tatars, which destroyed in their ways the towns of Bucharest and Buzău. When Michael gathered his army and started to counterattack them, the Tatars speedily retreated and no battle was fought. Michael was determined to continue the battle against the pagans, but he was unable, as he lacked support from Sigismund Bathory and Rudolf II. On January 7 1597, Hasan Pasha declared the independence of Wallachia and its ruler.[13] However, Michael knew that this was only a moment of respite to prepare his army for another future Ottoman attack. Michael again requested Rudolf II's support and Rudolf finally agreed to send financial assistance to the Wallachian ruler. On June 9 1598, a formal treaty was reached between Michael and Rudolf II. According to the treaty, the Austrian ruler would give Wallachia sufficient money to maintain a 5,000-man army, as well as armaments and supplies.[14] Shortly after the treaty was signed, the war with the Ottomans resumed and Michael besieged Nicopolis on September 10 1598 and took control of Vidin. The war with the Ottomans continued until June 26 1599, when Michael was again forced to sign a peace treaty, lacking as he did the resources and support to continue prosecuting the war.[15]

Transylvania

Seklers bring the head of cardinal Andrew Bathory to Michael the Brave after the Battle of Şelimbăr
Michael the Brave entering Alba Iulia

In April 1598 Sigismund resigned as Prince of Transylvania in favor of the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II (who was also the King of Hungary), reversed his decision in October 1598, and then resigned again in favor of Cardinal Andrew Báthory, his cousin.[16] Andrew Bathory was close to the Polish chancellor and hetman Jan Zamoyski and placed Transylvania under the influence of the King of Poland, Sigismund III Vasa. He was also a trusted ally of the new Moldavian Prince Ieremia Movilă, one of Michael's greatest enemies [15]. Movilă had deposed Ştefan Rǎzvan with the help of Polish hetman Jan Zamoyski in August 1595.[15]

Michael the Brave, portraited at Alba Iulia in 1600.

Having to face this new threat Michael asked Emperor Rudolf to become the sovereign of Wallachia. On September 25th (October 5th) Andrew Bathory issued an ultimatum demanding Michael to abandon his throne[17]. Under the circumstances, Michael decided that the best possible defense was to attack. He would later discribe the events:

I rose with my country, my children, taking my wife and everything I had and with my army [marched into Transylvania] so that the foe should not crush me here.

He left Târgovişte on October 2 and by October 9 he reached Prejmer in Southern Transilvania. Here he met envoys from the city of Braşov. Sparing the city he moved on to Cârţa where he joined forces with the Szekelys.[17]

On October 18, Michael obtained an important victory against Andrew Báthory in the Battle of Şelimbăr, giving him control of Transylvania. Andrew Bathory was killed shortly after the battle, at the age of only 28. Michael would give him a princely burial in the Catholic Cathedral of Alba Iulia.[18] With impressive pomp, Michael entered the Transylvanian capital at Alba Iulia, and received the keys to the fortress from Bishop Demeter Napragy (depicted as a seminal event in later Romanian historiography). Stephen Szamosközy, keeper of the Archives at the time, recorded the event in great detail. He also wrote that two days before the Diet met on October 10, Transylvanian nobles elected Michael the voivode as Prince of Transylvania . As the Diet was assembled, Michael demanded that the estates swear loyalty to Emperor Rudolf, then to himself and thirdly to his son.[19].

Michael then began negotiating with the Emperor over his official position in Transylvania. The latter wanted the principality under direct Imperial rule with Michael acting as governor. The Wallachian voivode, on the other hand, wanted the title of Prince of Transylvania for himself and equally claimed the Partium region. Michael was, nevertheless, willing to acknowledge Habsburg overlordship.[20]

Moldavia

Chancellor Jan Zamoyski
Michael the Brave and his daughter Florica at Rudolf's court (detail of a contemporary painting)
See also: Moldavian Magnate Wars

The Moldavian Prince Ieremia Movilă was a long time enemy of Michael. It was him who had incited Andrew Bathory to send Michael an ultimatum.[21] His brother Simion Movilă claimed the Wallachian throne for himself and had started using the title of Voivode since 1595. Aware of the threat the Movilas represented, Michael had created the Banat of Buzău and Brăila in July 1598 and the new Ban was charged of keeping an alert eye on Moldavian, Tatar and Cossack moves. In fact, Michael's plan of a Moldavian campaign was long in the making[21].

On February 28, Michael met with Polish envoys in Braşov. He was willing to recognise the Polish King for his sovereign in exchange for the crown of Moldavia and the recognition of his male heirs' hereditary right over the three principalities, Transylvania, Moldavia and Wallachia. He did not delay his attack much longer, though. On April 14 1600 Michael's troops entered Moldavia on multiple routes, the Prince himself leading the main corp to Trotuş and Roman.[22] He reached the capital of Suceava on May 6. The very next day, the garrison surrendered the citadel and Michael's forces caught up with the fleeing Ieremia Movilă, who was only saved from being captured by the sacrifice of his rear-guard. Movilă took refuge in the castle of Khotyn together with his family, a handful of faithful boyars and the former Transylvanian Prince, Sigismund Bathory.[21] The Moldavian soldiers in the castle deserted, leaving a small Polish contingent as sole defenders. Under the cover of dark, sometime before June 11, Movilă managed to sneak out of the walls and across the Dniester to hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski's camp.[22]

Neighboring states were alarmed by this upsetting of the balance of power, especially the Hungarian nobility in Transylvania, which rose against Michael in rebellion. With the help of Basta, they defeated Michael at the Battle of Mirăslău, forcing the prince to leave Transylvania together with his remaining loyal troops.[23] A Polish army led by Jan Zamoyski drove the Wallachians from Moldavia and defeated Michael at Năieni, Ceptura, and Bucov (Battle of the Teleajăn River). The Polish army also entered eastern Wallachia and established Simion Movilă as ruler. Forces loyal to Michael remained only in Oltenia.[24]

Defeat and death

Michael the Brave defeating the Hungarian nobility in Guraslau, 1601
The murdering of Michael the Brave at Campia Turzi,1601

Michael asked again for assistance from Rudolf during a visit in Prague between February 23 and March 5 1601, which was granted when the emperor heard that General Giorgio Basta had lost control of Transylvania to the Hungarian nobility led by Sigismund Bathory. Meanwhile, forces loyal to Michael in Wallachia led by his son, Nicolae Pătraşcu, after a first unsuccessful attempt, drove out Simion Movilă and prepared to reenter Transylvania. Michael, allied with Basta, defeated the uprising Hungarian nobility at Gurăslău (Goroszló). Nonetheless, Basta then ordered the assassination of Michael, which took place near Câmpia Turzii on 9 August 1601.[25] According to the Romanian historian Constantin C. Giurescu:[24]

Never in the Romanian history a moment of such highness glory was so closely followed by complete failure.



Legacy

The three Principalities and the territories united under Michael's authority

Michael the Brave's rule, with its break with Ottoman rule, tense relations with other European powers and with the union of the three states, was considered in following periods as the precursor of a modern Romania - a thesis which was argued with noted intensity by Nicolae Bălcescu. This theory became a point of reference for nationalists, as well as a catalysis of various Romanian forces in order to achieve a single Romanian state.[26]

Michael is also commemorated by the monks of the Athonite Simonopetra Monastery for his great contributions in the form of land and money to rebuilding the monastery which had been destroyed by a fire.

The Order of Michael the Brave, Romania's highest military decoration, was named after the Wallachian Prince.

Seal of Michael the Brave

The seal comprizes the coats of arms of the three Romanian principalities: in the middle, on a shield the Moldavian urus, above Wallachian eagle between sun and moon holding cross in beak, below Transylvanian coat of arms: two meeting, standing lions supporting a sword, treading on seven mountains. The Moldavian shield is held by two crowned characters.

Seal of Michael the Brave after the union of the three Romanian principalities

There are two inscriptions on the seal. First, circular, in Cyrillic "IO MIHAILI UGROVLAHISCOI VOEVOD ARDILSCOI MOLD ZEMLI", meaning "Io Michael Voivode of Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldavia Land". Second, placed along a circular arc separating the Wallachian coat from the rest of the heraldic composition, "NML BJE MLRDIE", could be translated "Through The Very Grace of God".[27]

Notes

  1. ^ Giurescu, p.180; Iorga
  2. ^ Panaitescu
  3. ^ according to the XVIIIth century chronicle of Radu Popescu
  4. ^ Giurescu, p.182
  5. ^ Giurescu, p.183
  6. ^ According to C. Rezachevici - "Legenda şi substratul ei istoric...", Ştefan Jósica (Bathori's chancellor and a Romanian ethnic) masterminded the operation. Ştefan Răzvan arrested Aron on alleged treason charges on the night of April 24th (May 5th) and sent him to Alba Iulia (Gyulafehérvár) with his family and treasure. Aron would die poisend by the end of May in the castle of Vint. Bahthori was forced to justify his actions before the European powers, since Aron had actively joined the anti-Ottoman coalition.
  7. ^ a b c d Giurescu, p.186
  8. ^ Giurescu, p.185
  9. ^ Ionaşcu cites Michael's conversation with the Polish envoy Lubieniecki, the Prince was saying: ... they did not proceed as stated in their instructions but as their own good required and obtained privileges for themselves.
  10. ^ Manea
  11. ^ Panaitescu, Bolovan
  12. ^ Giurescu, p.189
  13. ^ Giurescu, p.190
  14. ^ Giurescu, p.191
  15. ^ a b c Giurescu, p.193
  16. ^ Giurescu, p.192
  17. ^ a b Giurescu, p.194
  18. ^ Giurescu, p.195
  19. ^ Giurescu, p.196
  20. ^ Giurescu, p.196-197
  21. ^ a b c Giurescu, p.198
  22. ^ a b Giurescu, p.199
  23. ^ Giurescu, p.201
  24. ^ a b Giurescu, p.200
  25. ^ Giurescu, p.201-205
  26. ^ Giurescu, p.211-213
  27. ^ Elements of Romanian Heraldry

Bibliography

Mihai I of Wallachia
 Died: 1601 9 August
Regnal titles
Preceded by Prince of Wallachia
1593-1600 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prince of Transylvania
1599 – 1600 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prince of Moldavia
1600 		Succeeded by
Notes and references
1. Regnal Chronologies
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