List of princes of Wallachia
This is a list of rulers of Wallachia, from the first mention of a medieval polity situated between the Southern Carpathians and the Danube until the union with Moldavia in 1862, leading to the creation of Romania.
Notes
Dynastic rule is hard to ascribe, given the loose traditional definition of the ruling family (on principle, princes were chosen from any family branch, including a previous ruler's bastard sons - being defined as os de domn - "of Voivode marrow", or as having heregie - "heredity" (from the Latin hereditas); the institutions charged with the election, dominated by the boyars, had fluctuating degrees of influence). The system itself was challenged by usurpers, and became obsolete with the Phanariote epoch, when rulers were appointed by the Ottoman Sultans; between 1821 and 1878 (the date of Romania's independence), various systems combining election and appointment were put in practice. Wallachian rulers, like the Moldavian rulers, bore the titles of Voivode ("duke") or/and Hospodar ("lord, master").
Most rulers did not use the form of the name they are cited with, and several used more than one form of their own name; in some cases, the ruler was only mentioned in foreign sources. The full names are either modern versions or ones based on mentions in various chronicles.
List
Ruler | Portrait | Years | Family | Marriage | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thocomerius (or Radu Negru) | ![]() |
c. 1290 – 1310 | Unknown | Radu Negru is legendary voivode of Wallachia; some historians consider it to be just a nickname of Thocomerius or Basarab I. | |
Basarab I the Founder (Basarab Întemeietorul) |
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c. 1310 – 1352 | Basarab | Margareta two children |
son of Thocomerius; first non-legendary ruler of Wallachia. |
Nicolae Alexandru | ![]() |
1352–1364 | Basarab | Maria Lackfy five children Clara Dobokai two children Margareta Dabkai no children |
son of Basarab I |
Vladislav I | ![]() |
c. 1364 – 1377 | Basarab | unknown | son of Nicolae Alexandru; also known as Vlaicu-Vodă |
Radu I | ![]() |
c. 1377 – 1383 | Basarab | Anna one child Kalinikia c.1354 or 1355 two children |
son of Nicolae Alexandru |
Dan I | c. 1383 – 1386 | Dănești | Maria of Serbia one child |
son of Radu I | |
Mircea I the Elder (Mircea I cel Bătrân) |
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1386–1394 | Basarab | Maria Tolmay six children Anca no children |
son of Radu I. 1st rule. |
Vlad I the Usurper (Vlad I Uzurpatorul) |
1394–1397 | Dănești | Unknown | son of Dan I | |
Mircea I the Old (Mircea I cel Bătrân) |
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1397–1418 | Basarab | Maria Tolmay six children Anca no children |
2nd rule |
Mihail I | ![]() |
1408–1420 | Basarab | unknown two children |
son of Mircea cel Bătrân, co-ruled with his father since 1408. |
Radu II the Bald (Radu II Praznaglava) |
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1420-1422[1] | Basarab | unknown | son of Mircea cel Bătrân; 1st rule |
Dan II | ![]() |
1422-1426 | Dănești | unknown five children |
son of Dan I, member of the Order of the Dragon; 1st rule |
Radu II the Bald (Radu II Praznaglava) |
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1426-1427[2] | Basarab | unknown | son of Mircea cel Bătrân; 2nd rule |
Dan II | ![]() |
1427-1431 | Dănești | unknown five children |
2nd rule |
Alexandru I Aldea | 1431–1436 | Drăculești | unknown | son of Mircea cel Bătrân | |
Vlad II the Dragon (Vlad II Dracul) |
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1436–1442 | Drăculești | unknown one child Cneajna of Moldavia three children |
illegitimate son of Mircea cel Bătrân; member of the Order of the Dragon (thus Dracul); 1st rule |
Mircea II the Younger (Mircea al II-lea cel Tânăr) |
1442 | Drăculești | Unmarried | son of Vlad II Dracul, sometimes not counted; he ruled while his father was absent, on his way to pay the tribute to the Ottoman Empire; Deposed by John Hunyadi. Ruled alone in his 1st time. | |
Basarab II | 1442–1443 | Dănești | Maria (Dobra) two children |
son of Dan II; Placed in the throne by John Hunyadi, in war with Vlad II. | |
Vlad II the Dragon (Vlad II Dracul) |
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1443–1447 | Drăculești | unknown one child Cneajna of Moldavia three children |
Returned to the throne, and won against John Hunyadi, deposing also Basarab II. He was assassinated in 1447. |
Mircea II the Younger (Mircea al II-lea cel Tânăr) |
1446-1447 | Drăculești | Unmarried | Ruled with his father; 2nd time. He was blinded and buried alive by Hunyadi in 1447. | |
Vladislav II | ![]() |
1447–1448 | Dănești | Neacşa one child |
son of Dan II; supported by John Hunyadi, Regent of Hungary; The way he came to the throne is debatable, but the most accepted is that he killed Vlad II, and was then replaced in the throne by Hunyadi. 1st rule |
Vlad III the Impaler (Vlad al III-lea Țepeș) |
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1448 | Drăculești | Cneajna Báthory Before 1462 one child Ilona Szilágyi Between 1462 and 1466 two children Jusztina Nelipic no children |
son of Vlad II Dracul; Invaded Wallachia while Vladislav was outside, in battle against the Otomans; Deposed in the next year by Hunyadi; 1st rule |
Vladislav II | ![]() |
1448–1456 | Dănești | Neacşa one child |
son of Dan II; supported by John Hunyadi, Regent of Hungary; Returned from the battle, rules again until his death in a combat hand-to-hand against Vlad III, who retakes the throne; 2nd rule |
Vlad III the Impaler (Vlad al III-lea Țepeș) |
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1456–1462 | Drăculești | Cneajna Báthory Before 1462 one child Ilona Szilágyi Between 1462 and 1466 two children Jusztina Nelipic no children |
2nd rule |
Radu III the Fair (Radu cel Frumos) |
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1462–1473 | Drăculești | Maria one child |
son of Vlad II Dracul; 1st rule |
Basarab III Laiotă the Old (Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân) |
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1473 | Dănești | Unmarried | son of Dan II; In civil war against Radu III;1st rule |
Radu III the Fair (Radu cel Frumos) |
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1473–1474 | Drăculești | Maria one child |
In civil war against Basarab III; 2nd rule |
Basarab III Laiotă the Old (Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân) |
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1474 | Dănești | Unmarried | In civil war against Radu III; 2nd rule |
Radu III the Fair (Radu cel Frumos) |
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1474 | Drăculești | Maria one child |
In civil war against Basarab III; 3rd rule |
Basarab III Laiotă the Old (Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân) |
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1474 | Dănești | Unmarried | In civil war against Radu III; 3rd rule |
Radu III the Fair (Radu cel Frumos) |
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1474–1475 | Drăculești | Maria one child |
In civil war against Basarab III; 4th rule |
Basarab III Laiotă the Old (Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân) |
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1475–1476 | Dănești | Unmarried | 4th rule |
Vlad III the Impaler (Vlad al III-lea Țepeș) |
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1476 | Drăculești | Cneajna Báthory Before 1462 one child Ilona Szilágyi Between 1462 and 1466 two children Jusztina Nelipic no children |
Returns, but is killed shortly after; 3rd rule |
Basarab III Laiotă the Old (Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân) |
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1476–1477 | Dănești | Unmarried | 5th rule |
Basarab IV The Younger, The Little Impaler (Basarab IV Țepeluș cel Tânăr) |
1477–1481 | Dănești | Maria one child |
son of Basarab II; 1st rule | |
Mircea (III) | 1481 | Drăculești | Unmarried | illegitimate son of Vlad II Dracul | |
Vlad IV the Monk (Vlad Călugărul) |
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1481 | Drăculești | Rada Smaranda Before 1460 four children Maria Palaiologina 1487 one child |
son of Vlad II Dracul; 1st rule |
Basarab IV The Younger, The Little Impaler (Basarab IV Țepeluș cel Tânăr) |
1481–1482 | Dănești | Maria one child |
2nd rule | |
Vlad IV the Monk (Vlad Călugărul) |
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1482–1495 | Drăculești | Rada Smaranda Before 1460 four children Maria Palaiologina 1487 one child |
2nd rule |
Radu IV the Great (Radu cel Mare) |
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1495–1508 | Drăculești | Catherine of Zeta six children |
son of Vlad Călugărul |
Mihnea I the Bad (Mihnea cel Rău) |
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1508–1509 | Drăculești | Smaranda no children Voica three children |
son of Vlad III Țepeș |
Mircea III (IV) Miloș | 1509–1510 | Drăculești | Maria of Serbia 1519 two children |
son of Mihnea cel Rău | |
Vlad V the Younger (Vlad cel Tânăr) |
1510–1512 | Drăculești | Anca of Zeta Before 1508 one child |
son of Vlad Călugărul; also known as Vlăduț | |
Neagoe Basarab V | ![]() |
1512–1521 | Craiovești | Milica of Serbia 1505 six children |
possibly son of Pârvu Craiovescu or Basarab IV; The most accepted theory is that he claimed the throne as a son of Basarab IV, being in fact son of Pârvu. Cultural zenith in Wallachia. |
Milica of Serbia (Regent) | ![]() |
1521–1522 | Branković/ Craiovești | Neagoe Basarab V 1505 six children |
Regent in behalf of her son |
Teodosie | ![]() |
1521–1522 | Craiovești | unmarried | under regency of his mother Milica Branković |
Radu V | File:Radu of Afumati.jpg | 1522–1523 | Drăculești | Voica of Bucsani three children Ruxandra of Wallachia After 1525 no children |
illegitimate son of Radu cel Mare; allied with Craiovești; 1st rule |
Vladislav III | 1523 | Dănești | Unknown | nephew of Vladislav II; 1st rule | |
Radu VI Bădica | 1523–1524 | Drăculești | Unknown | son of Radu IV the Great | |
Radu V | File:Radu of Afumati.jpg | 1524 | Drăculești | Voica of Bucsani three children Ruxandra of Wallachia After 1525 no children |
2nd rule |
Vladislav III | 1524 | Dănești | Unknown | 2nd rule | |
Radu V | File:Radu of Afumati.jpg | 1524–1525 | Drăculești | Voica of Bucsani three children Ruxandra of Wallachia After 1525 no children |
3rd rule |
Vladislav III | 1525 | Drăculești | Unknown | 3rd rule | |
Radu V | File:Radu of Afumati.jpg | 1525–1529 | Drăculești | Voica of Bucsani three children Ruxandra of Wallachia After 1525 no children |
4th rule |
Basarab VI | 1529 | Unknown | Non-dynastic; Son of Mehmed-bey | ||
Moise | ![]() |
1529–1530 | Dănești | Unknown | son of Vladislav III. Last of the Dănești. |
Vlad VI the Drowned (Vlad Înecatul) |
1530–1532 | Drăculești | Anna of Moldavia 1531 no children |
son of Vlad cel Tânăr | |
Vlad VII Vintilă de la Slatina | ![]() |
1532–1535 | Drăculești | Zamfira one child Rada one child |
son of Radu cel Mare |
Radu VII Paisie | ![]() |
1535–1545 | Drăculești | Stana three children Ruxandra of Wallachia c.1541 three children |
son of Vlad Vintilă de la Slatina |
Mircea IV (V) the Shepherd (Mircea Ciobanul) |
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1545–1552 | Drăculești | Chiajna of Moldavia June 1546 seven children |
son of Radu cel Mare; 1st rule |
Radu VIII Ilie the Cowherd (Radu Ilie Haidăul) |
1552–1553 | Drăculești | Unknown | son of Radu de la Afumați | |
Mircea IV (V) the Shepherd (Mircea Ciobanul) |
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1553–1554 | Drăculești | Chiajna of Moldavia June 1546 seven children |
2nd rule |
Pătrașcu the Good (Pătrașcu cel Bun) |
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1554–1558 | Drăculești | Voica of Slatioare four children |
son of Radu Paisie |
Mircea IV (V) the Shepherd (Mircea Ciobanul) |
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1558–1559 | Drăculești | Chiajna of Moldavia June 1546 seven children |
3rd rule |
Chiajna of Moldavia (Regent) |
1559-1564 | Bogdan-Mușat /Drăculești | Mircea IV (V) June 1546 seven children |
Regent on behalf of her son. | |
Petru I the Younger (Petru cel Tânăr) |
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1564–1568 | Drăculești | Jelena Crepovic of Transylvania 22 August 1563 one child |
son of Mircea Ciobanul |
Alexandru II Mircea | ![]() |
1568–1574 | Drăculești | Catherine Salvaresso 1558 Pera one child |
son of Mircea III Dracul; popularly called Oaie Seacă (Barren Sheep); 1st rule |
Vintilă | 1574 | Drăculești | Unknown | son of Petru Pătrașcu cel Bun | |
Alexandru II Mircea | ![]() |
1574–1577 | Drăculești | Catherine Salvaresso 1558 Pera one child |
2nd rule |
Catherine Salvaresso (Regent) |
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1577-1583 | Salvaresso/Drăculești | Alexandru II Mircea 1558 Pera one child |
Regent on behalf of her son, Mihnea II. Deposed by Peter II. |
Petru II of the Earring (Petru Cercel) |
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1583–1585 | Drăculești | Unmarried | son of Petru Pătrașcu cel Bun |
Mihnea II the Turk (Mihnea Turcitul) | ![]() |
1585–1591 | Drăculești | Neaga de Cislau June 1582 three children |
Paid for the assassination of his usurper. Returned and ruled alone. |
Ruler | Portrait | Years | Family | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ștefan I Surdul (Stephen the Deaf) |
1591–1592 | |||
Alexandru III cel Rău (Alexander III the Mean) |
1592–1593 | also ruled Moldavia (1592) |
Ruler | Portrait | Years | Family | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mihail II Viteazul (Michael II the Brave) |
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1593–1600 | Drăculești | illegitimate son of Petru Pătrașcu cel Bun; also ruled Transylvania (1599-1600) and Moldavia (1600), briefly uniting the three principalities. |
Nicolae Pătrașcu | ![]() |
1599–1600 | Drăculești | Son of Michael II, co-ruled with his father since 1599. |
Simion Movilă | ![]() |
1600–1601 | Movilești | 1st rule |
Radu IX Mihnea | ![]() |
1601–1602 | Drăculești | son of Minhea II Turcitul; 1st rule |
Simion Movilă | ![]() |
1602 | Movilești | 2nd rule |
Radu X Șerban | ![]() |
1602–1610 | Nephew of Neagoe Basarab V. 1st rule | |
Transylvanian occupation: direct rule of Gabriel Báthory (1611) | ||||
Radu IX Mihnea | ![]() |
1611 | Drăculești | 2nd rule |
Radu X Șerban | ![]() |
1611 | 2nd rule | |
Radu IX Mihnea | ![]() |
1611–1616 | Drăculești | 3rd rule |
Gabriel Movilă | 1616 | Movilești | son of Simion Movilă; 1st rule |
Various dynasties
Ruler | Portrait | Years | Family | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alexandru IV Iliaș | 1616–1618 | 1st rule | ||
Gabriel II Movilă | 1618–1620 | Movilești | 2nd rule | |
Radu IX Mihnea | ![]() |
1620–1623 | Drăculești | 4th rule |
Alexandru V Coconul (Alexander the Child-Prince) |
1623–1627 | Drăculești | son of Radu Mihnea | |
Alexandru IV Iliaș | 1627–1629 | 2nd rule | ||
Leon Tomșa | ![]() |
1629–1632 | ||
Radu XI Iliaș | 1632 | |||
Matei Basarab | ![]() |
1632–1654 | Brâncovenești | |
Constantin I Șerban | ![]() |
1654–1658 | illegitimate son of Radu Șerban | |
Mihnea III | ![]() |
1658–1659 | ||
Gheorghe I Ghica | ![]() |
1659–1660 | Ghica | |
Grigore I Ghica | ![]() |
1660–1664 | Ghica | 1st rule |
Radu XII Leon | ![]() |
1664–1669 | ||
Antonie Vodă din Popeşti | 1669–1672 | |||
Grigore I Ghica | ![]() |
1672–1673 | Ghica | 2nd rule |
Gheorghe II Ducas | ![]() |
1673–1678 | ||
Șerban Cantacuzino | ![]() |
1678–1688 | Cantacuzene | |
Constantin II Brâncoveanu | ![]() |
1688–1714 | Brâncovenești | |
Ștefan II Cantacuzino | ![]() |
1714–1715 | Cantacuzene | |
Phanariote rule (1715–1821) | ||||
Nicolae Mavrocordat | ![]() |
1715–1716 | Mavrocordato | 1st rule |
- Habsburg occupation | 1716 | |||
Ioan Mavrocordat | ![]() |
1716–1719 | Mavrocordato | |
Nicolae Mavrocordat | ![]() |
1719–1730 | Mavrocordato | 2nd rule |
Constantin Mavrocordat | ![]() |
1730 | Mavrocordato | 1st rule |
Mihai Racoviță | ![]() |
1730–1731 | Racoviță | 1st rule |
Constantin Mavrocordat | ![]() |
1731–1733 | Mavrocordato | 2nd rule |
Grigore II Ghica | ![]() |
1733–1735 | Ghica | 1st rule |
Constantin Mavrocordat | ![]() |
1735–1741 | Mavrocordato | 3rd rule |
Mihai Racoviță | ![]() |
1741–1744 | Racoviță | 2nd rule |
Constantin Mavrocordat | ![]() |
1744–1748 | Mavrocordato | 4th rule |
Grigore II Ghica | ![]() |
1748–1752 | Ghica | 2nd rule |
Matei Ghica | ![]() |
1752–1753 | Ghica | |
Constantin Racoviță | 1753–1756 | 1st rule | ||
Constantin Mavrocordat | ![]() |
1756–1758 | 5th rule | |
Scarlat Ghica | 1758–1761 | Ghica | 1st rule | |
Constantin Mavrocordat | ![]() |
1761–1763 | 6th rule | |
Constantin Racoviță | 1763–1764 | Racoviță | 2nd rule | |
Ștefan Racoviță | 1764–1765 | Racoviță | ||
Scarlat Ghica | 1765–1766 | Ghica | 2nd rule | |
Alexandru Ghica | 1766–1768 | Ghica | ||
- Russian occupation | 1768 | |||
Grigore III Ghica | ![]() |
1768–1769 | Ghica | |
- Russian occupation | 1769–1770 | |||
Emanuel Giani Ruset | ![]() |
1770-1771 | Rosetti | also called Manole or Manolache |
Alexander Ypsilantis | ![]() |
1774–1782 | Ypsilanti | 1st rule |
Nicolae Caragea | 1782–1783 | Caradja | ||
Mihai Suțu | ![]() |
1783–1786 | Soutzos | 1st rule |
Nicolae Mavrogheni | ![]() |
1786–1789 | ||
- Habsburg occupation | 1789–1790 | military commander: Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg | ||
Mihai Suțu | ![]() |
1791–1793 | Soutzos | 2nd rule |
Alexandru Moruzi | ![]() |
1793–1796 | Mourousi | 1st rule |
Alexander Ypsilantis | ![]() |
1796–1797 | Ypsilanti | 2nd rule |
Constantin Hangerli | ![]() |
1797–1799 | ||
Alexandru Moruzi | ![]() |
1799–1801 | Mourousi | 2nd rule |
Mihai Suțu | ![]() |
1801–1802 | Soutzos | 3rd rule |
Alexandru Suțu | ![]() |
1802 | Soutzos | |
Constantin Ypsilanti | ![]() |
1802-1806 | Ypsilanti | |
- Russian occupation | 1806–1812 | |||
Ioan Gheorghe Caragea | ![]() |
1812–1818 | Caradja | |
Caimacam Grigore Brâncovenu |
1818 | assisted by Vornic Barbu Văcărescu, Vistier Grigore Ghica and Logofăt Samurcaș | ||
Alexandru Suțu | ![]() |
1818–1821 | Soutzos | |
Caimacam Grigore Brâncoveanu |
1821 | |||
Tudor Vladimirescu | 1821 | leader of the anti-Phanariote uprising | ||
Scarlat Callimachi | ![]() |
1821 | Callimachi | |
Grigore IV Ghica | ![]() |
1822–1828 | Ghica | |
- Russian occupation | 1828–1834 | military commanders: Fyodor Pahlen, Pyotr Zheltukhin, and Pavel Kiseleff | ||
Organic Statute government (1832–1856) | ||||
Alexandru II Ghica | ![]() |
1834–1842 | Ghica | |
Gheorghe Bibescu | ![]() |
1842–1848 | Craiovești / Brâncovenești / Știrbei / Bibescu | |
Provisional Government | 1848 | Metropolitan Neofit II, assisted by Christian Tell, Ion Heliade Rădulescu, Ștefan Golescu, Gheorghe Magheru, Gheorghe Scurti | ||
Locotenența domnească (Regency of three) |
1848 | Christian Tell, Ion Heliade Rădulescu, Nicolae Golescu | ||
Joint Ottoman and Russian occupation | 1848–1851 | military commanders: Omar Pasha and Alexander von Lüders | ||
Caimacam Constantin Cantacuzino |
1848 | |||
Barbu Știrbei | ![]() |
1848–1853 | Știrbei | 1st rule |
Russian occupation | 1853–1854 | |||
Ottoman occupation | 1854 | |||
Austrian occupation | 1854–1856 | military commander: Johann Coronini-Cronberg | ||
Barbu Știrbei | ![]() |
1854–1856 | Știrbei | 2nd rule |
Protectorate established by the Treaty of Paris (1856–1859) | ||||
Caimacam Alexandru II Ghica |
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1856–1858 | ||
Caimacam of three | 1858–1859 | Ioan Manu, Emanoil Băleanu, Ioan A. Filipide | ||
Alexander John Cuza | ![]() |
1859–1862 | also ruled Moldavia in personal union | |
United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia since 1862. | ||||
Alexander John Cuza | ![]() |
1862–1866 | also ruled Moldavia in personal union | |
Carol I | 1866–1881 | Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen | A new constitution came into effect in 1866 giving the country the official name Romania, and on 14 March (O.S.) (26 March) 1881, it became the Kingdom of Romania. | |
For later rulers, see Kings of Romania. |