Friday, December 14, 2012

[December 14] Vlad III, voivode of Wallachia

Sobriquet: "Dracula" (Little Dragon) and "Țepeș" (The Impaler)
Parents: Vlad II, voivode of Wallachia, and Cneajna of Moldavia
Date of Birth: November 1431
House: Basarab-Draculesti
Spouse(s): (1) Unknown, then (2) Ilona, daughter of Michael Szilágyi
Predecessor: Vladislav II
Reign: 1456 – 1476 (with interruptions)
Brief: Despite his reputation, Vlad grew up in relatively norman circumstances in Wallachia, within the current country of Romania. His father became voivode (prince) in 1436 but only ruled for six years before being kicked out. Vlad was sent as a hostage to the Ottoman Empire during this time. He grew to hate his older brother, Radu, who converted to Islam, and his Ottoman captors, though he learned Turkish and was widely read in Arabic texts. In 1447, Vlad's father was killed and his eldest brother blinded and buried alive. The Ottomans invaded and installed Vlad on the throne, but the Hungarians overturned the election and chose Vladislav II, of a rival branch of the family, instead. Vlad fled to Moldavia and lived with his uncle for many years. He then joined the Hungarian army and, in 1456, killed Vladislav II and retook the throne he barely had.

Vlad set out on a quest to reestablish trade and commerce within Wallachia, while also building up its defenses against an Ottoman attack. That attack came in 1459, when Pope Pius II called for a new crusade against the Ottomans, and with the king of Hungary answering the call. The Ottomans tried to reassert their authority in Wallachia, but Vlad struck first, killing envoys and then invading the lower Danube region. In 1462, he crossed into Bulgaria, destroying Ottoman camps across the Balkans. The Ottomans counter-attacked and Vlad was forced to mount a guerrilla war against them and defeated them again during the Night Attack of June, 1462. Sultan Mehmet II sent Radu to lead a follow-up army to destroy Vlad at all costs, supplying the troops with guns and funds to purchase weapons. Vlad fled to Hungary and was arrested for treason. He remained there for ten years until Radu died in 1475. By that time, the Hungarians were once again supporting Vlad's bid to retake Wallachia from the Ottoman Empire. Unfortunately, Vlad was assassinated before he regained control of most of the country. Through his reign, he made many enemies and an estimated 75,000 people were executed by Vlad, many by impaling on spikes left outside cities. It is no surprise that a rival, Basarab, took the throne after his death.
Date of Death: 14 December 1476
Successor: Basarab III

Other Monarchs Who Died Today:
  • Frederick, grand master of the Teutonic Knights (1510)
  • James V, king of Scots (1542)
  • Charles III, king of Spain (1788)

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