Mircea I the Great - A medieval Timeline

The Tsardom of the Vlachs

Hi!

I'm trying a timeline focused on Romanians countries (Wallachia and Moldova) at the end of XIV century.


1373 – POD1: Radu I, the Voivode of Wallachia, in the desire of strengthen the relations with Moldavia, has his second son, Mircea (b. in 1355), engaged with Anastasia, the only daughter of Moldavian Voivode, Latco (Lațcu). Anastasia, being too young*, will be taken to Curtea de Arges, in Wallachia, and the marriage will be performed when she will have 14 years.

*Historical context: We do not know the year of marriage between Mircea and Mary of Chilly (in OTL), but we take 1373 as Mircea is 18 years old. Also, we do not know the birth date of Anastasia, daughter of Latco. He was born in 1344-1345 and rules between 1365 and 1373, being the only son of voivode Bogdan. Latco become catholic in 1371 (but it seems only from political interest, as it was buried in an orthodox monastery) and try to divorce from his wife Ana (who not convert) but he was denied by the Pope. He died at 28-29 so, we can suppose that Anastasia was born between 1361 and 1365 (considering the age of his father). In 1373, Anastasia will have something like 8-11 years.
About Anastasia's fate, there are several theories. One says that she was married to Roman, the brother of Peter Mushat (Petru Mușat), both become voivodes of Moldavia after Latco and she was mother of Alexander the good. Other theory says that she was married to a Podolian prince, Yuri Koriatovich.
There are documents that clearly says that Anastasia, the mother of Alexander, died in 1408 and Anastasia, the daughter of Latco, died in 1420. I consider that there were 2 Anastasias.​

1374 – Latco died and the boyars choose Yuri Koryatovich, prince from Podolia, as Voivode (the throne was elective), who become Iuga I of Moldavia. This choice was made because everybody want an orthodox prince in order to get away with the catholic orientation imposed by Latco. Still, the choice is contested by other boyars and in Moldavia start a civil war.

1375 – Iuga/Yuri Koryatovich is assassinated in Barlad.

1375 – POD2: The majority of boyars choose Mircea, prince of Wallachia as voivode of Moldavia, at the expense of Peter Mushat, in the virtue of being engaged with the only descendent of Bogdan I.

1376 – Mircea enter in Moldavia with 3000 horsmens sent by his father, Radu I. He is welcomed in Barlad by the boyars and anointed as Voievod by the Moldavian Metropolitan, Teoctist.

1376 – Mircea pay feudal homage to Louis of Anjou, the king of Hungary, Croatia and Poland.

1377, September – Mircea (22 years old) and Anastasia (14 years old) get married in Baia, in the presence of his father Radu and brother Dan, but there are also envoys from Hungarian king, Serbian and Bulgarian princes. The most notable presence, outside of Wallachia, was Stratimir, tzar of Vidin, which was married to the Mircea’s aunt. The Mircea’s authority is now uncontested. He give a document were he declare itself:1378-1382 – Mircea consolidate his rule in Moldavia.

1382, January – Anastasia get birth of a son, named Mihail.

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Mircea I the Great - Part II


1382, 10 sept – King Louis of Anjou die and, against his will, his kingdoms get split. Mary, engaged to Sigismund of Luxemburg, will keep Hungary and Croatia and Hedwig (or Jadwiga), engaged to Jogaila, the great duke of Lithuania, will keep Poland. Jogalia, baptized to Catholicism become Wladyslaw II Jagiello of Poland and Lituania.

1383 – Radu I, Voivode of Wallachia die and his first born son, Dan was chosen as voivode by the boyars.

1384 – Charles III of Anjou, king of Naples, contest the throne of Hungary.

1384, June – Anastasia give birth to a daughter, named Ana.

1385, April – Mary and Sigismund of Luxemburg get married.

1385, September – Charles invade Dalmatia.

1385, autumn – Dan I of Wallachia invade the Banat of Severin and conquer the castle of Mehadia.

1385, 31 December – Charles his crowned King of Hungary and Croatia.

1385 – Stephen Lackfi of Csáktornya become Voievod of Transylvania in the place of Ladislaus Losonci

1386, 7 February – Charles III is stabbed in the chest by (or at the order of) Elizabeth of Bosnia, the mother of Mary. Charles die on 24 February.

1386 – Mary become queen again. She is contested in Slavonia by Horvat family. Mary and Elizabeth are captured by the Bishop of Zagreb. Hungary is in anarchy.

1386 – Mircea enter in negotiations with Wladyslaw II Jagiello of Poland. Mircea renounce of all territories in the left of river Dniester in Podolia and is recognized as Voievode of Moldavia. For his territorial loses, he's compensated with 1000 marks. A treaty of alliance is sign as equals. 1386 – A second son of Mircea is born. He is baptized Radu, in memory of his grandfather.

1386 – Dan I of Wallachia intervenes in the fratricide conflict between Shishman of Tarnovo and Stratimir of Vidin, on Stratimir side.

1386, 23 September – Dan I, The Voivode of Wallachia, is assassinated by Shishman, the Tzar of Tarnovo during a baptize banquet.
1386, September: – The boyars chose jupan Staico (or Staicu), the little brother of Dan and Mircea, as Voivode of Wallachia, in the detriment of the children of Dan. 1387 – Sigismund fight in Slavonia to free his wife and his mother-in-law. In retaliation, Elizabeth is strangulated in front of her daughter.

1387, 31 Mars – Sigismund is crowned as king of Hungary, but his rule is incredibly unstable. A part of nobles recognize the son of Charles, Ladislaus of Anjou, the king of Naples.

1387 – Mircea negotiate with cu Sigismund of Luxemburg and recognize him as king of Hungary and suzerain. Sigismund give him as feud the fortress of Rodna, in Transylvania, who was in ruin. Mircea rebuilt it and install a powerful garrison. Mircea send 400 light cavalry to help Sigismund in his fights in Slavonia.
1387, May – Vlad, Dan and Ioan, the sons of Dan I, takes refuge in Vidin, at Statimir, the uncle of his father, and ask for help against Staico Voivode.

1387, 4 June – Sigismund free Mary.

1387 – In the battle of Pločnik, the Serbs defeat the Turks. Shishman of Tarnovo, vassal of the ottomans, rise up against them.

1388 – Statimir, send Vlad and Dan in Wallachia with some military help. A part of Oltenian boyars recognize Vlad as ruler.

1388 – The Turks invade Tarnovo with a strong army.

1388 – The ottoman army conquer the city of Sillistra (Drastor). A strong contingent of akıncı and other irregulars crosses the Danube, plundering and looting, taking advantage of the civil war in Wallachia.

1388 – The Turks occupy a good chunk of Bulgaria as well as the Despotat of Dobrudja (the leader of Dobrudja, Ivanco, is killed in battle). Shishman become again ottoman vassal but his territory is greatly reduced. Stratimir become as well an ottoman vassal.

1388, June – Staico defeat Vlad and Dan and kill them. The third son of Dan I, Ioan, flee to Transylvania, and after that in Moldova asking for help. The Turks plunder the South-Est of Wallachia and takes thousands of slaves before crossing back the Danube. Staico is terrified and, using the example of Stratimir, become an ottoman vassal. This act displeases the majority of the boyars but also the people who are convinced that they could fight back the Ottomans with the Hungarian help.

1388, August – Mircea march it to Wallachia with an army, having on his side his nephew Ioan. Short after this, Ioan become sick and die. Some suspect that he was poisoned by Staico. A part of the boyars goes to the Mircea and recognize him as Voivode.

1388, 1 November – Mircea and Staico fight near to Curtea de Arges. Staico see a good part of his already reduced army defecting to Mircea during the battle and is defeated and captured. Mircea send Staico to the monastery of Tismana. Staico had no children so, the majority of his lands pass to Mircea, being his brother, or to the monastery.

1388, 10 November – The assembly of boyars chose Mircea as Voievode of Wallachia. Mircea write a document having his full title:

„I, which in Christ God and of Christ loving and rightly-worshiper autocrat, Io Mircea great Voivode and only ruler with God's mercy and by the grace of God, master and lord of all Ungrovlahia and all Moldavia, from the mountains to the sea, and lord of Banat of Severin”.

The Romanian (approximate) version is:
„Eu, cel întru Hristos Dumnezeu binecredincios şi binecinstitor şi de Hristos iubitor şi autocrat, Io Mircea mare Voievod şi Domn din mila lui Dumnezeu şi cu darul lui Dumnezeu, stăpânind şi domnind peste toată Ţara Ungrovlahiei si toată Ţara Moldovei şi Banatului Severinului domnitor și stăpânitor încă și înspre părtile tătărești”.

Sorry guys, ITTL we will not have the true Vlad Tepes Dracula (the grandson of Mircea I), even if it will be a person with the same name...

Please give any feedback, I will be gladly!

Thanks!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/MirceatheElder.jpg/339px-MirceatheElder.jpg

Mircea I the Great - Part III


1389 –In the battle of Kosovo polje, Murad I is killed but Baized I crush the Serbs and kill the cneaz Lazar. The Serbian principalities fall one after another to the Ottomans. 1389 – Sigismund of Luxemburg is captured again by the insurgent nobles.

1389 – Having the support of Wladyslaw II Jagiello of Poland, Mircea invade Transylvania, reoccupy the old Wallachian feuds: the Hungarian part of the Banat of Severin, the Amlas and Fagaras, but also the castles of Karan and Sebes (Caransebes) in the Banat of Severin, as well as the iron mines from the Ocna de Fier and the county of Hateg (Tara Hategului) and capture the fortress of Deva (tacked by treason), Hateg and Hunedoara.

1390 – Sigismund, released from the captivity, enter in Transylvania with an army and head on to Deva fortress, with the intention to recover it and punish Mircea but is surprised and ambushed on the Mures valley and captured by the valachs. In the town of Deva, Sigismund meet Mircea who, surprising, tomb in his knee before him and recognize him as true lord and suzerain. Mircea justify his acts by recover the ancestral and his rightful rights on the feuds of Transylvania, some rights being from the first voievods of Walachia who were also cneaji of Hateg. Of course, more negotiations were conducted in private and Sigismund, as he was still prisoner, agree to recognize Mircea claims in exchange for leaving the alliance with Poland and enter into an anti-ottoman alliance. Sigismund become to warring for the ottoman advance in Balkans and desiring to recover the Hungarian influence in the Serbian and Bulgarian region. Sigismund grant the lands of Banat of Severin (that also contains the cities of Karan-Sebes with the hinterlands and iron mines form Ocna de Fier), the Hateg district (Tara Hategului) with the cities of Hateg, Deva and Hunedoara, the county of Amlas (largely extended with several villages) and the county of Fagaras (also extended), as hereditary feuds to Mircea and his descendants. Those were big grants but all these territories were already conquered by Mircea and some of them have already a long tradition of being ruled by Wallachians.

1390 to 1394 – Mircea use this period to consolidate his rule on all his territories. He reorganize both Moldavia and Wallachia dived them in „Județe” (counties) ruled by appointed „Juzi” (this organization was already in place in Wallachia but was extended to Moldova, Banat and Tara Hategului). Voicu from the Hunyad county, a rich and ambitious noble of walachian high noble origin (being from the same family with Mircea), become „Jude of Hațeg” and organize the administration.

1390 – Mircea build a copper mine in Baia de Arama and expand the salt mine from Ocnele Mari. He also expand the iron mines from Baia de Fier. Several towns become important metallurgical centers (by medieval standards). In Severin, Strehaia and Craiova are build strong stone fortifications. Strehaia become a center of copper metallurgy and in Severin, Craiova, Arges, Targoviste, Campulung, Curtea de Arges, Baia and Suceava are build ateliers of weapon-smith. Saxons and Italians artisans and metal workers are invited to Wallachia and Moldavia to open ateliers.

1392 – Mircea defeat a Tatar incursion in Moldavia and start building fortress to protect the eastern border. He refortify and expand Cetatea Alba (Akkerman). Mircea create a permanent military force of 2 000 cavalry, named „Viteji” paid by the salt tax, formed mainly from Wallachians and Moldavians younger sons of little boyars and freemen (from răzeși and moșneni class). They are light (horse archers) and medium (lancers) cavalry, highly mobile, protected by mail, with shields lavishly decorated. They are divided in 4 „steaguri” (banners), divisions of 500 man each, half stationed in Wallachia and half in Moldavia. Those are completed by the „Voivode Personal Guard”, a small unit of the best fighters in the countries, regardless the social origin.

The army of Mircea had approximately the following configuration:
- The Little Ost (Oastea cea Mică) - The Great Ost (Oastea cea Mare) – formed by anybody able to bear weapons:

Mircea I the Great - Part IV

Interesting start, I'll be following this timeline.

aegis03florin said:

„I, which in Christ God and of Christ loving and rightly-worshiper autocrat, Io Mircea great Voivode and only ruler with God's mercy and by the grace of God, master and lord of all Ungrovlahia and all Moldavia, from the mountains to the sea, and lord of Banat of Severin”.

The Romanian (approximate) version is:
„Eu, cel întru Hristos Dumnezeu binecredincios şi binecinstitor şi de Hristos iubitor şi autocrat, Io Mircea mare Voievod şi Domn din mila lui Dumnezeu şi cu darul lui Dumnezeu, stăpânind şi domnind peste toată Ţara Ungrovlahiei si toată Ţara Moldovei şi Banatului Severinului domnitor și stăpânitor încă și înspre părtile tătărești”.

Click to expand...

Is this from an OTL document?

Halagaz said:

Interesting start, I'll be following this timeline.



Is this from an OTL document?

Click to expand...

Thanks!

Actually, it's an adaptation after a OTL document. I've kept the formulas and just change some titles.

The board needs more Romania timelines. I'll be following this.

Thanks guys for encouraging me in this timeline.

I do not know if the subject do not interest many or if it's my style of writing or the timeline or it's my English (that it's my third language), as there are not many questions or feedback or suggestions. I know that the period it's quite obscure...

I've made some corrections and updates in my stories and I'm working for a new part.

I will appreciate any critics or feedback.

Cheers!

PS: I've chosen this character, Mircea the Elder (Mircea cel Batran), as I like it as historical person and I like the period of Ottoman conquest of Balkans.

It's intereesting. I wonder if they'll be able to unite to create a stronger front against the Ottomans when they arrive in the western Balkans in another 15-20 years. Considering how many people I've read on here were wiped out, having sucha powerful ally could cause the Ottomans to be stopped significantly further south than OTL.

Man, the whole Nicopolis debacle was such a trainwreck. Worse still, it was almost impossible to correct/alter. Fighting ethos of the French knights was almost comically misadapted to large-force operations. Short of pulling the French out of command (which was a practical impossibility, since they were financing the whole thing) the only way it would have had a small chance of success would have been to put some old knights in command, instead of young hotheads like Nevers, d'Eu and Boucicaut.

Nicopolis

Slowpoke said:

Man, the whole Nicopolis debacle was such a trainwreck. Worse still, it was almost impossible to correct/alter. Fighting ethos of the French knights was almost comically misadapted to large-force operations. Short of pulling the French out of command (which was a practical impossibility, since they were financing the whole thing) the only way it would have had a small chance of success would have been to put some old knights in command, instead of young hotheads like Nevers, d'Eu and Boucicaut.

Click to expand...

Hi!

I agree with you that the outcome of the battle could not be changed taking in consideration the leaders and composition of the crusader host. I've tried to keep the butterflies at minimum, without interfere to much, so, the battle will happens nearly as per OTL. So, ITTL, the outcome was the same, the only change is that Sigismund was encircled and saved by Mircea.

OTL, the Serbian knights leaded by Stefan Lazarevic (who fought on Turkish side) nearly crush the Hungarian contingent leaded by Sigismund who came to rescue the French knights.
ITTL, Sigismund is surrounded and saved by Mircea intervention who not participate to the battle itself neither in OTL ot TTL.

Also, in OTL, the Serbian forces leaded by Nikola Gorjanski retreat without fight, after conculding an agreement with Baiazed and his brother in law, Stefan Lazarevic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Nicopolis

Mircea I the Great - Part V


1396-1397 – The Turks conquer Vidin and capture Stratimir, who will die in captivity. The city of Vidin, as well as Nicopolis and Sillistra becomes base from were constant rides of pillaging are sent, especially in Walachia but also in the Southern Moldavia.

1397 - Mircea decide that his son need military actions, in order to be respected by the boyars and the soldiers. Despising of being only 15 years old, Mihail was appointed to lead of the “Viteji” corps with the mission to hunting down the akingi on the north of the Danube. He’s not alone in command, but on the seconded by several experienced fighters. He done a good job but his councilors complains that he act to impetuous and put himself to the danger to much. Mihail spend a lot of time in campaign and his tutors are forced to travel with him. Mircea was categorical that his sons need to learn to write and spoke Slavonic, Latin and Greek, as well as philosophy. This training is completed by military exercises in hand to hand combat and bow shooting from the horseback. The boyar Voicu from Hunedoara was asked to provide military training in western fashion to the young prince.

1397, The Turks foray deep into Transylvania and but are defeated on the way back by Mircea and Mihail on the Ialomita river.

1397 – Mircea start to build powerful strongholds on the Danube frontiers. Germans and Italians architects are invited to supervise the constructions. He build or expand the fortress of Calafat, Turnu, Giurgiu, Pacuiul lui Soare, Targul de Floci, Galati, Vicina and Chilia. Those are stone fortress, reinforced with ditches, palisade and bastions. This constructions drain the treasury and Mircea is forced to increase the taxes on the peasants. This measure proves to be unpopular and the ambulant tax farmers are often aggressed by bands of rebelled peasants. In order to reinstall the authority, Mircea spent more money. Still, the majority of his income come from the trade toll.1397, September – The wife of Mircea, Anastasia, die in childbirth, having 34 years old. The child, a boy Christianized Alexandru, die several weeks later.

1398 – A Tatar incursion that pillaged the eastern of Moldavia is stopped on the Prut river by an army commanded by Mihail. He is on the nominal command but he’s seconded by Voicu of Hunedoara and Dragomir, the Ban of Severin, with instructions to advise and provide decision support. Mihail distinguish itself by bravely fighting in the hand to hand combat, leading the “Viteji” detachments. He was nicknamed as Mihai Viteazul, or Michael the Brave (from both the fact that the name of the “Viteji” means “The Braves”. The Ban Dragomir lost his life in battle and he’s replaced by another boyar, named Dragan.1399, Mars – Mircea anoint his first son, Mihail, as co-voivode in Moldavia and Wallachia. The majority boyars agree with that but several from each country do not. Some goes to Hungary and other to Poland to contest the election.

1399, April - The King of Poland, Wladyslaw II Jagiello, despising of his alliance with Mircea, give “carte blanche" to Podolian and Galician nobles to support a pretender, named Alexandru (Alexandre or Olexandru). Vytautas, the Great Duke of Lithuania was campaigning against the Golden Horde in order to reinstall the disposed Mongol khan Tokhtamysh and to conquer more land in the south. He do not meddle, but he was not content that some of the nobles were distracted from his crusade.1399, Mai - Alexandre invade Moldavia with an army and head to the South. His army number something between 5 and 6 000 men. Mircea was in that moment in Severin region, participating to a wild boar hunting party. To make the things worst, Mircea is gravely wounded and rest unconscious for several days. Even after he become conscious, the condition of his life is very precarious, with fever and hallucinations. Many boyars start plotting, being sure that he will die soon.

1399, end of Mai – Mihail was in Moldavia at Piatra Neamt with a small army when the two news arrive to him. His father was in convalescence and a pretender invaded the country from North. He was very confused what he should do it. If his father die and he will not be in Wallachia, the boyars could choose another Voivode. If he goes to Wallachia, then Moldavia will be lost to Alexandre.

1399, 15 June – Mihail decide to fight the invader and meet him with only 3 500 men and engage him in battle near the town of Cernăuţi (Chernivtsi). The battle is bloody and Mihail is defeated and captured. The victorious nobles divides himself in two camps, one who want the prince to be beheaded and another one who want him to be kept as hostage. Alexandre is anointed as Voivode of Moldavia in Baia and recognize himself as Polish vassal. The disgruntled Wallachian nobles that were at Hungarian court, request to Sigismund to dispose Mircea as well from the Wallachian throne. Sigismund do not agree because he was focused on the succession in Germany and Bohemia where he supported his childless half-brother Wenceslaus IV. His rule in Hungary is again disputed, many of nobles being angered by the Nicopolis disaster, so he is unable to provide enough support to Wenceslaus. The lost of suzerainty in Moldavia anger him further.

1399, June - The queen Jadwiga of Poland died in childbirth, leaving Wladyslaw without heir and without legitimacy on the crown of Poland. A civil war started in Poland.

1399, June - The Ottomans irregulars pillage across the frontier in Wallachia, Hungary and Transylvania.

1399, August – The Tatars of the Golden Horde, led by Temur Qutlugh and Edigu crush the Lithuanian coalitions of Grand Duke Vytautas. Many princes and nobles are killed in battle or captured and executed by the Tartars. Vytautas barely escaped and the Tatars pursuit him deep in his lands, recovering all the territory north of the Black Sea till the Moldavian frontier. The Tartar start pillaging far deeper into Lithuania and Poland, sacking several towns in Podolia.

The Map

Hi!

This is a map I've done, concerning Mircea's possessions in Moldavia, Wallachia and Transylvania.

Congrats !!!

Wow !!! I'm impressed, great map and great start . I wonder what will be the geopolitical situation in the Balkans with more powerful "Romanian" principalities. Keep up the good work !!

Thank you Manuel!

I've decided to drop a french timeline because I've started to being more and more interested by the eastern Europe and Romanian Principalities in the late middle age.

I know that there are a lot of theories concerning the butterflies, this timeline being similar to an "uchronie", as I've tried to keep them low and let happening a serious of events that could easily butterflied.

Still, some butterflies will hit soon!

Please fill free to give any feedback you consider.

Thanks!

I've made some minor updates to the map, the most important being the fix of the territory ceded to Poland on the left bank of Dniester, as per the wiki map:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Polska_1386_-_1434.png

1399, August – In the city of Severin, Mircea was dying when a monk, named Nicodim, come to him. Nicodim, the abbot (stareț) of Tismana monastery, had a dispute with Mircea earlier in the year and he taken refuge across the mountains in Transylvania but after learning of the Voivode health, he come back to Wallachia. After stopping to Vodița monastery, he demanded to have a private meeting with Mircea. The situation was confusing and the boyars do not know what to do. Nicodim says that God call him from his exile to call the sinful to repentance Voivode who by his sin brought disaster to the country (Mircea being notorious by his lustful behavior, having multiples mistress and multiple bastard sons). He says that his faith is in God hands and, if he repent his acts and confess, he will give him the last rites. If he do not, even a greater evil and disasters will arrive on his family and the country. Nicodim was seen as a living saint and the God man on earth, so he was allowed to enter lonely in the Voivode chamber.1399, August – Sultan Baized Ylderim, freshly returned at Edirne after campaign in Anatolia ad Syria against the Beyliks that pledged loyalty to Timur Lenk, the Great Turko-Mongolian Khan, learn that Mircea was surly dead, Moldova has another Voivode and Walachia is in chaos. He decided that it’s the time to settle once and forever the fate of this troublesome principality. He cross the Danube by the end of the month with an army of less than 20 000 men, gathered in a hurry, as the campaigning season was nearly finish (the ottomans prefers starting a campaign in the spring, not in the fall).

1399, 28 August – The new of Mircea death arrived in Baia and the newly Voivode Alexandre decide that his captive, the prince Mihail, could die now without being afraid of Wallachian reprisals. If the Northern region of Moldavia (Țara de Sus) acknowledge his authority, the Southern one have not. Hi, with the accord of the loyal boyars, condemn Mihail to be beheaded on the next day. He ignore the fact that on 29 August, the Church commemorates the beheading of Saint John the Baptist. Mihail received the last rites on the evening of 28 and fasted without eating or drinking. He was scared and he was afraid of death but he prays to God to have mercy of his soul and receive him in the Kingdom of Heaven.

1399, 28-29 August, before sunshine – the prison door where Mihail was kept open and a men with darker skin entered in the cell. He was a gypsy slave, surely the executioner. It seems that Alexandre had lost the patience and decided to finish him sooner.The two disappeared in the night, heading south.

1399, October – The Ottoman army arrived to a hilly region when the scouts announced the Sultan the unbelievable. The road was blocked by defensive earthworks, guarded by thousands of Wallachian troops, having the Mircea's banners and ensigns. The Sultan do not believe the first accounts, but after other reports, he concludes that „Sheitan Oğlu” (Son of the Devil) was not dead and he stay against him with some of 8 000 men. The news that Mircea died was false. He recovered after the meeting with the monk and after he learn that his son Mihail was captured. The Sultan decide to lunch the attack. The battle lasted 3 days without a victor. On the evening of the third day, a messenger arrived from the Walachians, saying that Mircea want to meet Baized in person. The Sultan, despising the advice of his councilors who remember him the fate of his father, approve the meeting and the two leaders meet on the field, without weapons or guards. Mircea and Baized agree to made peace under harsh conditions for the Wallachians. Mircea will pay 3000 silver aspris (Turkish currency) each year, will provide the Sultan with troops when required and will send his 13 years old son Radu, as captive to Edirne. Baized will respect the integrity of the country, will recognize Mircea as Voivode of both Moldavia and Wallachia, as well as the heir that Mircea will decide and do not meddle in internal or external affairs and he will retreat across the Danube on the same path on what he come, limiting the damage of the country.

1399, 1 November – Mircea, meet his son Mihail and the loyal boyars and soldiers at Crăciuna fortress. With 6000 men, he head north to meet Alexandre, despising the arriving winter. Alexandre lost many of his Podolian, Polish and Lithuanian supporters who go back to defend their home against the Tatars. He decided to not meet his enemy on the field but to defend itself on the fortress of Suceava, hoping that reinforcements will come from Poland and/or the winter will help him. Mircea and Mihail lay siege to the fortress and start to receive allegiance from the country boyars who previously accepted Alexandre.

Nice turnaround there

In the year of the Lord 1400

1399, 25 December – In the Christmas Day, the gates of the Suceava fortress opens and the garrison surrender to Mircea. Still, Alexandre was not founded. One day before, he escaped by descending with ropes with 2 bodyguards and was heading north to Poland. Mircea was on rage. He sent his light cavalry to find it but in vain.

1400, January – The “Usurper”, as Alexandre was called by moldo-vlachs, arrived to Wladyslaw Jagiello court in Poland and asked refuge. The Boyars form Halicz request the Polish King to give asylum to the fugitive as Mircea is surly not a friend of Poland but one of Hungary. Jagiello agree and Alexandre establish itself in Kolomyja, near the Moldavian border. There, he receive fugitives and try to gather support.

1400, February-Mars – Mircea goes to Hungary to speak with Sigismund. He is in anger because Sigismund do not left a finger the previous year to defend him as his lawful suzerain. Now, he had lost thousands of soldiers in battles and both country are in ruin. His treasury is empty and he needs money and troops like water. He found Sigismund embroiled in wars in Germany and Bohemia, without much support in Hungary and lacking of money… Still, Sigismund was concerned about the latest Wallachian agreement with the Ottomans and about the Polish melding in Moldavia, so he agree to pay Mircea for recruitment of 1000 German and Bohemian mercenaries and engage itself to continue the payment each year. In return, Mircea should help him against the Ottomans if Hungary is attacked with all troops he can rise. There were other matters that Sigismund and Mircea discussed, mainly the marriages. Mircea needed one wife for his son Mihail and another for himself. So Mircea spend the next months in Hungary to find suitable brides.

1400, Mai – Sigismund also needed one wife for himself, as his wife Mary of Hungary died previously so, he married Anna of Celje (19 years old), daughter of count William, count of Celje and Anna of Poland (daughter of the King Casimir III of Poland). Her father was cousin with count Herman II of Celje. There were discussions of marriage between Wladyslaw Jagiello of Poland and Anna’s family, in order to increase his legitimacy on the Polish throne. Marring her, Sigismund just gain a new claim against his enemy. In the same time, Sigismund approach Duke Vytautas and propose him a crown if he abandon his alliance with Jagiello. Vytautas become interested to the idea to become King of Lithuania, so he delayed the treaties for a Polish – Lithuanian union. Anna and Barbara were closer friends as they grow together in the Celje castle and they will correspond often. Wladyslaw Jagiello married Elizabeth Granowska of Pilica, the only child of Otton of Pilica, Voivode of Sandomierz and a very rich and powerful women. 1400 – This year Timur Lenk destroy the armies of the The Black Sheep Turkomans, killing his ruler Quara Yousouf and occupy his empire. The same fate had the Jalayirid Sultanate from Iraq, but his leader, Sultan Ahmad, takes refuge to Ottoman Court. In the same year, Timur invaded Christian Armenia and Georgia and conquer them. He sack Aleppo and Damask killing everybody.