Romanian history / Vlad II the Dragon / Episode 3

 

Dear Steemians, 

I present today  Vlad II, also known as Vlad Dracul "The Devil" or Vlad the Dragon (before 1395 – November 1447) , a controversial leader of Wallachia (Romania).

Vlad the Dragon was voivode (or prince) of Wallachia from 1436 to 1442, and again from 1443 to 1447.

 

Nobility: Noble Family - The Basarab Dynasty - House Drăculești

Born an illegitimate son of Mircea I of Wallachia, he spent his youth at the court of Sigismund of Luxembourg, who made him a member of the Order of the Dragon in 1431 (hence his sobriquet). Sigismund also recognized him as the lawful voivode of Wallachia, allowing him to settle in the nearby Transylvania. Vlad II the Dragon could not assert his claim during the life of his half-brother, Alexander I Aldea, who acknowledged the suzerainty of the Ottoman Sultan, Murad II.

 Dragon order insignia

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At Sighisoara he founded a mint where the new ducats (Wallachian coin) beat, which circulated first in Transylvania and then in Wallachia.

The coins had an eagle with wings spread, head turned to the right, and a dragon winged with a serpent, with its wings and a straight upright leg, and the left pawl finished in four claws.

From this symbol Vlad II received his title Dracul ("The Devil") after being received on December 13, 1431 in the Dragon Order founded in 1408 by Sigismund, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

The Order of the Dragon was a military order similar to the Templar Order, which was established in the central area of  Europe.

Shortly afterwards, in 1436, his name was removed from the knight's list. In 1432, only a year after the ennoblement, contrary to the Christian status of the Order aimed at protecting the pagan Christendom, in this case the Ottoman threat, Vlad II Dracul ("The Devil") personally led the Turks who besieged and fired the Fortress of Severin, killing all the knights the teutons of the city.

Between 1431-1435 Vlad II Dracul ("The Devil") settled in Sighisoara, where he took full advantage of Sigismund I of Luxembourg, King of Hungary. On his behalf, Vlad II Dracul punishes the fortress of Rupea and other cities revolted against royal authority.

In a letter they are fighting the people of Braşov, robbing some people protected by him, explaining that he had been commissioned to guard the eastern border.

A portrait of Vlad II Dracul "The Devil"

   

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In 1444, King Vladislav I of Hungary declared war on the Ottoman Empire and launched the Battle of Varna under the leadership of Iancu of Hunedoara.

Iancu asked Vlad II Dracul "The Devil" to fulfill his oath as a member of the Dragon Order and as a vassal of Hungary, but was refused. The Pope graduated from his oath and asked his son Mircea II to go back.

The result of the crusade in Varna was disastrous for the Christian army, and Iancu de Hunedoara barely escaped to Valahia where he was captured by Vlad II's Dracul, but he was soon released with many gifts.

Many, including Mircea II and Vlad II Dracul, blamed Iancu for disaster. From that moment on, Iancu de Hunedoara had a hostile attitude towards Vlad II Dracul and his great son.

In 1447 Vlad II Dracul ("The Devil") was assassinated with his son Mircea II.

Vlad II Dracul had at least two other sons, Mircea II, the older brother of Vlad III Dracula, known as Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula, and Beautiful Radu, the younger brother.

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Vlad III Dracula, known as Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula

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 Thank You for reading and your upvotes.