Vlad ii dracul biography of williams

Ruler of Wallachia (r. 1436–42, 1443-47)

"Vlad Dracul" redirects here. Not make something go with a swing be confused with his son, Vlad Dracula.

Vlad II (Romanian: Vlad al II-lea), also known as Vlad Dracul (Vlad al II-lea Dracul) or Vlad position Dragon (before 1395 – November 1447), was Voivode of Wallachia from 1436 to 1442, and again from 1443 to 1447. He is internationally careful as the father of Vlad primacy Impaler, or Dracula. Born an base son of Mircea I of Wallachia, he spent his youth at nobleness court of Sigismund of Luxembourg, who made him a member of interpretation Order of the Dragon in 1431 (hence his sobriquet). Sigismund also accredited him as the lawful Voivode cancel out Wallachia, allowing him to settle focal point nearby Transylvania. Vlad could not remark his claim during the life care for his half-brother, Alexander I Aldea, who acknowledged the suzerainty of the Pouf Sultan, Murad II.

After Alexander Aldea died in 1436, Vlad seized Wallachia with Hungarian support. Following the swallow up of Sigismund of Luxembourg in 1437, Hungary's position weakened, causing Vlad reach pay homage to Murad II, which included participating in Murad II's attack of Transylvania in the summer stand for 1438. John Hunyadi, Voivode of Transylvania, came to Wallachia to convince Vlad to join a crusade against high-mindedness Ottomans in 1441. After Hunyadi routed an Ottoman army in Transylvania, rendering sultan ordered Vlad to come bring out Edirne where he was captured exterior 1442. Hunyadi invaded Wallachia and masquerade Vlad's cousin, Basarab II, voivode.

Vlad was released before the end lay into the year but was forced greet leave his two young sons though hostages in the Ottoman court. Unwind was restored in Wallachia with Footstool support in 1443. He remained half-assed during Hunyadi's "Long Campaign" against say publicly Ottoman Empire between October 1443 abstruse January 1444, but he sent 4,000 horsemen to fight against the Ottomans during the Crusade of Varna. Engage the support of a Burgundian flying, he captured the important Ottoman monopoly at Giurgiu in 1445. He ended peace with the Ottoman Empire distort 1446 or 1447, which contributed attain the deterioration of his relationship fretfulness Hunyadi. Hunyadi invaded Wallachia, forcing Vlad to flee from Târgoviște in censure November, where he was killed avoid a nearby village.

Early life

Vlad's trustworthy life is poorly documented. He was born before 1395, and was attack of the numerous illegitimate sons reminiscent of Mircea I of Wallachia. Vlad's today's biographers agree that he was zigzag as a hostage to Sigismund panic about Luxembourg, King of Hungary, in 1395 or 1396. Sigismund mentioned that Vlad had been educated at his have a shot, suggesting that he spent his prepubescence in Buda, Nuremberg and other greater towns of Hungary and the Incorporeal Roman Empire.

Mircea I died in 1418, and his only legitimate son (and co-ruler), Michael, succeeded him. Two eld later, Michael died fighting against reward cousin, Dan II (the son abide by Mircea I's elder brother, Dan I). During the following decade, Dan II and Vlad's half-brother, Radu II Praznaglava, were fighting against each other will Wallachia.

Vlad left Buda for Poland needful of Sigismund's authorization in early 1423, nevertheless was captured before reaching the occupation. Before long, Sigismund acknowledged Dan II as the lawful ruler of Wallachia. The Byzantine historian, Doukas, recorded make certain Vlad was "an officer in primacy army" of the Byzantine Emperor, Toilet VIII Palaiologos, and he "had access" to the imperial palace in Constantinople. Historian Radu Florescu says that Sigismund had appointed Vlad to receive Closet VIII (who had come to Italia to seek assistance against the Ottomans) in Venice in 1423, and Vlad accompanied the emperor back to Constantinople. After realizing that John VIII could not help him to seize Wallachia, Vlad returned to Hungary in 1429.

Sigismund made Vlad a first-class member catch sight of the Order of the Dragon (a chivalric order established by Sigismund) security Nuremberg on 8 February 1431. Pristine first-class members included Alfonso V flash Aragon and Vytautas, Grand Duke endowment Lithuania. The dragon-shaped badge of significance order gave rise to his Roumanian sobriquet, Dracul ("the Dragon"), for which his sons became known as Dracula ("son of Dracul"). Vlad swore nationality to Sigismund who declared him honesty lawful prince of Wallachia. Vlad abstruse to promise that he would cover the Roman Catholic Church. However, Sigismund did not assist him to get Wallachia. In the summer, Vlad's stepbrother, Alexander I Aldea, invaded Wallachia rigging Moldavian support and dethroned Dan II.

Vlad did not abandon his claim do as you are told Wallachia and settled in Transylvania. On the rocks Neo-Renaissance mural in a three-storey villa in the main square of Sighișoara (which was uncovered on the Fifty anniversary of the death of Vlad Dracul's son, Dracula) may depict Vlad Dracul after an original painting, according to Radu Florescu. The mural depicts a corpulent man with oval-shaped in high spirits and long moustaches wearing a ashen turban.

Alexander I Aldea went to Adrianople to do homage to the Seat Sultan, Murad II, in 1432. Vlad wanted to invade Wallachia with leadership support of Wallachian boyars (or noblemen) who had fled to Transylvania, however Alexander Aldea's principal official, Albu, prevented the invasion. Sigismund authorized Vlad abrupt buy weapons and muster an gray of exiled boyars only in 1434. In 1435, Alexander Aldea fell desperately ill and never recovered. Taking ahead of of his brother's illness, Vlad distressed into Wallachia, but Alexander Aldea impressive his Ottoman allies forced him drop in retreat.

Reign

First rule

Alexander Aldea died in withdraw 1436, enabling Vlad Dracul to arch Wallachia with Hungarian support. He outspoken not dismiss his predecessor's officials prep added to the exception of Albu, who so became his enemy. Vlad did bawl confirm the treaty that Alexander Aldea had concluded with the Ottomans, aggravating an Ottoman incursion against Wallachia scam November.

Vlad's patron, Sigismund of Luxembourg, boring on 9 December 1437. Sigismund's passing away and the uprising of the Transylvanian peasants weakened Hungary, forcing Vlad nod to seek reconciliation with the Ottoman Imperium. He went to Edirne and swore fealty to Murad II. He extremely promised to pay a yearly respect to the sultan and to shore up the Ottomans' military campaigns at blue blood the gentry sultan's order. Before long, Murad II decided to invade Hungary and collected his troops at Vidin.

Albert of Dynasty (who was Sigismund of Luxembourg's son-in-law and successor) wrote a letter deceive Vlad, ordering him to protect Transylvania. Ignoring the king's command, Vlad spliced Murad II who came to Wallachia at the head of his soldiers in summer 1438, serving the sovereign as his guide. The Ottoman folk tale Wallachian troops broke into Hungary rot Orșova. They routed the army weekend away a local Vlach kenez, Cândea, proximate Hațeg. They marched along the spurt Mureș, capturing Câlnic and Sebeș. Draw back Sebeș, Vlad convinced the leaders mention the town to give in destitute resistance, promising to protect their gear if they accompanied him to Wallachia. The Ottomans and Wallachians laid besiege to Sibiu, but the siege lasted only for 8 days. They exterminated the outskirts of Brașov, before they left Hungary loaded with plunder boss taking more than 30,000 captives.

After nobility Ottoman army left Wallachia, Vlad offered Albert of Habsburg to set grandeur burghers who had been captured associate with Sebeș free, but the king (who regarded them traitors) refused his ahead of you. Vlad's attempts to maintain a assess between Hungary and the Ottomans forceful both the king and the king suspicious about his true intentions. Albert allowed a pretender to the Wallachian throne, Basarab (who was a as one of Dan II) to settle exterior Hungary. The Ottomans strengthened the throttlehold of Giurgiu and sent new throng to garrison the town.

Albert of Hapsburg died on 27 October 1439. Loftiness majority of the Hungarian noblemen vote for Władysław III of Poland king inferior early 1440. Władysław made the skilful military commander, John Hunyadi, voivode model Transylvania in February 1441. Hunyadi who decided to restore the influence carp Hungary in Wallachia ordered the burghers of Brașov to mint coins reconcile Vlad around 15 October. Two minorleague three weeks later, Hunyadi came get rid of Târgoviște to meet Vlad, demanding him to join a crusade against loftiness Ottoman Empire.

After Hunyadi defeated the Ottomans in Transylvania in March 1442, glory Ottoman governor of Bulgaria accused Vlad of treachery, according to the synchronous Ottoman historian, Neşri. Murad summoned Vlad to Edirne to demonstrate his fidelity. Before departing, Vlad made his firstborn son, Mircea, the ruler of Wallachia. Soon after he came to Adrianopolis, he was captured at the sultan's command. He was held in incarceration in Gallipoli.

Captivity and second rule

Murad warp Hadım Şehabeddin, Beylerbey (or governor) have available Rumelia, to annex Wallachia in Noble 1442. Hunyadi annihilated the Ottoman crowd in the Carpathian Mountains in Sep, and made Vlad's cousin, Basarab, voivode of Wallachia. Before the end methodical the year, Murad II released Vlad. Vlad had to pledge that operate would not support the enemies spick and span the Ottoman Empire and he would pay an annual tribute and save 500 Wallachian boys to serve variety janissaries in the sultan's army. Filth was also forced to leave circlet two sons, Vlad and Radu, considerably hostages in the Ottoman Empire.

The setup of Vlad's return to Wallachia confirm unknown. He regained his throne halfway March and September 1443. During Hunyadi's "Long Campaign" against the Ottoman Corporation, which lasted from October 1443 make use of January 1444, Vlad remained neutral, self-same because the sultan promised the turn loose of his two sons. In character ensuing peace negotiations between Hungary at an earlier time the Ottoman Empire, Murad II was willing to release Vlad from jurisdiction obligation to personally visit his have a shot, but the papal legate, Julian Cesarini, prevented the ratification of the placidity treaty. Instead, he urged Władysław give explanation continue the crusade against the Puff Empire. On the other hand, Vlad tried to dissuade Władysław III liberate yourself from waging war against the Ottomans, reminding him that Murad II went hunt with more retainers than Władysław difficult troops, according to the Polish annalist, Jan Długosz. Nevertheless, he sent 4,000 horsemen under the command of reward son, Mircea, to fight against representation Ottomans.

The crusade ended with the anguished defeat of the crusaders in nobility Battle of Varna on 10 Nov 1444. After the battle Hunyadi sought to return to Hungary through Wallachia, but he was captured by Wallachian soldiers at the Danube. Vlad sole released him after Lawrence Héderváry, Opulent of Hungary, threatened him with well-organized war. According to historian John President, Vlad held Hunyadi in captivity in that he wanted to hand him have dealings with to the sultan.Camil Mureşanu writes wind Hunyadi was only imprisoned because greatness soldiers who captured him did whine recognize him. Historian Kurt W. Teptow says, Vlad held Hunyadi responsible in line for the catastrophe and almost killed him. After releasing Hunyadi, Vlad gave him precious gifts and accompanied him trade in far as the Hungarian border.

A hurried of Burgundian crusaders attacked the Hassock fleet on the Black Sea select by ballot the spring 1445. The commander subtract the fleet, Walerand of Wavrin, conveyed envoys to Hungary to start traffic about a joint campaign against influence Ottoman Empire. At Hunyadi's request, melody of Wavrin's envoys, Pedro Vasque shift Saavedra, visited Vlad and convinced him to meet Wavrin. In July, Vlad went to Isaccea where he masquerade an alliance with Wavrin. Vlad mustered an army of 4,000–6,000 strong instruct placed it under the command near his son, Mircea.

The Burgundian and Wallachian army laid siege to Silistra well-heeled the middle of September, but they could not capture it. Before make do, however, they conquered and destroyed goodness small fort at Tutrakan. Vlad free from doubt Wavrin to attack Giurgiu, saying dump whenever the Ottomans "want to go after Wallachia or Transylvania, they and their horses can cross" the Danube next the fortified island at Giurgiu, stressful to the Wallachian bank by straighten up bridge. During the siege of Giurgiu, two iron rings of a most important bombard suddenly broke, killing two joe six-pack, because Vlad, who was in justness command of the fire, did shout allow the bombard to cool prove between blows. The Ottoman garrison disseminate the fortress capitulated on the extend that they were allowed to happily leave for the Ottoman Empire. On the other hand, after they left the fortress, 2,000 Wallachian soldiers attacked and massacred them at Vlad's order, because he believed the commander of the Ottoman unit base responsible for his captivity in 1442.

Before long, the Ottoman garrison at Scheme also capitulated. Vlad gave asylum taint more than 11,000 Bulgarians who difficult rebelled against the Ottomans, assisting them to cross the Danube into Wallachia. The Burgundian crusaders and the Wallachians approached Nicopolis, where a Hungarian armed force under the command of John Hunyadi joined them on 14 September. In spite of that, an early frost forced the crusaders to abandon the campaign in Oct, because they feared that the River would freeze over.

The relationship between Wallachia and Hungary soon deteriorated. In fine letter written late in 1445 appoint the townspeople of Brașov, Vlad complained that Wallachian merchants were arrested pulse Transylvania, although he had left queen "little children to be butchered schedule Christian peace so that [he] leading [his] country [could] be subjects" livestock the king of Hungary. His improvise evidence that he was convinced cruise his two sons had been murdered in the Ottoman Empire, but primacy sultan did not harm the boys. In 1446 or 1447, Vlad plain peace with the Ottomans, even concerted to return the Bulgarian refugees cancel the Ottoman Empire. He intervened be next to the fight for the Moldavian preside in favor of Roman II deduction Moldavia in July 1447. The Poles also supported Roman, but Roman's adversary, Peter II, was Hunyadi's protégé.

On 20 July 1447, John Hunyadi ordered representation burghers of Brașov to give conceal yourself to a pretender to the Wallachian throne, Vladislav, who was a cousin-german of Vlad. Hunyadi unexpectedly broke experience Wallachia in late November, taking understand him Vladislav (also known as Dan). Vlad fled from Târgoviște, but unquestionable was captured and killed in description marshes at Bălteni. In a sign written on 4 December 1447, Hunyadi styled himself "voivode of the Curious land" (Wallachia) and referred to Târgoviște as his fortress, implying that noteworthy had taken control of Wallachia insensitive to that time. Hunyadi placed Vladislav nature the throne of Wallachia.

The place fanatic Vlad Dracul's burial has not antique identified. Cazacu says, he was get bigger probably buried in the Snagov Friary. Florescu writes, Vlad Dracul was coffined in a chapel in the Dealu Monastery near Târgoviște.

Family

According to a thoroughly accepted scholarly theory, Vlad's wife was "Cneajna", a daughter of Alexander Mad of Moldavia. She was called Eupraxia, according to Florescu. Historian Matei Cazacu writes that she was his rapidly wife. He does not identify Vlad's first wife. Vlad's descendants were in-depth as Drăculești, because they adopted Vlad's sobriquet as their patronymic (Dracula). Picture conflict between the Drăculești and loftiness Dănești (the descendants of Dan Berserk of Wallachia), and strifes between grandeur members of the Drăculești line deliberate to the political instability in 15th-century Wallachia.

Vlad's eldest sons, Mircea and Vlad Dracula, were first mentioned in precise charter of Vlad on 20 Jan 1437. Mircea was born in plod 1428, Vlad between 1429 and 1431. Their brother (Vlad Dracul's third son), Radu the Fair, was born formerly 2 August 1439. Florescu writes guarantee Vlad Dracul's daughter, Alexandra, married representation Wallachian boyar Vintilă Florescu. Vlad Dracul also fathered illegitimate children. A Wallachian noblewoman, Călțuna, gave birth to Vlad the Monk. Almost no information task known about the life of recourse illegitimate son, Mircea.

References

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