Basarab II
Encyclopedia
Basarab II was a ruler of the principality
of Wallachia
(1442–1443 AD), and the son of former Wallachian ruler Dan II of Wallachia
. Basarab II ruled during a turbulent time in Wallachia, now part of present day Romania
, with his rule falling between that of the father and son rule of Vlad Dracul and Mircea II
. His reign was extremely short, as during that period only the strongest could retain their hold on the region for any great length of time. He took over as ruler in August of 1442, holding on to it only until the Autumn of 1443, when Vlad Dracul forced him out.
During that time, the power of the Ottoman Empire
became stronger with each year, making them a constant threat to the independent Wallachia. Anyone who ruled Wallachia had not only the Ottomans to deal with, but the internal conflicts of their own people. Politics had to be juggled between maintaining good relations with the Hungarian Empire, who were often needed as powerful allies against the invasions of the Ottomans, as well as maintaining at least semi-friendly relations with the Ottomans themselves.
In 1442, Hungarian hero John Hunyadi
defeated the Ottomans in battle, and placed Basarab II in power, forcing Vlad Dracul and his family to flee. However, the following year Vlad Dracul regained the throne with Ottoman support, based on a new treaty
that had the conditions that he make the usual annual tribute, in addition to sending Wallachian boys each year to be trained for service in the Ottoman army. To further show his loyalty, he sent to the Sultan
two of his sons, Vlad Tepes and Radu cel Frumos
, as hostages. The elder of the two boys would go on to become the inspiration for the novel
Dracula
, by Bram Stoker
. Basarab II was not killed by Vlad Dracul when the latter restored his rule, however he would be buried alive during the last reign of Vlad Tepes.
Principality
A principality is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of prince or princess, or by a monarch with another title within the generic use of the term prince....
of Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
(1442–1443 AD), and the son of former Wallachian ruler Dan II of Wallachia
Dan II of Wallachia
Dan II was a voivode of the principality of Wallachia in the 15th Century, ruling an extraordinary five times, and succeeded four times by Radu II Chelul, his rival for the throne...
. Basarab II ruled during a turbulent time in Wallachia, now part of present day Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, with his rule falling between that of the father and son rule of Vlad Dracul and Mircea II
Mircea II of Wallachia
Mircea II was a one time ruler of the principality of Wallachia, in the year 1442. He was the oldest son of Vlad II Dracul and brother of Vlad Ţepeş and Radu the Handsome...
. His reign was extremely short, as during that period only the strongest could retain their hold on the region for any great length of time. He took over as ruler in August of 1442, holding on to it only until the Autumn of 1443, when Vlad Dracul forced him out.
During that time, the power of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
became stronger with each year, making them a constant threat to the independent Wallachia. Anyone who ruled Wallachia had not only the Ottomans to deal with, but the internal conflicts of their own people. Politics had to be juggled between maintaining good relations with the Hungarian Empire, who were often needed as powerful allies against the invasions of the Ottomans, as well as maintaining at least semi-friendly relations with the Ottomans themselves.
In 1442, Hungarian hero John Hunyadi
John Hunyadi
John Hunyadi John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: Ioannes Corvinus or Ioannes de Hunyad, Romanian: Iancu (Ioan) de Hunedoara, Croatian: Janko Hunjadi, Serbian: Сибињанин Јанко / Sibinjanin Janko, Slovak: Ján Huňady) John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: ...
defeated the Ottomans in battle, and placed Basarab II in power, forcing Vlad Dracul and his family to flee. However, the following year Vlad Dracul regained the throne with Ottoman support, based on a new treaty
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
that had the conditions that he make the usual annual tribute, in addition to sending Wallachian boys each year to be trained for service in the Ottoman army. To further show his loyalty, he sent to the Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
two of his sons, Vlad Tepes and Radu cel Frumos
Radu cel Frumos
Radu III the Fair, Radu III the Handsome or Radu III the Beautiful , also known by his Turkish name Radu Bey , was the younger brother of Vlad Ţepeş and voivode of the principality of Wallachia, of the four brothers he converted to Islam and entered Ottoman service...
, as hostages. The elder of the two boys would go on to become the inspiration for the novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
Dracula
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
, by Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker
Abraham "Bram" Stoker was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula...
. Basarab II was not killed by Vlad Dracul when the latter restored his rule, however he would be buried alive during the last reign of Vlad Tepes.