Michael the Brave: Difference between revisions

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			'''Michael the Brave''' (]: ''Mihai Viteazul'') was one of the greatest of ]'s national heroes. He was the Prince of ] (1593-1601), of ] (1599-1600), and of ] (1600), thereby uniting for the first time the three principalities inhabited by Romanians under one rule.
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			Michael became the ] of ] in ], the ''stolnic'', or commissioner, at the court of ] by the end of 1588, and the Ban of ] in ] during the time Wallachia was ruled by ] (Alexander the Evil). In September ] with the help of the ], he became the '']'' of Wallachia, starting his effective rule on ].

			It was not long before he began to fight back against the Ottomans. The next year he adhered to a Christian alliance against the Turks and signed treaties with ] of ] and ] of ]. He started a campaign against the Turks in the autumn of ], conquering several citadels near the Danube, including ], ], ], and ].

			In ], at ], Michael signed a treaty with Sigismund Bathory in which ] became a dependency of ], requiring it to send aid to fight the Turks.
			]

			On ] ], at the ] near the ] river, Michael defeated a Turkish army led by ], then continued by liberating ], ] and ].

			The fight against the Turks continued in ], when Michael made several incursions south of the Danube: at ], ], ], ] and ].

			On ], ], he obtained an important victory in the ] against Cardinal ], gaining control of Transylvania. Michael entered stately ] (''Gyulafehérvár'') with impressive pomp, receiving the keys to the fortress from the bishop Napragy.

			When on ], ], Michael's forces defeated the combined ] and Moldavian army of ] at ], the Romanian principalities were for the first time unified under one ruler.

			However, neighboring states were alarmed by this upsetting of the balance of power, especially the ] nobility from ] who rose against Michael in rebellion. With the help of the Austrian general ], they defeated Michael at the ], forcing Michael to leave Transylvania. A Polish army led by ] drove the Wallachians from Moldavia, and defeated Michael at ], ], and ]. The Polish army also entered eastern ] and established ] as the ruler. Forces loyal to Michael remained only in ].

			Desperate to find help, Michael asked for assistance from ], the reigning ] and ]. However, he received help only when the emperor heard that Basta had lost control of Transylvania to the Hungarian nobleman lead by Sigismund Bathory. Meanwhile, forces loyal to Michael in Wallachia, after a first unsuccessful attempt, drove out Simion Movila and prepared to reenter Transylvania. Michael, allied with Basta, defeated the Hungarian noblemen at ] (''Goroszló''). However, this union did not last; Basta treacherously ordered the assassination of Michael in ], on ] ].

			In essence, his legacy is that of being the first Romanian ruler to unite all the principalities in the Romanian space, albeit for only a short period of time. Many ] ] referred to his actions in order to mobilize Romanians to unite into one country.

			== See also ==

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Revision as of 20:13, 16 August 2005

Michael the Brave (Romanian: Mihai Viteazul) was one of the greatest of Romania's national heroes. He was the Prince of Wallachia (1593-1601), of Transylvania (1599-1600), and of Moldavia (1600), thereby uniting for the first time the three principalities inhabited by Romanians under one rule.

Michael became the Ban of Mehedinţi in 1588, the stolnic, or commissioner, at the court of Mihnea Turcitul by the end of 1588, and the Ban of Craiova in 1593 during the time Wallachia was ruled by Alexandru cel Rău (Alexander the Evil). In September 1593 with the help of the Ottoman Turks, he became the Voivod of Wallachia, starting his effective rule on October 11.

It was not long before he began to fight back against the Ottomans. The next year he adhered to a Christian alliance against the Turks and signed treaties with Sigismund Bathory of Transylvania and Aron Vodă of Moldavia. He started a campaign against the Turks in the autumn of 1594, conquering several citadels near the Danube, including Giurgiu, Brăila, Hârşova, and Silistra.

In 1595, at Alba Iulia, Michael signed a treaty with Sigismund Bathory in which Wallachia became a dependency of Transylvania, requiring it to send aid to fight the Turks.

File:Mihai viteazul.jpg

Michael the Brave

On August 13 1595, at the Battle of Călugăreni near the Neajlov river, Michael defeated a Turkish army led by Sinan Pasha, then continued by liberating Târgovişte, Bucharest and Brăila.

The fight against the Turks continued in 1596, when Michael made several incursions south of the Danube: at Vidin, Pleven, Nicopolis, Turnu and Babadag.

On October 18, 1599, he obtained an important victory in the Battle of Şelimbăr against Cardinal Andrew Bathory, gaining control of Transylvania. Michael entered stately Alba Iulia (Gyulafehérvár) with impressive pomp, receiving the keys to the fortress from the bishop Napragy.

When on May 8, 1600, Michael's forces defeated the combined Polish and Moldavian army of Ieremia Movilă at Bacău, the Romanian principalities were for the first time unified under one ruler.

However, neighboring states were alarmed by this upsetting of the balance of power, especially the Hungarian nobility from Transylvania who rose against Michael in rebellion. With the help of the Austrian general Giorgio Basta, they defeated Michael at the Battle of Mirăslău, forcing Michael to leave Transylvania. A Polish army led by Jan Zamoyski drove the Wallachians from Moldavia, and defeated Michael at Naieni, Ceptura, and Bucov. The Polish army also entered eastern Wallachia and established Simion Movila as the ruler. Forces loyal to Michael remained only in Oltenia.

Desperate to find help, Michael asked for assistance from Rudolf II, the reigning Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary. However, he received help only when the emperor heard that Basta had lost control of Transylvania to the Hungarian nobleman lead by Sigismund Bathory. Meanwhile, forces loyal to Michael in Wallachia, after a first unsuccessful attempt, drove out Simion Movila and prepared to reenter Transylvania. Michael, allied with Basta, defeated the Hungarian noblemen at Gurăslău (Goroszló). However, this union did not last; Basta treacherously ordered the assassination of Michael in Câmpia Turzii, on 9 August 1601.

In essence, his legacy is that of being the first Romanian ruler to unite all the principalities in the Romanian space, albeit for only a short period of time. Many 19th century nationalists referred to his actions in order to mobilize Romanians to unite into one country.

Revision as of 20:13, 16 August 2005

See also