Michael the Brave, a Wallachian prince, is famous for briefly uniting the three principalities of Romania. He is also known for his revolt against the Ottoman Turks and the political and military skills he used to achieve his victories.
Michael the Brave's Revolt Against Ottoman Turks
Born in 1558, Michael the Brave became the wealthiest landowner in Wallachia. The Ottoman Turks still held sway over Romanian lands during this period, and Michael was in a financial position to bribe them to support his rise to leadership. His wealth and power also enabled him to tie the peasants to the land, which represented the pinnacle of feudal development.
Michael the Brave's revolt against the Ottoman Turks was aided by princes from Moldavia and Transylvania, who were also weary of the hold the Ottoman Turks had over the region. Michael the Brave sent an invitation to Turkish money lenders, who he locked into a building and burnt to the ground. His forces then attacked Turks within Wallachia; during this attack, strongholds occupied by the Turks were overtaken by Michael the Brave's forces. The Turks responded with invasion.
Michael the Brave's Political and Military Skills
Michael the Brave's political skills allowed him to make alliances with those who could be of use to him, even temporarily. However, his ability to sway fellow rulers, many with more authority than he had, also led to the making of enemies that never hesitated to turn on him.
The defeat of the Ottoman Turks in Wallachia resulted in their recognition of him as an independent ruler of the principality. Gradually, however, they began to pressure him to renew regular payment of tribute. Instead, he looked to the Hapsburg ruler Rudolph II and formed an alliance, naming him suzerain, and received monetary and political support from Rudolph in return.
Michael the Brave's Unification of Romania
Bolstered by this support, Michael the Brave invaded Transylvania, defeated its army, killed its ruler, then became its prince. Shortly after, he and his forces invaded Moldavia, where he also secured the title of prince. Through these actions, the principalities of Romania were united.
Soon after, the Hapsburgs removed Michael from the Transylvanian throne and Moldavia was taken by Poland. The unification of Romania came to an end. Michael the Brave was executed in 1601 by a general of the Hapsburg army.
References
A Concise History of Romania. Ed. Andrei Otetea and Andrew MacKenzie. London: Robert Hale, 1985. 216-224.
Bolovan, Ioan, et. al. A History of Romania. Ed. Kurt W. Treptow. New York: Columbia University Press, 1996. 143-151.
Seton-Watson, R. W. A History of the Roumanians: From Roman Times to the Completion of Unity. N.P.: Archeon Books, 1963. 61-72.
