Mircea l’Ancien

I am Mircea cel Bătrân, Voivode of Wallachia, born around 1355. My reign stretched from 1386 to 1418 — decades of strife and defiance. I am remembered for guarding the southern gates of Europe against the Ottoman advance.

My land, Wallachia, lay in the path of Sultan Bayezid I and his mighty armies. I did not yield. At the Battle of Rovine, my warriors and I struck back, using the forests and swamps to halt the sultan’s push northward.

When the Hungarian crown called for aid, I stood as a vassal ally to strengthen our front. When the Polish needed a friend against the Tartars, we spoke as equals. Always, I sought to balance the powers that pressed upon our borders — Ottomans to the south, Hungarians to the west, Moldavians and Tartars to the north and east.

In my time, I rebuilt fortresses, protected our churches, and kept the land from falling to tribute and ruin. I was not a man of idle courtly games — I rode among my people, gathered warriors, and made my word law where it was needed.

What I Leave Behind

• I defended Wallachia as a bulwark for Christendom.
• I maintained our realm’s autonomy through alliance and arms.
• I left a legacy of leadership marked by vigilance, strategy, and sacrifice.

So long as the rivers flow and the forests stand, let it be known: I did not kneel.