Michael the Brave

Michael the Brave was the Prince of Wallachia (1593-1601), Transylvania (1599-1600), and of Moldavia (1600). He united the three principalitiesunder a single rule for a short period of time.

During his which coincided with the Long War, these three principalities present-day Romania and and the Republic of Moldava. were ruled for the first time by a single Romanian ruler. although the union lasted less than six months. He is regarded as one of Romania's greatest heroes.

His rule over Wallachia in the autumn of 1593. Two years later, wars with the Ottomans began. a conflict in which the Prince the Battle of Calugureni, considered one of the important battles of his reign. Although the Wallachians emerged victorious in battle, Michael was forced to retreat with his troops and wait for from his allies. Prince Sigismund Bathory of Wallachia and Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II. The war continued until a peace finally emerged in January 1597. but this lasted for only a year and a half. Peace was again reached in late 1599, when Michael was unable to continue due to lack of support from his allies.

In 1599, Michael won the Battle of Selimbarand and soon entered Alba Iulia, becoming the Prince of Transylvania. A few months later, Michael's troops invaded Moldavia and reached its capitol Iasu. The Moldavian leader Ieremia Moliva fled to Poland and Michael was declared Prince of Moldavia. Michael kept the control of all three provinces for less than a year before the nobles of Transylvania and certain boyars in Moldavia and Wallachia rose against him in a series of revolts. Thereafter, Michael allied with the Imperial General Giorgio Basta and defeated an uprising of the Hungarian nobility at Guraslaw in Transylvania. Immediatelty after this victory, Rudolf ordered the assassination of Michael an action carried out on August 9, 1601by Basta's men.