List of rulers of Wallachia

This is a list of rulers of Wallachia, from the first mention of a medieval polity situated between the Southern Carpathians and the Danube until the union with Moldavia in 1859, leading to the creation of Romania.

Notes

Dynastic rule is hard to ascribe, given the loose traditional definition of the ruling family (on principle, princes were chosen from any family branch, including a previous ruler's bastard sons, being defined as os de domn, "of Voivode marrow", or as having heregie, "heredity" (from the Latin hereditas); the institutions charged with the election, dominated by the boyars, had fluctuating degrees of influence). The system itself was challenged by usurpers, and became obsolete with the Phanariote epoch, when rulers were appointed by the Ottoman Sultans; between 1821 and 1878 (the date of Romania's independence), various systems combining election and appointment were put in practice. Wallachian rulers, like the Moldavian rulers, bore the titles of Voivode ("duke") or/and Hospodar ("lord, master"); when writing in Romanian, the term Domn (from the Latin dominus) was used.

Most rulers did not use the form of the name they are cited with, and several used more than one form of their own name; in some cases, the ruler was only mentioned in foreign sources. The full names are either modern versions or ones based on mentions in various chronicles.

List

House of Basarab

Ruler Portrait Years Family Marriage Notes
Radu Negruc. 1290 – 1310UnknownRadu Negru is legendary voivode of Wallachia; some historians consider it to be just a nickname of Thocomerius or Basarab I.
Basarab I the Founder
(Basarab I Întemeietorul)
c. 1310 – 1352BasarabMargareta
two children
son of Thocomerius; first non-legendary ruler of Wallachia.
Nicolae Alexandru1352–1364BasarabMaria Lackfy
five children

Clara Dobokai
two children

Margareta Dabkai
no children
son of Basarab I
Vladislav I
Vlaicu-Vodă
c. 1364 – 1377Basarabunknownson of Nicolae Alexandru
Radu Ic. 1377 – 1383BasarabAnna
one child

Kalinikia
c.1354 or 1355
two children
son of Nicolae Alexandru
Dan Ic. 1383 – 1386DăneștiMaria of Serbia
one child
son of Radu I
Mircea I the Elder
(Mircea I cel Bătrân)
1386–1394

1397–1418
BasarabMaria Tolmay
six children

Anca
no children
Son of Radu I. Wallachia reached one of its peaks. Was deposed by a usurper, Vlad.
Vlad I the Usurper
(Vlad I Uzurpatorul)
1394–1397Dănești Unknownson of Dan I (or simply a wallachian boyar), usurped the throne
Mircea I the Elder (again)
Mihail I1418–1420Basarabunknown
two children
Son of Mircea cel Bătrân, co-ruled with his father since 1415.
Radu II the Bald
(Radu II Praznaglava)
1420–1422[1]

1426–1427[2]
BasarabunknownSon of Mircea cel Bătrân
Dan II1422–1426

1427–1431
Dăneștiunknown
five children
Son of Dan I, member of the Order of the Dragon
Alexandru I Aldea1431–1436Basarabunknownson of Mircea cel Bătrân
Vlad II the Dragon
(Vlad II Dracul)
1436–1442

1443–1447
Drăculeștiunknown
one child

Cneajna of Moldavia
three children
illegitimate son of Mircea cel Bătrân; member of the Order of the Dragon (thus Dracul); While in negotiations outside Wallachia with the Ottoman Empire, his son Mircea was named prince. He returned to the throne in 1443, winning against John Hunyadi, and deposing also Basarab II. He was assassinated in 1447.
Mircea II the Younger
(Mircea al II-lea cel Tânăr)
1442

1446–1447
DrăculeștiUnmarriedson of Vlad II Dracul, sometimes not counted; he ruled while his father was absent, on his way to pay the tribute to the Ottoman Empire; Deposed by John Hunyadi. Returned in 1446, co-ruling with his father. He was blinded and buried alive by Hunyadi in 1447.
Basarab II1442–1443DăneștiMaria (Dobra)
two children
son of Dan II; Placed in the throne by John Hunyadi, in war with Vlad II.
Vladislav II1447–1448

1448–1456
DăneștiNeacşa
one child
son of Dan II; supported by John Hunyadi, Regent of Hungary; The way he came to the throne is debatable, but the most accepted is that he killed Vlad II, and was then replaced in the throne by Hunyadi. Returned in 1448, after deposing Vlad the Impaler, and ruled again until his death in a combat hand-to-hand against Vlad III, who retook the throne
Vlad III the Impaler
(Vlad al III-lea Țepeș)
1448

1456–1462

1476
DrăculeștiJustina Szilágyi
Between 1475 and 1476
son of Vlad II Dracul, invaded Wallachia while Vladislav was away, in battle against the Ottomans; Deposed in the next year by Hunyadi. Returned in 1456, after killing Vladislav II in battle. Deposed again in 1462.
Radu III the Fair
(Radu cel Frumos)
1462–1473

1473–1474

1474

1474–1475
DrăculeștiMaria
one child
son of Vlad II Dracul; From 1473 in war with Basarab III.
Basarab III Laiotă the Old
(Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân)
1473

1474

1474

1475–1476

1476–1477
DăneștiUnmarriedson of Dan II; In war against Radu III;1st rule
Basarab IV The Younger, The Little Impaler
(Basarab IV Țepeluș cel Tânăr)
1477–1481

1481–1482
DăneștiMaria
one child
son of Basarab II
Mircea (III)1481DrăculeștiUnmarriedillegitimate son of Vlad II Dracul
Vlad IV the Monk
(Vlad Călugărul)
1481

1482–1495
DrăculeștiRada Smaranda
Before 1460
four children

Maria Palaiologina
1487
one child
son of Vlad II Dracul
Radu IV the Great
(Radu cel Mare)
1495–1508DrăculeștiCatherine of Zeta
six children
son of Vlad Călugărul
Mihnea I the Bad
(Mihnea cel Rău)
1508–1509DrăculeștiSmaranda
no children

Voica
three children
son of Vlad III Țepeș
Mircea III (IV) Miloș1509–1510DrăculeștiMaria of Serbia
1519
two children
son of Mihnea cel Rău
Vlad V the Younger
(Vlad cel Tânăr)
1510–1512DrăculeștiAnca of Zeta
Before 1508
one child
son of Vlad Călugărul; also known as Vlăduț
Neagoe Basarab V1512–1521CraioveștiMilica of Serbia
1505
six children
possibly son of Pârvu Craiovescu or Basarab IV; The most accepted theory is that he claimed the throne as a son of Basarab IV, being in fact son of Pârvu. Cultural zenith in Wallachia.
Milica of Serbia (Regent) 1521–1522Branković/ CraioveștiNeagoe Basarab V
1505
six children
Regent in behalf of her son
TeodosieCraioveștiunmarriedunder regency of his mother Milica Despina
Radu V1522–1523

1524

1524–1525

1525–1529
DrăculeștiVoica of Bucsani
three children

Ruxandra of Wallachia
After 1525
no children
illegitimate son of Radu cel Mare; allied with Craiovești
Vladislav III1523

1524

1525
DăneștiUnknownnephew of Vladislav II
Radu VI Bădica1523–1524DrăculeștiUnknownson of Radu IV the Great.
Basarab VI1529UnknownNon-dynastic; Son of Mehmed-bey
Moise1529–1530DăneștiUnknownson of Vladislav III. Last of the Dănești.
Vlad VI the Drowned
(Vlad Înecatul)
1530–1532DrăculeștiAnna of Moldavia
1531
no children
son of Vlad cel Tânăr
Vlad VII Vintilă de la Slatina1532–1535DrăculeștiZamfira
one child

Rada
one child
son of Radu cel Mare
Radu VII Paisie1535–1545DrăculeștiStana
three children

Ruxandra of Wallachia
c.1541
three children
son of Vlad Vintilă de la Slatina
Mircea IV (V) the Shepherd
(Mircea Ciobanul)
1545–1552

1553–1554

1558–1559
DrăculeștiChiajna of Moldavia
June 1546
seven children
son of Radu IV.
Radu VIII Ilie the Cowherd
(Radu Ilie Haidăul)
1552–1553DrăculeștiUnknownson of Radu de la Afumați
Pătrașcu the Good
(Pătrașcu cel Bun)
1554–1558DrăculeștiVoica of Slatioare
four children
son of Radu Paisie
Chiajna of Moldavia (regent)1559–1564DrăculeștiMircea IV (V)
June 1546
seven children
Regent on behalf of her son.
Petru I the Younger
(Petru cel Tânăr)
1564–1568DrăculeștiJelena Crepovic of Transylvania
22 August 1563
one child
son of Mircea Ciobanul
Alexandru II Mircea1568–1574

1574–1577
DrăculeștiCatherine Salvaresso
1558
Pera
one child
Son of Mircea III Dracul; popularly called Oaie Seacă (Barren Sheep); in 1574 was expelled by Vintilă, but returned in that same year to the throne.
Vintilă1574DrăculeștiUnknownson of Petru Pătrașcu cel Bun
Catherine Salvaresso (regent)1577–1583Salvaresso/DrăculeștiAlexandru II Mircea
1558
Pera
one child
Regent on behalf of her son, Mihnea II. Deposed by Peter II.
Petru II of the Earring
(Petru Cercel)
1583–1585DrăculeștiUnmarriedson of Petru Pătrașcu cel Bun
Mihnea II the Turk (Mihnea Turcitul)1585–1591DrăculeștiNeaga de Cislau
June 1582
three children
Paid for the assassination of his usurper. Returned and ruled alone.

House of Bogdan-Muşat

Ruler Portrait Years Family Notes
Ștefan I Surdul
(Stephen the Deaf)
1591–1592
Alexandru III cel Rău
(Alexander III the Mean)
1592–1593also ruled Moldavia (1592)

Houses of Basarab and Movilă

Ruler Portrait Years Family Notes
Mihail II Viteazul
(Michael II the Brave)
1593–1600Drăculeștiaccording to some, the illegitimate son of Petru Pătrașcu cel Bun; also ruled Transylvania (1599–1600) and Moldavia (1600), briefly bringing the three principalities under a personal union.
Nicolae Pătrașcu1599–1600DrăculeștiSon of Michael II, co-ruled with his father since 1599.
Simion Movilă1600–1601

1602
Movilești
Radu IX Mihnea1601–1602

1611

1611–1616
Drăculeștison of Minhea II Turcitul; 1st rule
Radu X Șerban1602–1610

1611
Nephew of Neagoe Basarab V. 1st rule
Transylvanian occupation: direct rule of Gabriel Báthory (1611)
Gabriel Movilă1616Movileștison of Simion Movilă; 1st rule

Various dynasties

Ruler Portrait Years Family Notes
Alexandru IV Iliaș1616–16181st rule
Gabriel II Movilă1618–1620Movilești2nd rule
Radu IX Mihnea1620–1623Drăculești4th rule
Alexandru V Coconul
(Alexander the Child-Prince)
1623–1627Drăculeștison of Radu Mihnea
Alexandru IV Iliaș1627–16292nd rule
Leon Tomșa1629–1632
Radu XI Iliaș1632
Matei Basarab1632–1654Brâncovenești
Constantin I Șerban1654–1658illegitimate son of Radu Șerban
Mihnea III1658–1659
Gheorghe I Ghica1659–1660Ghica
Grigore I Ghica1660–1664Ghica1st rule
Radu XII Leon1664–1669
Antonie Vodă din Popeşti1669–1672
Grigore I Ghica1672–1673Ghica2nd rule
Gheorghe II Ducas1673–1678
Șerban Cantacuzino1678–1688Cantacuzene
Constantin II Brâncoveanu1688–1714Brâncovenești
Ștefan II Cantacuzino1714–1715Cantacuzene
Phanariote rule (1715–1821)
Nicolae Mavrocordat1715–1716Mavrocordato1st rule
– Habsburg occupation1716
Ioan Mavrocordat1716–1719Mavrocordato
Nicolae Mavrocordat1719–1730Mavrocordato2nd rule
Constantin Mavrocordat1730Mavrocordato1st rule
Mihai Racoviță1730–1731Racoviță1st rule
Constantin Mavrocordat1731–1733Mavrocordato2nd rule
Grigore II Ghica1733–1735Ghica1st rule
Constantin Mavrocordat1735–1741Mavrocordato3rd rule
Mihai Racoviță1741–1744Racoviță2nd rule
Constantin Mavrocordat1744–1748Mavrocordato4th rule
Grigore II Ghica1748–1752Ghica2nd rule
Matei Ghica1752–1753Ghica
Constantin Racoviță1753–17561st rule
Constantin Mavrocordat1756–17585th rule
Scarlat Ghica1758–1761Ghica1st rule
Constantin Mavrocordat1761–17636th rule
Constantin Racoviță1763–1764Racoviță2nd rule
Ștefan Racoviță1764–1765Racoviță
Scarlat Ghica1765–1766Ghica2nd rule
Alexandru I Ghica1766–1768Ghica
– Russian occupation1768
Grigore III Ghica1768–1769Ghica
– Russian occupation1769–1770
Emanuel Giani Ruset1770–1771Rosettialso called Manole or Manolache
Alexander Ypsilantis1774–1782Ypsilanti1st rule
Nicolae Caragea1782–1783Caradja
Mihai Suțu1783–1786Soutzos1st rule
Nicolae Mavrogheni1786–1789
– Habsburg occupation1789–1790military commander: Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg
Mihai Suțu1791–1793Soutzos2nd rule
Alexandru Moruzi1793–1796Mourousi1st rule
Alexander Ypsilantis1796–1797Ypsilanti2nd rule
Constantin Hangerli1797–1799
Alexandru Moruzi1799–1801Mourousi2nd rule
Mihai Suțu1801–1802Soutzos3rd rule
Alexandru Suțu1802Soutzos
Constantin Ypsilanti1802–1806Ypsilanti
– Russian occupation1806–1812
Ioan Gheorghe Caragea1812–1818Caradja
Caimacam
Grigore Brâncovenu
1818assisted by Vornic Barbu Văcărescu, Vistier Grigore Ghica and Logofăt Samurcaș
Alexandru Suțu1818–1821Soutzos
Caimacam
Grigore Brâncoveanu
1821
Tudor Vladimirescu1821leader of the anti-Phanariote uprising
Scarlat Callimachi1821Callimachi
Grigore IV Ghica1822–1828Ghica
– Russian occupation1828–1834military commanders: Fyodor Pahlen, Pyotr Zheltukhin, and Pavel Kiseleff
Organic Statute government (1832–1856)
Alexandru II Ghica1834–1842Ghica
Gheorghe Bibescu1842–1848Craiovești / Brâncovenești / Știrbei / Bibescu
Provisional Government1848Metropolitan Neofit II, assisted by Christian Tell, Ion Heliade Rădulescu, Ștefan Golescu, Gheorghe Magheru, Gheorghe Scurti
Locotenența domnească
(Regency of three)
1848Christian Tell, Ion Heliade Rădulescu, Nicolae Golescu
Joint Ottoman and Russian occupation1848–1851military commanders: Omar Pasha and Alexander von Lüders
Caimacam
Constantin Cantacuzino
1848
Barbu Știrbei1848–1853Știrbei1st rule
Russian occupation1853–1854
Ottoman occupation1854
Austrian occupation1854–1856military commander: Johann Coronini-Cronberg
Barbu Știrbei1854–1856Știrbei2nd rule
Protectorate established by the Treaty of Paris (1856–1859)
Caimacam
Alexandru II Ghica
1856–1858
Caimacam of three1858–1859Ioan Manu, Emanoil Băleanu, Ioan A. Filipescu
Alexander John Cuza1859–1862also ruled Moldavia in personal union
United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia since 1862.
Alexander John Cuza1862–1866also ruled Moldavia in personal union
Carol I1866–1881Hohenzollern-SigmaringenA new constitution came into effect in 1866 giving the country the official name Romania, and on 14 March (O.S.) (26 March) 1881, it became the Kingdom of Romania.

For later rulers, see Kings of Romania.

References

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