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 1862, 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").

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
Thocomerius (or Radu Negru) c. 1290 – 1310 Unknown Radu 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 Întemeietorul)
c. 1310 – 1352 Basarab Margareta
two children
son of Thocomerius; first non-legendary ruler of Wallachia.
Nicolae Alexandru 1352–1364 Basarab Maria Lackfy
five children

Clara Dobokay
two children

Margareta Dabkai
no children
son of Basarab I
Vladislav I c. 1364 – 1377 Basarab unknownson of Nicolae Alexandru; also known as Vlaicu-Vodă
Radu I c. 1377 – 1383 Basarab Anna
one child

Caliphië of Byzantium
c.1354 or 1355
two children
son of Nicolae Alexandru
Dan I c. 1383 – 1386 Dănești Maria of Serbia
one child
son of Radu I
Mircea I the Old
(Mircea I cel Bătrân)
1386–1394 Basarab Maria Tolmay
six children

Anca
no children
son of Radu I. 1st rule.
Vlad I the Usurper
(Vlad I Uzurpatorul)
1394–1397 Unknownson of Dan I
Mircea I the Old
(Mircea I cel Bătrân)
1397–1418 Basarab Maria Tolmay
six children

Anca
no children
2nd rule
Mihail I 1408–1420 Basarab unknown
two children
son of Mircea cel Bătrân, co-ruled with his father since 1408.
Radu II the Bald
(Radu II Praznaglava)
1420-1422[1] Basarab unknown son of Mircea cel Bătrân; 1st rule
Dan II 1422-1426 Dănești unknown
five children
son of Dan I, member of the Order of the Dragon; 1st rule
Radu II the Bald
(Radu II Praznaglava)
1426-1427[2] Basarab unknown son of Mircea cel Bătrân; 2nd rule
Dan II 1427-1431 Dănești unknown
five children
2nd rule
Alexandru I Aldea 1431–1436 Drăculești unknownson of Mircea cel Bătrân
Vlad II the Dragon
(Vlad II Dracul)
1436–1442 Drăculești unknown
one child

Cneajna of Moldavia
three children
illegitimate son of Mircea cel Bătrân; member of the Order of the Dragon (thus Dracul); 1st rule
Mircea II the Younger
(Mircea al II-lea cel Tânăr)
1442 Drăculești Unmarriedson 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. Ruled alone in his 1st time.
Basarab II 1442–1443 Dănești Maria (Dobra)
two children
son of Dan II; Placed in the throne by John Hunyadi, in war with Vlad II.
Vlad II the Dragon
(Vlad II Dracul)
1443–1447 Drăculești unknown
one child

Cneajna of Moldavia
three children
Returned to the throne, and won against John Hunyadi, deposing also Basarab II. He was assassinated in 1447.
Mircea II the Younger
(Mircea al II-lea cel Tânăr)
1446-1447 Drăculești UnmarriedRuled with his father; 2nd time. He was blinded and buried alive by Hunyadi in 1447.
Vladislav II 1447–1448 Dănești Neacşa
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. 1st rule
Vlad III the Impaler
(Vlad al III-lea Țepeș)
1448 Drăculești Cneajna Báthory
Before 1462
one child

Ilona Szilágyi
Between 1462 and 1466
two children

Jusztina Nelipic
no children
son of Vlad II Dracul; Invaded Wallachia while Vladislav was outside, in battle against the Otomans; Deposed in the next year by Hunyadi; 1st rule
Vladislav II 1448–1456 Dănești Neacşa
one child
son of Dan II; supported by John Hunyadi, Regent of Hungary; Returned from the battle, rules again until his death in a combat hand-to-hand against Vlad III, who retakes the throne; 2nd rule
Vlad III the Impaler
(Vlad al III-lea Țepeș)
1456–1462 Drăculești Cneajna Báthory
Before 1462
one child

Ilona Szilágyi
Between 1462 and 1466
two children

Jusztina Nelipic
no children
2nd rule
Radu III the Fair
(Radu cel Frumos)
1462–1473 Drăculești Maria
one child
son of Vlad II Dracul; 1st rule
Basarab III Laiotă the Old
(Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân)
1473 Dănești Unmarried son of Dan II; In civil war against Radu III;1st rule
Radu III the Fair
(Radu cel Frumos)
1473–1474 Drăculești Maria
one child
In civil war against Basarab III; 2nd rule
Basarab III Laiotă the Old
(Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân)
1474 Dănești UnmarriedIn civil war against Radu III; 2nd rule
Radu III the Fair
(Radu cel Frumos)
1474 Drăculești Maria
one child
In civil war against Basarab III; 3rd rule
Basarab III Laiotă the Old
(Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân)
1474 Dănești UnmarriedIn civil war against Radu III; 3rd rule
Radu III the Fair
(Radu cel Frumos)
1474–1475 Drăculești Maria
one child
In civil war against Basarab III; 4th rule
Basarab III Laiotă the Old
(Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân)
1475–1476 Dănești Unmarried4th rule
Vlad III the Impaler
(Vlad al III-lea Țepeș)
1476 Drăculești Cneajna Báthory
Before 1462
one child

Ilona Szilágyi
Between 1462 and 1466
two children

Jusztina Nelipic
no children
Returns, but is killed shortly after; 3rd rule
Basarab III Laiotă the Old
(Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân)
1476–1477 Dănești Unmarried5th rule
Basarab IV The Younger, The Little Impaler
(Basarab IV Țepeluș cel Tânăr)
1477–1481 Dănești Maria
one child
son of Basarab II; 1st rule
Mircea (III) 1481 Drăculești Unmarried illegitimate son of Vlad II Dracul
Vlad IV the Monk
(Vlad Călugărul)
1481 Drăculești Rada Smaranda
Before 1460
four children

Maria Palaiologina
1487
one child
son of Vlad II Dracul; 1st rule
Basarab IV The Younger, The Little Impaler
(Basarab IV Țepeluș cel Tânăr)
1481–1482 Dănești Maria
one child
2nd rule
Vlad IV the Monk
(Vlad Călugărul)
1482–1495 Drăculești Rada Smaranda
Before 1460
four children

Maria Palaiologina
1487
one child
2nd rule
Radu IV the Great
(Radu cel Mare)
1495–1508 Drăculești Catherine of Zeta
six children
son of Vlad Călugărul
Mihnea I the Bad
(Mihnea cel Rău)
1508–1509 Drăculești Smaranda
no children

Voica
three children
son of Vlad III Țepeș
Mircea III (IV) Miloș 1509–1510 Drăculești Maria of Serbia
1519
two children
son of Mihnea cel Rău
Vlad V the Younger
(Vlad cel Tânăr)
1510–1512 Drăculești Anca of Zeta
Before 1508
one child
son of Vlad Călugărul; also known as Vlăduț
Neagoe Basarab V 1512–1521 Craiovești Milica 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) 1521–1522 Branković/ Craiovești Neagoe Basarab V
1505
six children
Regent in behalf of her son
Teodosie 1521–1522 Craiovești unmarriedunder regency of his mother Milica Branković
Radu V 1522–1523 Drăculești Voica of Bucsani
three children

Ruxandra of Wallachia
After 1525
no children
illegitimate son of Radu cel Mare; allied with Craiovești; 1st rule
Vladislav III 1523 Dănești Unknown nephew of Vladislav II; 1st rule
Radu VI Bădica 1523–1524 Drăculești Unknown son of Radu IV the Great
Radu V 1524 Drăculești Voica of Bucsani
three children

Ruxandra of Wallachia
After 1525
no children
2nd rule
Vladislav III 1524 Dănești Unknown 2nd rule
Radu V 1524–1525 Drăculești Voica of Bucsani
three children

Ruxandra of Wallachia
After 1525
no children
3rd rule
Vladislav III 1525 Drăculești Unknown 3rd rule
Radu V 1525–1529 Drăculești Voica of Bucsani
three children

Ruxandra of Wallachia
After 1525
no children
4th rule
Basarab VI 1529 Unknown Non-dynastic; Son of Mehmed-bey
Moise 1529–1530 Dănești Unknown son of Vladislav III. Last of the Dănești.
Vlad VI the Drowned
(Vlad Înecatul)
1530–1532 Drăculești Anna of Moldavia
1531
no children
son of Vlad cel Tânăr
Vlad VII Vintilă de la Slatina 1532–1535 Drăculești Zamfira
one child

Rada
one child
son of Radu cel Mare
Radu VII Paisie 1535–1545 Drăculești Stana
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 Drăculești Chiajna of Moldavia
June 1546
seven children
son of Radu cel Mare; 1st rule
Radu VIII Ilie the Cowherd
(Radu Ilie Haidăul)
1552–1553 Drăculești Unknown son of Radu de la Afumați
Mircea IV (V) the Shepherd
(Mircea Ciobanul)
1553–1554 Drăculești Chiajna of Moldavia
June 1546
seven children
2nd rule
Pătrașcu the Good
(Pătrașcu cel Bun)
1554–1558 Drăculești Voica of Slatioare
four children
son of Radu Paisie
Mircea IV (V) the Shepherd
(Mircea Ciobanul)
1558–1559 Drăculești Chiajna of Moldavia
June 1546
seven children
3rd rule
Chiajna of Moldavia
(Regent)
1559-1564 Bogdan-Mușat /Drăculești Mircea IV (V)
June 1546
seven children
Regent on behalf of her son.
Petru I the Younger
(Petru cel Tânăr)
1564–1568 Drăculești Jelena Crepovic of Transylvania
22 August 1563
one child
son of Mircea Ciobanul
Alexandru II Mircea 1568–1574 Drăculești Catherine Salvaresso
1558
Pera
one child
son of Mircea III Dracul; popularly called Oaie Seacă (Barren Sheep); 1st rule
Vintilă 1574 Drăculești Unknown son of Petru Pătrașcu cel Bun
Alexandru II Mircea 1574–1577 Drăculești Catherine Salvaresso
1558
Pera
one child
2nd rule
Catherine Salvaresso
(Regent)
1577-1583 Salvaresso/Drăculești Alexandru 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)
1583–1585 Drăculești Unmarriedson of Petru Pătrașcu cel Bun
Mihnea II the Turk (Mihnea Turcitul) 1585–1591 Drăculești Neaga 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)
1592–1593 also ruled Moldavia (1592)

Houses of Basarab and Movilă

Ruler Portrait Years Family Notes
Mihail II Viteazul
(Michael II the Brave)
1593–1600 Drăculești illegitimate son of Petru Pătrașcu cel Bun; also ruled Transylvania (1599-1600) and Moldavia (1600), briefly uniting the three principalities.
Nicolae Pătrașcu 1599–1600 Drăculești Son of Michael II, co-ruled with his father since 1599.
Simion Movilă 1600–1601 Movilești 1st rule
Radu IX Mihnea 1601–1602 Drăculești son of Minhea II Turcitul; 1st rule
Simion Movilă 1602 Movilești 2nd rule
Radu X Șerban 1602–1610 Nephew of Neagoe Basarab V. 1st rule
Transylvanian occupation: direct rule of Gabriel Báthory (1611)
Radu IX Mihnea 1611 Drăculești 2nd rule
Radu X Șerban 1611 2nd rule
Radu IX Mihnea 1611–1616 Drăculești 3rd rule
Gabriel Movilă 1616 Movilești son of Simion Movilă; 1st rule

Various dynasties

Ruler Portrait Years Family Notes
Alexandru IV Iliaș 1616–1618 1st rule
Gabriel II Movilă 1618–1620 Movilești 2nd rule
Radu IX Mihnea 1620–1623 Drăculești 4th rule
Alexandru V Coconul
(Alexander the Child-Prince)
1623–1627 Drăculești son of Radu Mihnea
Alexandru IV Iliaș 1627–1629 2nd rule
Leon Tomșa 1629–1632
Radu XI Iliaș 1632
Matei Basarab 1632–1654 Brâncovenești
Constantin I Șerban 1654–1658 illegitimate son of Radu Șerban
Mihnea III 1658–1659
Gheorghe I Ghica 1659–1660 Ghica
Grigore I Ghica 1660–1664 Ghica 1st rule
Radu XII Leon 1664–1669
Antonie Vodă din Popeşti 1669–1672
Grigore I Ghica 1672–1673 Ghica 2nd rule
Gheorghe II Ducas 1673–1678
Șerban Cantacuzino 1678–1688 Cantacuzene
Constantin II Brâncoveanu 1688–1714 Brâncovenești
Ștefan II Cantacuzino 1714–1715 Cantacuzene
Phanariote rule (1715–1821)
Nicolae Mavrocordat 1715–1716 Mavrocordato 1st rule
- Habsburg occupation 1716
Ioan Mavrocordat 1716–1719 Mavrocordato
Nicolae Mavrocordat 1719–1730 Mavrocordato 2nd rule
Constantin Mavrocordat 1730 Mavrocordato 1st rule
Mihai Racoviță 1730–1731 Racoviță 1st rule
Constantin Mavrocordat 1731–1733 Mavrocordato 2nd rule
Grigore II Ghica 1733–1735 Ghica 1st rule
Constantin Mavrocordat 1735–1741 Mavrocordato 3rd rule
Mihai Racoviță 1741–1744 Racoviță 2nd rule
Constantin Mavrocordat 1744–1748 Mavrocordato 4th rule
Grigore II Ghica 1748–1752 Ghica 2nd rule
Matei Ghica 1752–1753 Ghica
Constantin Racoviță 1753–1756 1st rule
Constantin Mavrocordat 1756–1758 5th rule
Scarlat Ghica 1758–1761 Ghica 1st rule
Constantin Mavrocordat 1761–1763 6th rule
Constantin Racoviță 1763–1764 Racoviță 2nd rule
Ștefan Racoviță 1764–1765 Racoviță
Scarlat Ghica 1765–1766 Ghica 2nd rule
Alexandru Ghica 1766–1768 Ghica
- Russian occupation 1768
Grigore III Ghica 1768–1769 Ghica
- Russian occupation 1769–1770
Emanuel Giani Ruset 1770-1771 Rosetti also called Manole or Manolache
Alexander Ypsilantis 1774–1782 Ypsilanti 1st rule
Nicolae Caragea 1782–1783 Caradja
Mihai Suțu 1783–1786 Soutzos 1st rule
Nicolae Mavrogheni 1786–1789
- Habsburg occupation 1789–1790 military commander: Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg
Mihai Suțu 1791–1793 Soutzos 2nd rule
Alexandru Moruzi 1793–1796 Mourousi 1st rule
Alexander Ypsilantis 1796–1797 Ypsilanti 2nd rule
Constantin Hangerli 1797–1799
Alexandru Moruzi 1799–1801 Mourousi 2nd rule
Mihai Suțu 1801–1802 Soutzos 3rd rule
Alexandru Suțu 1802 Soutzos
Constantin Ypsilanti 1802-1806 Ypsilanti
- Russian occupation 1806–1812
Ioan Gheorghe Caragea 1812–1818 Caradja
Caimacam
Grigore Brâncovenu
1818 assisted by Vornic Barbu Văcărescu, Vistier Grigore Ghica and Logofăt Samurcaș
Alexandru Suțu 1818–1821 Soutzos
Caimacam
Grigore Brâncoveanu
1821
Tudor Vladimirescu 1821 leader of the anti-Phanariote uprising
Scarlat Callimachi 1821 Callimachi
Grigore IV Ghica 1822–1828 Ghica
- Russian occupation 1828–1834 military commanders: Fyodor Pahlen, Pyotr Zheltukhin, and Pavel Kiseleff
Organic Statute government (1832–1856)
Alexandru II Ghica 1834–1842 Ghica
Gheorghe Bibescu 1842–1848 Bibescu
Provisional Government 1848 Metropolitan Neofit II, assisted by Christian Tell, Ion Heliade Rădulescu, Ștefan Golescu, Gheorghe Magheru, Gheorghe Scurti
Locotenența domnească
(Regency of three)
1848 Christian Tell, Ion Heliade Rădulescu, Nicolae Golescu
Joint Ottoman and Russian occupation 1848–1851 military commanders: Omar Pasha and Alexander von Lüders
Caimacam
Constantin Cantacuzino
1848
Barbu Știrbei 1848–1853 Știrbei 1st rule
Russian occupation 1853–1854
Ottoman occupation 1854
Austrian occupation 1854–1856 military commander: Johann Coronini-Cronberg
Barbu Știrbei 1854–1856 Știrbei 2nd rule
Protectorate established by the Treaty of Paris (1856–1859)
Caimacam
Alexandru II Ghica
1856–1858
Caimacam of three 1858–1859 Ioan Manu, Emanoil Băleanu, Ioan A. Filipide
Alexander John Cuza 1859–1862 also ruled Moldavia in personal union
United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia since 1862.
Alexander John Cuza 1862–1866 also ruled Moldavia in personal union
Carol I 1866–1881 Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen A 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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