Romanian national heroes

The unfavorable historical circumstances in the Middle Ages prevented the creation of a single Romanian state. Thus appeared three feudal kingdoms: Transylvania, Valahia and Moldavia.

For a short period of time the three Romanian kingdoms were united politically by the ruler of Valahia, Michael the Brave, in 1600. In 1859 Romania was created by the unification of Valahia and Moldavia.

The conquest of Romania’s independence in 1877-1878 brought back an ancient Romanian territory, Dobrogea. At the end of World War II the completion of the Romanian state took place with the annexation of the Romanian provinces of Basarabia, Bucovina and Transylvania.

During the battle fought over the centuries to protect the national identity, independence and state unification, the national heroes were born.

He was one of the greatest rulers Valahia ever had. He was brave at times of war, a skillful diplomat at times of peace, a great organizer and country leader. He ruled for 32 years between the years 1386 and 1418.

In his external policy his objective was to protect the independence of the country against the Ottoman danger. He was the only Christian prince that defeated Sultan Baiazid twice, in 1395 at Rovine and in 1397 at Ialomita. He was admired even by his enemies, the Turk historian Leunclavius calling him “the bravest and the brightest of the Christian princes.”

At the end of his reign he left an independent country behind him. He was buried at Cozia Monastery and his deeds became the

source of many legends and also a source of inspiration for our great national poet Mihai Eminescu.

Also called Vlad Draculea –or Dracula by foreigners, he ruled Valahia during 1448, 1456-1462, 1476.

A fierce protector of Valahia’s independence, he remained a prominent figure among other Romanian national heroes. He became known for his brave deeds and courage in his relation with the Ottoman Empire during the reign of sultan Mohamed the 2nd.

Vlad the Impaler also became well known for his cruel habit of impaling his enemies, traitors and thieves, a punishment not more cruel than the other punishments applied in the rest of Europe at that time. Because of his conflict with the German traders from Transylvania they described him as a blood-thirsty and demonically cruel prince, and associated words such as “devil” or “demon” to his name in order to blacken his reputation.

The legends of Vlad the Impaler were the source of inspiration for Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula”, thus creating the modern myth of vampires, as well as for many film producers (Romanian or foreign).

He was a dominant personality of the XVth century in Romania. He was the ruler of Transylvania between 1441-1456, governor of the Hungarian Kingdom from 1446 to 1453 and supreme captain of Hungary and Transylvania from 1453 to 1456.

He wrote glorious pages in the battle of the South-Eastern Europeans against the Ottoman Empire. He deployed an intense diplomatic and military activity during the time when the Ottoman Empire was at its peak; he tirelessly fought for creating a Christian coalition to stop the advancement of the Ottomans in Europe.

He was the first army commander in Europe who managed to defeat the conqueror of Constantinople, Mohamed the 2nd, at Belgrade in 1456, a victory praised by Pope Calixt the 3rd along with the rest of the Christian world.

On his funeral stone from the catholic cathedral in Alba Iulia it’s written: “The world’s light has faded”.

The most important of Moldavia’s rulers during the Middle Ages. He ruled for 47 years, between 1457 and 1504. His human qualities, his political and diplomatic skills, his unprecedented

actions for protecting his country’s independence, his initiatives for developing culture made him worthy of the admiration of many illustrious contemporaries, and thanks to the popular tradition, they transformed him into a legendary hero. Pope Sixtus the IVth named him “Athleta Christi” and his people dedicated him ballads.

He fought in 36 battles and was victorious in 34 of them, all having as purpose the preservation of Moldavia’s independence. His most important battles were fought against the Ottoman Empire at Razboieni and Vaslui.

He built more than 40 churches and monasteries, being one of the most fervent supporters of the culture and the orthodox church.

He was buried at Putna monastery.

Ruler of Valahia between the years 1593 and 1601. In 1600 he ruled all the three Romanian provinces: Valahia,

Moldavia and Transylvania. He was an able general, a skilled statesman and a fighter for his

people’s freedom. He joined the Christian coalition and started the battle against the Ottoman Empire, obtaining brilliant victories at Calugareni and Giurgiu thus assuring for a while the independence of Valahia.

In 1600 Michael the Brave obtained the first political unification of the three Romanian provinces, entitling himself “King of Valahia, Transylvania and of all of Moldavia”, unification built on the ethnical and cultural continuity of the Romanian people.

The audacious act of Michael the Brave, although short, decisively influenced the Romanians’ history and imposed a model that will remain as a powerful symbol in our history.

He was the first ruler of Romania between the years 1859 and 1866. He was one of the leaders of the 1848 revolution in Moldavia.

He was elected ruler of Moldavia on the 5th of January 1859 and ruler of Valahia on the 24th of January on the same year. By his double election the unification of the two princedoms was possible. Under Ottoman suzerainty, he was able to accomplish the full political and administrative unification of the state later known as Romania.

He initiated an ample reformation program for all the areas of activity and created thus the frame of development for the modern Romanian state.

Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the lord of the unification, remained the most loved and bright figure in our modern history.

A heroine of the Romanian people, Ecaterina Teodoroiu inscribed her name in blood in the history books.

Also called “the heroine from Jiu”, she fought in the Romanian army during World War I.

She started her support activity of the war effort as a nurse in the Targu-Jiu hospital. She shone during the battles at Jiu, where she was wounded. King Ferdinand decorated her and gave her the rank of sub-lieutenant in charge of an artillery platoon.

She died heroically leading her platoon during the battle of Marasesti in Moldavia. She was buried with military honors.

Ecaterina Teodoroiu remained as a shining example of courage and patriotism in our history.