Research about Wallachia in XIII-XIV AD

[Visarion]

To be edited

[Visarion]

Before 1247 when the chronicles of king Bela of Hungary mentioned Seneslau, Litovoi, John (Johannes) and Farcas in Wallachia, the Persian and Slav chronicles also mentioned Bezerenbam (Bazaram-Bam, Basarab Ban, Zeurino Ban, Szeveren Ban) and Miselav (Mislav, Micislav, Mihai) in 1240 during the Mongol Invasion. It is thought that Mihai was the father of Litovoi according to the Venetians while Basarab is thought to be Seneslau or his predecessor. The Tartars divided, defeated Basarab in Cumania (Muntenia, Transalpina), entered Burzenland and after three succesive battles defeated the Saxons, crossed the Carpathians in Transylvania and defeated the Vlachs or in Hateg (Terra Harszoc) and defeated the mix of Magyars, Szeklers and Vlachs and finally defeated the strongest foe Mihai in Oltenia (Terra Lytua) before uniting and devastating Hungary. They retreated in 1242-1243. It is possible that Bezerenbam was the Ban of Severin, probably Lucas, that ruled the Banate of Severin in the name of the Hungarian crown. I say this because from 1243 Stephen appears as Ban of Severin, right after the Mongols retreated while Lucas was Ban from 1233 onward. Probably the Tartars fought three battles in the land of the Saxons because there were also the self ruled, autonomous Fagaras (Fogoras) and Amlas factions in the so called Terra Blaccorum of the Vlachs near Terra Bozza or Burzenland, the former Teutonic mark (in 1225 Von Salza was exiled in Prussia) or simply because Burzenland was heavily fortified, it had five castles of wood and stone including Cronstadt or Brassow. Later in 1247 Bela IV will invite the Hospitallers to settle in the Banate of Severin. They ruled over the house of Farcas and John as well and had the right to capture Cumania but had to live in peace with Litovoi and Seneslau and help each other against the possible second invasion of the Mongols. They also had to give aid against a possible invading force from Greece, Bulgaria or Serbia. Litovoi was the strongest of the Romanian rulers and also had privileges over Terra Harszoc, an autonomous faction under his rule. When the Hungarians tried to take it away from him he went to battle in 1272. Master George, son of Simon received possesions in modern day Slovakia for defeating Litovoi when a force was sent from Hungary to punish him in 1279. Barbat, the brother of Litovoi was taken prisoner and had to aknolege the rule of the Hungarians. This was the end of Terra Lytua's independence but it remained autonomous.

[Visarion]

Saxons started to settle Burzenland more massively after the Tartars retreated and in 1290 Radu Negru the ruler of Amlas and Fagaras (Terra Blaccorum) crossed the Carpathians and established in Campulung where he kept the Saxon governor Laurencius who ruled until 1300. Radu Negru was fallowed by his Catholic and Orthodox people including many Saxons from Burzenland. He was married to a Hungarian princess. He first built a Catholic church and then a Orthodox one. Later he moved the capital to Arges or Curtea de Arges, the former residence of Seneslau of Cumania, Muntenia, Transalpina. He is thought to be Tochomerius, the father of Basarab. The Cumans that ruled eastern Muntenia were replaced by the Mongols and some joined the Romanians in the Cuman-Vlach factions. Many Cumans entered the Vlach, Bulgarian, Hungarian and Byzantine courts.

Tochomerius is mentioned in 1332 by Carol Robert Anjou as the father of Basarab I. He ruled over the united factions of Seneslau and Litovoi. Some say he is the son of Barbat while others of Seneslau but most probably he was Negru Voda who subsequantly captured Campulung and then Curtea de Arges. Most likely the capital of Litovoi's brother Barbat fell in importance after the riot and so did his faction. Most of the attention was given to Burzenland, especially Brassow, Harszoc, the former capital of Decebal, Sarmizegetusa, that remained autonomous and the seat of power for the Transylvanian nobles, Severin and only later Longo Campo and Curtea de Arges.
In 1307 a ruler of Wallachia allies himself with the Hungarians against the Bavarians and imprisons his ruler. The Vlach gets sick and feeling responsible frees Otto of Bavaria. Most likely he was the later mentioned Tochomerius. If he is one and the same with Radu Negru he ruled from 1290 until 1310 being fallowed by Basarab I or Vlaicu Ivancu Basarab (1310-1352). Because all sources must be taken in consideration some historians say that Tochomerius was of Cuman or even Tartar origin and that Basarab was half Cuman. The name Thochomer is linked to Tihomir, Toqtomir or the Crimean descendant of Genghis Khan, Toqtomer.

Basarab briefly captured Severin and banished the Tartars from Braila, he also ruled over northern Dobrudja in the detriment of the autonomous Bulgarian Principality of Karvuna, he held Isaccea and the fortress of Kilia (Chilia) and also captured Bessarabia from the Golden Horde in his late years of rule. He joined forces with the Bulgarians against the Serbians and crushed the Hungarians at Posada in 1330. The battle of Posada is his greates achievement because thus the Hungarian court recognuzed his independacy and he was able to concentrate his wrath against the Tratars, the former invaders of his country, liberating the way to the Black Sea ports and offering safe passage to the merchants to Braila, Isaccea or Issac-koy and Kilia, including the Saxon merchants from Brassow.

The Bulgarians and the Cumans indeed had some vassal territories in Muntenia but near the Danube, southern Muntenia, the former Sucidava, in Baragan and in Dobrudja. The plain of Baragan was invaded many times by nomad hordes including the Roxolans, Alans and Pechenegs. The Tartars from the Golden Horde settled between Dniester and Dnieper but also in Bessarabia. In Moldavia alongside the Vlachs lived the Jassy, probably the last Alans. In Muntenia and Wallachia also lived some Magyar related people called Ceangai.

In Moldavia alongside Vlachs, Jassy and Ceangai lived a group of Vlacho-Slav populance similar to the ones of Gyula or Gelu faction from Transylvania. They were the Brodnics, Berladnics and Bolohoveni. They lived in marshes and forrests and were mercenaries. Because of the nomad invasions these people were no longer able to herd their floks of sheep. Except the Brodnics the other two were under the suzeranity of Halych. The Brodnics were the 6,000 strong troops of the usurper Brodnic, cousin of the ruler of Halych that fled the land and joined the Cumans. Moldavia could be represented as part of Kievan Rus so to ballance the forces. Only much later the lords of Maramures, nothern Transylvania colonised northern Moldavia on behalf of the Hungarian king and ultimately for themselves, Dragos being the first and Bogdan the next, who seized Moldavia for himself establishing the House of Bogdan-Musat closely related to the Bassarabs, Bazarabs or Bazaraads of the House of Basarab. From Radu Negru onward, the de-facto pacifier of Wallachia, all voivodes name at least one of their sons Radu, but also Mihai, Mircea and Vlad, Vlaicu or Vladislav. Many took the name Basarab when acceding to the throne.

[Olligarchy]

Interesting stuff.

Unsure how much of it can be used in the mod, but it's definitely interesting to read about.

[Visarion]

Ty! edited...

[Visarion]

Edited... the army next...

[Ltd.]

Good thread. Hoping for some pictures and army descriptions. I have some of my own, but the more the merrier.

[Visarion]

Ty Ltd.! Edited again... read the last part about Moldavia...

[Visarion]

Tried to find some pics but all I found were the Radu Oltean pictures. They are pretty nice depictions of warriors from the Romanian territory across the ages depicted with items found in modern day Romania. Just search google images Radu Oltean...

[Ltd.]

Yeah I have them already, as well as Ian Heath` s depictions of vlachs, inspired by vlachs depicted in the battle of posada. Some osprey stuff as well.
As far as I know, most vlachs had a preference for archery, both mounted and dismounted (being inspired and influenced by the cumans). So they will have mounted and foot archers, spearmen, skirmishers, and a heavier general unit. Most vlachs were not particularly heavily armored in the 13th century, preferring light armor and ambushing tactics (see posada) . Later they did use heavier armor but in the high era / 2nd tier era of our mod they still were relatively lightly armored . The late era / 3rd tier era / 15th century then finally brought about plate armor , via Hungary and other western european countries so they will be depicted as such.
At least this is my understanding of the vlachs.
Regarding Radu Oltean: have you got better quality pictures where you can actually read the text on those depictions ?

[Kjertesvein]

In medieval 2, wasn't these guys always gray or something? Part of the wast gray empire.

~Wille

[Visarion]

No sorry the same bad quality... oh btw in Posada the Vlachs did had knights it seems as they made the final charge against the one who they thought was the king, the king actually exchanged clothes with a nobleman as a decoy and it worked... oh found some icons of Cozia monastery saints in military clothings including armour... they are a good source... as well as chronicles... btw I said above the Bolohoveni from Moldavia were under the influence of Halych but I found sources that prove they changed alliances and preffered the Hungarian court as they fought together against Halych in 1232. It seems Boril, tsar of the Bulgaro-Vlach Tsardom also had friendly relations with the Hungarians and used a mixed army of Vlachs from southern and northern Wallachia, south and north of the Danube, Saxons from Burzenland and Wallachia as the Teutones extended their territories all the way to the Danube before being sent into exile in 1225 in the favor of the Cumans who in about 1228 converted to Catholicism and of course the ever fighting Cumans and Pechenegs...oh yes and the warlike Szeklers... guess the early Wallachian armies could comprise Saxons and Cumans as well... after Boril, from 1218 onward the Bulgars started expelling the Vlach from the court and most likely from the army as well, so the Bulgaro-Vlach Commonwealth was short-lived.

[Visarion]

http://art-historia.blogspot.ro/2009...toria.html?m=1

[Visarion]

http://art-historia.blogspot.ro/2008...arabi.html?m=1

[Visarion]

Regarding the lack of heavy troops of the Wallachians I read that Carol Robert Anjou went into battle with 30,000 knights and he would have taken the rest of 8,000 if they were'nt stuck in fighting against the Teutones. He assembled the great army also. When you do this you must expect heavy opposition. He retook Severin, burnt the capital of Basarab, Curtea de Arges but sadly for him fell into a very well prepared ambush. Also Basarab poisoned the wells, burnt the fields and left nothing to eat or drink so his troops were probaly sick and starving as well as tired and desolated. Bassarab threw rocks, logs and plenty of arrows to the passing army stuck in a narrow pass...

[FrozenmenSS]

Guys can you give me some links to read in English on the subject. Because its murky the situation in the 1200-1400 ad north of the Danube.

[Visarion]

Almost all my sources are in Romanian... I am sorry for that, I know how it feels, when working on other mods boy were we glad to hear news from a native if you know what I mean... best info are in the native tongue of that specific faction... but I will search for English versions... best source is "Diploma Ioanitilor".

[Visarion]

Found some further research about the writings of Anonymous... about the factions of Gelu or Gyula, Glad, Menumorat and Salan. Seems like in the faction of Menumorat there lived Vlachs, Slavs and Khazars. He had many wives even if he was Orthodox and a vassal of the Byzantines and Bulgars... he was the nephew of Morout or Morut. Glad followed by Ahtum were the rulers of a conflagration of Vlachs, Bulgars and Cumans. Most likely the names of Basarab and Taktomer came from these times. He was a vassal of the Bulgarian Tsardom, probably the leader of an automous mark similar to Karvuna and Vidin later on together with the faction of Salan, a Bulgar ruler from the Serbian Banate that ruled over Vlachs and Slavs. Glad gained independance from the Bulgarians with the help of the Cumans, only the Burnaz plain near the ancient city of Sargedava remained loyal to the Bulgarians and inhabited by Bulgaro-Vlachs. The Cuman-Pechenegs also retreated in the Baragan Plain but most likely many were included in the royal house of Glad and his fallower Ahtum who was a vassal of the Byzantines. Later his former general betrayed him and conquered the faction in the name of Hungary, while the Byzantine emperor was fighting in Anatolia, the general was Chanadinus. Gelu or Gyula was a Vlach leader of a Slavo-Vlach faction. Menumorat is classified as a Bulgar leader of a coalition of Khazars, Avars, Slavs and Vlachs. I don't know much about the Volga Bulgars... did they had more than one wives as Anonymous said... this could be a way to find out his ethnicity... from what I know Magyars migrated together with three tribes of the Khazars, the Khabars forming the Onogur faction (ten arrows, ten tribes).

[Visarion]

Oh btw Tsardoms TW have a great Wallachian and Moldavian roster... luv those halberd/archer units from them...

[Visarion]

If anybody else has info on the army please be free to post!