Neagoe Basarab


Neagoe Basarab, was the Voivode of Wallachia between 1512 and 1521. Born into the boyar family of the Craioveşti as the son of Pârvu Craiovescu or Basarab Țepeluș cel Tânăr, Neagoe Basarab, who replaced Vlad cel Tânăr after the latter rejected Craioveşti tutelage, was noted for his abilities and competence.

Reign

In the 16th century, Wallachia was independent, but was required to pay an exorbitant tribute to the greater force of the Ottoman Empire. Neagoe encouraged the development of crafts and trade, while maintaining a good relation with Wallachia's other powerful neighbour, Hungary.
His diplomacy attempted to establish connections with the Republic of Venice and the Papacy, even offering to mediate the dispute between Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, with the purpose of uniting Christendom against the Ottoman threat.
He adopted the Byzantine tradition of Church patronage, making generous donations to the Orthodox monasteries, not only in Wallachia but throughout the Balkans. During his reign the Curtea de Argeş Monastery was built – legend names Meşterul Manole as the chief craftsman; the account also fuses Neagoe with yet another legendary figure, Prince Radu.
Neagoe ordered the earliest works on the old Metropolitan church in Târgovişte and St. Nicholas Church in Şcheii Braşovului.
Neagoe Basarab wrote in Church Slavonic one of the earliest literary works of Wallachia, called "The teachings of Neagoe Basarab to his son Theodosie", where he touches various subjects such as philosophy, diplomacy, morals and ethics.

Family

He married Milica Despina, daughter of Serbia. Among their children are Teodosie of Wallachia and Ruxandra, wife of Radu of Afumați and Radu Paisie, both princes of Walachia.

Literature

Grigore, Mihai-D., Neagoe Basarab - Princeps Christianus. Christianitas-Semantik im Vergleich mit Erasmus, Luther, Machiavelli. Frankfurt M.: Peter Lang 2015. 433p.