Neacşu

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Neacşu was a 16th century Wallachian trader. His 1521 letter from Câmpulung is the oldest surviving document written in Romanian. Written in Cyrillic, it was sent to Johannes Benkner, the mayor of Kronstadt (today's Braşov) in Transylvania, to let him know about the imminent attack of the Ottoman Empire (the text also makes mention of Wallachian Prince Neagoe Basarab, under the name Basarab).

The letter is presently housed by the Museum of Printing and Old Romanian Books, and it is a major document in Romanian history, literature and culture.

Despite its age, the language of the text is quite similar to modern Romanian.

Contents 1 Text 1.1 Romanian original 1.2 Translation 2 Notes 3 External links

[edit] Text

[edit] Romanian original

"Mudromu I plemenitomu, I cistitomu I bogom darovanomu jupan Hanăş Bengner ot Braşov mnogo zdravie ot Nécşu ot Dlăgopole..¹

I pak¹ dau ştire domnie tale za lucrul turcilor, cum am auzit eu că împăratul au eşit den Sofiia, şi aimintrea nu e, şi se-au dus în sus pre Dunăre.

I pak să ştii domniia ta că au venit un om de la Nicopole de miie me-au spus că au văzut cu ochii lor că au trecut ciale corăbii ce ştii şi domniia ta pre Dunăre în sus.

I pak să ştii că bagă den toate oraşele câte 50 de omin să fie de ajutor în corăbii.

I pak să ştii cumu se-au prins neşte meşter(i) den Ţarigrad cum vor treace ceale corăbii la locul cela strimtul ce ştii şi domniia ta.

I pak spui domniie tale de lucrul lui Mahamet beg, cum am auzit de boiari ce sunt megiiaş(i) şi de generemiiu Negre, cum i-au dat împăratul sloboziie lui Mahamet beg, pe io-i va fi voia, pren Ţeara Rumânească, iară el să treacă.

I pak să ştii domniia ta că are frică mare şi Băsărab de acel lotru de Mahamet beg, mai vârtos de domniile voastre.

I pak spui domniietale ca mai marele miu, de ce am înţeles şi eu. Eu spui domniietale iară domniiata eşti înţelept şi aceste cuvinte să ţii domniiata la tine, să nu ştie umin mulţi, şi domniile vostre să vă păziţi cum ştiţi mai bine.

I bog te veselit.¹ Amin."

[edit] Translation

"To the most wise and honoured and by God gifted master Hanăş Bengner [that is, Johannes Benkner] from Braşov, much health from Neacşu from Dlăgopole [that is, Câmpulung].

And so I let you know of the deeds of the Turks, as I have heard that the emperor [that is, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent] has left Sofia, and that must be true, and went up the Danube.

And so You should know that a man from Nicopolis came to me and told me they saw with their own eyes that those ships which you know about have sailed up the Danube.

And so you should know that they are taking 50 men from each town to help on the ships.

And so you should know that some experts from Tsarigrad [that is, Istanbul] realized how to make the ships to past that narrow place which you know too.

And so I tell you about the deed of Mahamet beg, as I heard from neighbouring boyars and from my son-in-law Negre, that the emperor gave Mahamet beg freedom to pass through Wallachia wherever he pleases.

And so you should know that our Basarab too is fearful of that thief Mahamet beg, even more so than you.

And so I'm telling you as my superior about what I have found out. I am telling you, and you are wise and you should keep these words for yourself, so that no many people know, and you should take proper guard.

And may God bring you happiness. Amen."

[edit] Notes

¹ Italics in the original text are in Slavic language

[edit] External links

• Original text
• About the Museum of Printing and Old Romanian Books