Neagoe Basarab

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Neagoe Basarab and his son Theodosie
(icon from the Dionysiou Monastery)

Neagoe Basarab was the Voivode (Prince) of Wallachia between 1512 and 1521. Born into the boyar family of the Craioveşti (his reign marks the climax of the family's political influence) as the son of Pârvu Craiovescu or Basarab Ţepeluş cel Tânăr, Neagoe Basarab, who replaced Vlad cel Tânăr after the latter rejected Craioveşti tutelage, was noted for his abilities and competence.

[edit] 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.

Neagoe Basarab and his family pictured on the murals of the Curtea de Argeş Monastery

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 (in 1517) - legend names Meşterul Manole as the chief craftsman; the account also fuses Neagoe with yet another legendary figure, Prince Radu (who would've caused Manole's death by ordering for the scaffolding to be removed while the builders were on the roof, ensuring that nobody would use Manole's craft, and thus preserving the uniqueness of the structure).

Neagoe ordered the earliest works on the old Metropolitan church in Târgovişte (the city where the edition of the Gospels was published in 1512) and St. Nicholas Church in Şcheii Braşovului.

Neagoe Basarab wrote one of the earliest Romanian literary works, called Învăţăturile lui Neagoe Basarab către fiul său Teodosie ("The teachings of Neagoe Basarab to his son Theodosie"), which he touches various subjects such as philosophy, diplomacy, morals and ethics.