Radu Negru

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For other uses, see Radu Negru (disambiguation).

“Radu Vodă” redirects here. For other uses, see Radu Vodă (disambiguation).

Radu Negru (probably born in the 13th century) (Radu [the] Black) also known as Radu Vodă (Voivode Radu), Radu Negru, or Negru Vodă, was a mythical early ruler of Wallachia.

According to Romanian traditions, Radu would have been the founder and ruler of Wallachia at a date around 1290. This is plausible, given that, in 1289, the Kingdom of Hungary forced all nobles (including those in Transylvania) to adhere to the Roman Catholic Church, an act which could have determined the ethnic Romanian potentates to seek out new lands. According to the legend, Radu Negru has descălecat (lit. "dismounted", consequently used in the sense of "founded") in what became Wallachia after crossing the Southern Carpathians. There are connections made by some historians between Radu Negru and the Teutonic Knights settled by the Hungarian kings in southern Transylvania.

The legend was first mentioned in 17th century Cantacuzino Annals, which also state that the prince built large churches in Câmpulung and Curtea de Argeş, successive capitals of Wallachia of the time. This is a likely confusion with Radu I of Wallachia (1377 - 1383). Legends surrounding Meşterul Manole also mention Radu Negru as the commissioner of the church, and blend his image with that of Neagoe Basarab, who ruled at a much later date than Radu I.

Radu, a name derived from the Slavic word for "joy". Today, the name Radu is a very common name in Romania and Romanian-speaking countries, such as Moldova.