List of rulers of Wallachia

This is a list of rulers of Wallachia, from the first mention of a medieval polity situated between the Southern Carpathians and the Danube until the union with Moldavia in 1862, leading to the creation of Romania.

Notes

Dynastic rule is hard to ascribe, given the loose traditional definition of the ruling family (on principle, princes were chosen from any family branch, including a previous ruler's bastard sons - being defined as os de domn - "of Voivode marrow", or as having heregie - "heredity" (from the Latin hereditas); the institutions charged with the election, dominated by the boyars, had fluctuating degrees of influence). The system itself was challenged by usurpers, and became obsolete with the Phanariote epoch, when rulers were appointed by the Ottoman Sultans; between 1821 and 1878 (the date of Romania's independence), various systems combining election and appointment were put in practice. Wallachian rulers, like the Moldavian rulers, bore the titles of Voivode ("duke") or/and Hospodar ("lord, master").

Most rulers did not use the form of the name they are cited with, and several used more than one form of their own name; in some cases, the ruler was only mentioned in foreign sources. The full names are either modern versions or ones based on mentions in various chronicles.

List

House of Basarab

Ruler	Portrait	Years	Family	Marriage	Notes
Thocomerius (or Radu Negru)		c. 1290 – 1310		Unknown	Radu Negru is legendary voivode of Wallachia; some historians consider it to be just a nickname of Thocomerius or Basarab I.
Basarab I the Founder (Basarab Întemeietorul)		c. 1310 – 1352	Basarab	Margareta two children	son of Thocomerius; first non-legendary ruler of Wallachia.
Nicolae Alexandru		1352–1364	Basarab	Maria Lackfy five children Clara Dobokay two children Margareta Dabkai no children	son of Basarab I
Vladislav I		c. 1364 – 1377	Basarab	unknown	son of Nicolae Alexandru; also known as Vlaicu-Vodă
Radu I		c. 1377 – 1383	Basarab	Anna one child Caliphië of Byzantium c.1354 or 1355 two children	son of Nicolae Alexandru
Dan I		c. 1383 – 1386	Dănești	Maria of Serbia one child	son of Radu I
Mircea I the Old (Mircea I cel Bătrân)		1386–1394	Basarab	Maria Tolmay six children Anca no children	son of Radu I. 1st rule.
Vlad I the Usurper (Vlad I Uzurpatorul)		1394–1397		Unknown	son of Dan I
Mircea I the Old (Mircea I cel Bătrân)		1397–1418	Basarab	Maria Tolmay six children Anca no children	2nd rule
Mihail I		1408–1420	Basarab	unknown two children	son of Mircea cel Bătrân, co-ruled with his father since 1408.
Radu II the Bald (Radu II Praznaglava)		1420-1422[1]	Basarab	unknown	son of Mircea cel Bătrân; 1st rule
Dan II		1422-1426	Dănești	unknown five children	son of Dan I, member of the Order of the Dragon; 1st rule
Radu II the Bald (Radu II Praznaglava)		1426-1427[2]	Basarab	unknown	son of Mircea cel Bătrân; 2nd rule
Dan II		1427-1431	Dănești	unknown five children	2nd rule
Alexandru I Aldea		1431–1436	Drăculești	unknown	son of Mircea cel Bătrân
Vlad II the Dragon (Vlad II Dracul)		1436–1442	Drăculești	unknown one child Cneajna of Moldavia three children	illegitimate son of Mircea cel Bătrân; member of the Order of the Dragon (thus Dracul); 1st rule
Mircea II the Younger (Mircea al II-lea cel Tânăr)		1442	Drăculești	Unmarried	son of Vlad II Dracul, sometimes not counted; he ruled while his father was absent, on his way to pay the tribute to the Ottoman Empire; Deposed by John Hunyadi. Ruled alone in his 1st time.
Basarab II		1442–1443	Dănești	Maria (Dobra) two children	son of Dan II; Placed in the throne by John Hunyadi, in war with Vlad II.
Vlad II the Dragon (Vlad II Dracul)		1443–1447	Drăculești	unknown one child Cneajna of Moldavia three children	Returned to the throne, and won against John Hunyadi, deposing also Basarab II. He was assassinated in 1447.
Mircea II the Younger (Mircea al II-lea cel Tânăr)		1446-1447	Drăculești	Unmarried	Ruled with his father; 2nd time. He was blinded and buried alive by Hunyadi in 1447.
Vladislav II		1447–1448	Dănești	Neacşa one child	son of Dan II; supported by John Hunyadi, Regent of Hungary; The way he came to the throne is debatable, but the most accepted is that he killed Vlad II, and was then replaced in the throne by Hunyadi. 1st rule
Vlad III the Impaler (Vlad al III-lea Țepeș)		1448	Drăculești	Cneajna Báthory Before 1462 one child Ilona Szilágyi Between 1462 and 1466 two children Jusztina Nelipic no children	son of Vlad II Dracul; Invaded Wallachia while Vladislav was outside, in battle against the Otomans; Deposed in the next year by Hunyadi; 1st rule
Vladislav II		1448–1456	Dănești	Neacşa one child	son of Dan II; supported by John Hunyadi, Regent of Hungary; Returned from the battle, rules again until his death in a combat hand-to-hand against Vlad III, who retakes the throne; 2nd rule
Vlad III the Impaler (Vlad al III-lea Țepeș)		1456–1462	Drăculești	Cneajna Báthory Before 1462 one child Ilona Szilágyi Between 1462 and 1466 two children Jusztina Nelipic no children	2nd rule
Radu III the Fair (Radu cel Frumos)		1462–1473	Drăculești	Maria one child	son of Vlad II Dracul; 1st rule
Basarab III Laiotă the Old (Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân)		1473	Dănești	Unmarried	son of Dan II; In civil war against Radu III;1st rule
Radu III the Fair (Radu cel Frumos)		1473–1474	Drăculești	Maria one child	In civil war against Basarab III; 2nd rule
Basarab III Laiotă the Old (Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân)		1474	Dănești	Unmarried	In civil war against Radu III; 2nd rule
Radu III the Fair (Radu cel Frumos)		1474	Drăculești	Maria one child	In civil war against Basarab III; 3rd rule
Basarab III Laiotă the Old (Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân)		1474	Dănești	Unmarried	In civil war against Radu III; 3rd rule
Radu III the Fair (Radu cel Frumos)		1474–1475	Drăculești	Maria one child	In civil war against Basarab III; 4th rule
Basarab III Laiotă the Old (Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân)		1475–1476	Dănești	Unmarried	4th rule
Vlad III the Impaler (Vlad al III-lea Țepeș)		1476	Drăculești	Cneajna Báthory Before 1462 one child Ilona Szilágyi Between 1462 and 1466 two children Jusztina Nelipic no children	Returns, but is killed shortly after; 3rd rule
Basarab III Laiotă the Old (Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân)		1476–1477	Dănești	Unmarried	5th rule
Basarab IV The Younger, The Little Impaler (Basarab IV Țepeluș cel Tânăr)		1477–1481	Dănești	Maria one child	son of Basarab II; 1st rule
Mircea (III)		1481	Drăculești	Unmarried	illegitimate son of Vlad II Dracul
Vlad IV the Monk (Vlad Călugărul)		1481	Drăculești	Rada Smaranda Before 1460 four children Maria Palaiologina 1487 one child	son of Vlad II Dracul; 1st rule
Basarab IV The Younger, The Little Impaler (Basarab IV Țepeluș cel Tânăr)		1481–1482	Dănești	Maria one child	2nd rule
Vlad IV the Monk (Vlad Călugărul)		1482–1495	Drăculești	Rada Smaranda Before 1460 four children Maria Palaiologina 1487 one child	2nd rule
Radu IV the Great (Radu cel Mare)		1495–1508	Drăculești	Catherine of Zeta six children	son of Vlad Călugărul
Mihnea I the Bad (Mihnea cel Rău)		1508–1509	Drăculești	Smaranda no children Voica three children	son of Vlad III Țepeș
Mircea III (IV) Miloș		1509–1510	Drăculești	Maria of Serbia 1519 two children	son of Mihnea cel Rău
Vlad V the Younger (Vlad cel Tânăr)		1510–1512	Drăculești	Anca of Zeta Before 1508 one child	son of Vlad Călugărul; also known as Vlăduț
Neagoe Basarab V		1512–1521	Craiovești	Milica of Serbia 1505 six children	possibly son of Pârvu Craiovescu or Basarab IV; The most accepted theory is that he claimed the throne as a son of Basarab IV, being in fact son of Pârvu. Cultural zenith in Wallachia.
Milica of Serbia (Regent)		1521–1522	Branković/ Craiovești	Neagoe Basarab V 1505 six children	Regent in behalf of her son
Teodosie		1521–1522	Craiovești	unmarried	under regency of his mother Milica Branković
Radu V		1522–1523	Drăculești	Voica of Bucsani three children Ruxandra of Wallachia After 1525 no children	illegitimate son of Radu cel Mare; allied with Craiovești; 1st rule
Vladislav III		1523	Dănești	Unknown	nephew of Vladislav II; 1st rule
Radu VI Bădica		1523–1524	Drăculești	Unknown	son of Radu IV the Great
Radu V		1524	Drăculești	Voica of Bucsani three children Ruxandra of Wallachia After 1525 no children	2nd rule
Vladislav III		1524	Dănești	Unknown	2nd rule
Radu V		1524–1525	Drăculești	Voica of Bucsani three children Ruxandra of Wallachia After 1525 no children	3rd rule
Vladislav III		1525	Drăculești	Unknown	3rd rule
Radu V		1525–1529	Drăculești	Voica of Bucsani three children Ruxandra of Wallachia After 1525 no children	4th rule
Basarab VI		1529		Unknown	Non-dynastic; Son of Mehmed-bey
Moise		1529–1530	Dănești	Unknown	son of Vladislav III. Last of the Dănești.
Vlad VI the Drowned (Vlad Înecatul)		1530–1532	Drăculești	Anna of Moldavia 1531 no children	son of Vlad cel Tânăr
Vlad VII Vintilă de la Slatina		1532–1535	Drăculești	Zamfira one child Rada one child	son of Radu cel Mare
Radu VII Paisie		1535–1545	Drăculești	Stana three children Ruxandra of Wallachia c.1541 three children	son of Vlad Vintilă de la Slatina
Mircea IV (V) the Shepherd (Mircea Ciobanul)		1545–1552	Drăculești	Chiajna of Moldavia June 1546 seven children	son of Radu cel Mare; 1st rule
Radu VIII Ilie the Cowherd (Radu Ilie Haidăul)		1552–1553	Drăculești	Unknown	son of Radu de la Afumați
Mircea IV (V) the Shepherd (Mircea Ciobanul)		1553–1554	Drăculești	Chiajna of Moldavia June 1546 seven children	2nd rule
Pătrașcu the Good (Pătrașcu cel Bun)		1554–1558	Drăculești	Voica of Slatioare four children	son of Radu Paisie
Mircea IV (V) the Shepherd (Mircea Ciobanul)		1558–1559	Drăculești	Chiajna of Moldavia June 1546 seven children	3rd rule
Chiajna of Moldavia (Regent)		1559-1564	Bogdan-Mușat /Drăculești	Mircea IV (V) June 1546 seven children	Regent on behalf of her son.
Petru I the Younger (Petru cel Tânăr)		1564–1568	Drăculești	Jelena Crepovic of Transylvania 22 August 1563 one child	son of Mircea Ciobanul
Alexandru II Mircea		1568–1574	Drăculești	Catherine Salvaresso 1558 Pera one child	son of Mircea III Dracul; popularly called Oaie Seacă (Barren Sheep); 1st rule
Vintilă		1574	Drăculești	Unknown	son of Petru Pătrașcu cel Bun
Alexandru II Mircea		1574–1577	Drăculești	Catherine Salvaresso 1558 Pera one child	2nd rule
Catherine Salvaresso (Regent)		1577-1583	Salvaresso/Drăculești	Alexandru II Mircea 1558 Pera one child	Regent on behalf of her son, Mihnea II. Deposed by Peter II.
Petru II of the Earring (Petru Cercel)		1583–1585	Drăculești	Unmarried	son of Petru Pătrașcu cel Bun
Mihnea II the Turk (Mihnea Turcitul)		1585–1591	Drăculești	Neaga de Cislau June 1582 three children	Paid for the assassination of his usurper. Returned and ruled alone.

House of Bogdan-Muşat

Houses of Basarab and Movilă

Ruler	Portrait	Years	Family	Notes
Mihail II Viteazul (Michael II the Brave)		1593–1600	Drăculești	illegitimate son of Petru Pătrașcu cel Bun; also ruled Transylvania (1599-1600) and Moldavia (1600), briefly uniting the three principalities.
Nicolae Pătrașcu		1599–1600	Drăculești	Son of Michael II, co-ruled with his father since 1599.
Simion Movilă		1600–1601	Movilești	1st rule
Radu IX Mihnea		1601–1602	Drăculești	son of Minhea II Turcitul; 1st rule
Simion Movilă		1602	Movilești	2nd rule
Radu X Șerban		1602–1610		Nephew of Neagoe Basarab V. 1st rule
Transylvanian occupation: direct rule of Gabriel Báthory (1611)
Radu IX Mihnea		1611	Drăculești	2nd rule
Radu X Șerban		1611		2nd rule
Radu IX Mihnea		1611–1616	Drăculești	3rd rule
Gabriel Movilă		1616	Movilești	son of Simion Movilă; 1st rule

Various dynasties

Ruler	Portrait	Years	Family	Notes
Alexandru IV Iliaș		1616–1618		1st rule
Gabriel II Movilă		1618–1620	Movilești	2nd rule
Radu IX Mihnea		1620–1623	Drăculești	4th rule
Alexandru V Coconul (Alexander the Child-Prince)		1623–1627	Drăculești	son of Radu Mihnea
Alexandru IV Iliaș		1627–1629		2nd rule
Leon Tomșa		1629–1632
Radu XI Iliaș		1632
Matei Basarab		1632–1654	Brâncovenești
Constantin I Șerban		1654–1658		illegitimate son of Radu Șerban
Mihnea III		1658–1659
Gheorghe I Ghica		1659–1660	Ghica
Grigore I Ghica		1660–1664	Ghica	1st rule
Radu XII Leon		1664–1669
Antonie Vodă din Popeşti		1669–1672
Grigore I Ghica		1672–1673	Ghica	2nd rule
Gheorghe II Ducas		1673–1678
Șerban Cantacuzino		1678–1688	Cantacuzene
Constantin II Brâncoveanu		1688–1714	Brâncovenești
Ștefan II Cantacuzino		1714–1715	Cantacuzene
Phanariote rule (1715–1821)
Nicolae Mavrocordat		1715–1716	Mavrocordato	1st rule
- Habsburg occupation		1716
Ioan Mavrocordat		1716–1719	Mavrocordato
Nicolae Mavrocordat		1719–1730	Mavrocordato	2nd rule
Constantin Mavrocordat		1730	Mavrocordato	1st rule
Mihai Racoviță		1730–1731	Racoviță	1st rule
Constantin Mavrocordat		1731–1733	Mavrocordato	2nd rule
Grigore II Ghica		1733–1735	Ghica	1st rule
Constantin Mavrocordat		1735–1741	Mavrocordato	3rd rule
Mihai Racoviță		1741–1744	Racoviță	2nd rule
Constantin Mavrocordat		1744–1748	Mavrocordato	4th rule
Grigore II Ghica		1748–1752	Ghica	2nd rule
Matei Ghica		1752–1753	Ghica
Constantin Racoviță		1753–1756		1st rule
Constantin Mavrocordat		1756–1758		5th rule
Scarlat Ghica		1758–1761	Ghica	1st rule
Constantin Mavrocordat		1761–1763		6th rule
Constantin Racoviță		1763–1764	Racoviță	2nd rule
Ștefan Racoviță		1764–1765	Racoviță
Scarlat Ghica		1765–1766	Ghica	2nd rule
Alexandru Ghica		1766–1768	Ghica
- Russian occupation		1768
Grigore III Ghica		1768–1769	Ghica
- Russian occupation		1769–1770
Emanuel Giani Ruset		1770-1771	Rosetti	also called Manole or Manolache
Alexander Ypsilantis		1774–1782	Ypsilanti	1st rule
Nicolae Caragea		1782–1783	Caradja
Mihai Suțu		1783–1786	Soutzos	1st rule
Nicolae Mavrogheni		1786–1789
- Habsburg occupation		1789–1790		military commander: Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg
Mihai Suțu		1791–1793	Soutzos	2nd rule
Alexandru Moruzi		1793–1796	Mourousi	1st rule
Alexander Ypsilantis		1796–1797	Ypsilanti	2nd rule
Constantin Hangerli		1797–1799
Alexandru Moruzi		1799–1801	Mourousi	2nd rule
Mihai Suțu		1801–1802	Soutzos	3rd rule
Alexandru Suțu		1802	Soutzos
Constantin Ypsilanti		1802-1806	Ypsilanti
- Russian occupation		1806–1812
Ioan Gheorghe Caragea		1812–1818	Caradja
Caimacam Grigore Brâncovenu		1818		assisted by Vornic Barbu Văcărescu, Vistier Grigore Ghica and Logofăt Samurcaș
Alexandru Suțu		1818–1821	Soutzos
Caimacam Grigore Brâncoveanu		1821
Tudor Vladimirescu		1821		leader of the anti-Phanariote uprising
Scarlat Callimachi		1821	Callimachi
Grigore IV Ghica		1822–1828	Ghica
- Russian occupation		1828–1834		military commanders: Fyodor Pahlen, Pyotr Zheltukhin, and Pavel Kiseleff
Organic Statute government (1832–1856)
Alexandru II Ghica		1834–1842	Ghica
Gheorghe Bibescu		1842–1848	Bibescu
Provisional Government		1848		Metropolitan Neofit II, assisted by Christian Tell, Ion Heliade Rădulescu, Ștefan Golescu, Gheorghe Magheru, Gheorghe Scurti
Locotenența domnească (Regency of three)		1848		Christian Tell, Ion Heliade Rădulescu, Nicolae Golescu
Joint Ottoman and Russian occupation		1848–1851		military commanders: Omar Pasha and Alexander von Lüders
Caimacam Constantin Cantacuzino		1848
Barbu Știrbei		1848–1853	Știrbei	1st rule
Russian occupation		1853–1854
Ottoman occupation		1854
Austrian occupation		1854–1856		military commander: Johann Coronini-Cronberg
Barbu Știrbei		1854–1856	Știrbei	2nd rule
Protectorate established by the Treaty of Paris (1856–1859)
Caimacam Alexandru II Ghica		1856–1858
Caimacam of three		1858–1859		Ioan Manu, Emanoil Băleanu, Ioan A. Filipide
Alexander John Cuza		1859–1862		also ruled Moldavia in personal union
United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia since 1862.
Alexander John Cuza		1862–1866		also ruled Moldavia in personal union
Carol I		1866–1881	Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen	A new constitution came into effect in 1866 giving the country the official name Romania, and on 14 March (O.S.) (26 March) 1881, it became the Kingdom of Romania.
For later rulers, see Kings of Romania.

References