Michael the Brave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Michael the Brave |
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| Prince of Wallachia Imperial governor of Transylvania Prince of Moldavia |
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Portrait by Aegidius Sadeler II (Prague, 1601)
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| Prince of Wallachia | |
| Reign | September 1593 – September 1601 |
| Predecessor | Alexandru cel Rău |
| Successor | Radu Mihnea |
| Prince of Transylvania (de facto) | |
| Reign | October 1599 – September 1600 |
| Predecessor | Andrew Báthory |
| Successor | Sigismund Báthory |
| Prince of Moldavia | |
| Reign | May – September 1600 |
| Predecessor | Ieremia Movilă |
| Successor | Ieremia Movilă |
| Born | Mihai Pătrașcu 15 January 1558 Târgul de Floci (near Giurgeni), Wallachia |
| Died | 9 August 1601 (aged 42–43) Torda, Principality of Transylvania (now Turda, Romania) |
| Burial | 12 August 1601 Alba Iulia or Bogata, Cluj County (body) Dealu Monastery, Dâmbovița County (head) |
| Spouse | Doamna Stanca |
| Issue | Nicolae Pătrașcu Domnița Florica |
| House | Drăculești |
| Father | Pătrașcu cel Bun |
| Mother | Teodora Cantacuzino |
| Religion | Orthodox Christian |
| Signature | ,_1593.svg) |
Michael the Brave (Romanian: Mihai Viteazul or Mihai Bravu 1558 – 9 August 1601) was the Prince of Wallachia (as Michael II, 1593–1601), Prince of Moldavia (1600) and de facto ruler of Transylvania (1599–1600). He is considered one of Romania's greatest national heroes. Since the 19th century, Michael the Brave is regarded by Romanian nationalists as a symbol of Romanian unity,as under his reign was the first time when all principalities inhabited by Romanians were under the same ruler.
His rule over Wallachia began in the autumn of 1593. Two years later, war with the Ottomans began, a conflict in which the Prince fought the Battle of Călugăreni, resulting in a victory against an army nearly three times the size of Michael the Brave, considered one of the most important battles of his reign. Although the Wallachians emerged victorious from the battle, Michael was forced to retreat with his troops and wait for aid from his allies, Prince Sigismund Báthory of Transylvania and Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II. The war continued until a peace finally emerged in January 1597, but this lasted for only a year and a half. Peace was again reached in late 1599, when Michael was unable to continue the war due to lack of support from his allies. In 1599, Michael won the Battle of Șelimbăr against Sigismund Báthory and soon entered Alba Iulia, becoming the imperial governor (i.e. de facto ruler) of Transylvania, under Habsburg suzerainty. A few months later, Michael's troops invaded Moldavia and reached its capital, Iași. The Moldavian leader Ieremia Movilă fled to Poland and Michael was declared Prince of Moldavia. During this period, Michael the Brave changed his seal to represent his personal union of Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania.
The interests of the three neighbouring great powers — the Habsburg Monarchy, the Ottoman Empire, and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth — were damaged by Michael the Brave's achievements. Although he acknowledged the suzerainty of Rudolf II, Michael the Brave continued to negotiate his official position in Transylvania, pleading for direct rule instead of being imperial governor. Michael kept the control of all three provinces for less than a year before the Hungarian nobility of Transylvania rose against him in a series of revolts with the support of the Austrian army commanded by Italian General Giorgio Basta, defeating Michael the Brave at the Battle of Mirăslău, forcing the prince to leave Transylvania and retreat to Wallachia with his remaining troops, while the forces of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth entered Moldavia and defeated the forces loyal to Michael the Brave, restoring Ieremia Movilă on the throne. The Polish army led by Jan Zamoyski also advanced in eastern Wallachia and established Simion Movilă as ruler. Forces loyal to Michael remained only in Oltenia.
Michael the Brave then left for Prague, seekeing audience with Emperor Rudolf II; however, the emperor refused to allow him audience. But General Giorgio Basta's governance of Translyvania faced significant opposition from the Hungarian nobility, leading to the reinstallation of Sigismund Báthory, who turned his back on Emperor Rudolf II and declared suzerainty to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth after receiving substantial military support. This led to Emperor Rudolf II accepting Michael the Brave's audience and providing him with 100,000 florins to rebuild his army. Meanwhile, forces loyal to Michael in Wallachia led by his son, Nicolae Pătrașcu, drove Simion Movilă out of Moldavia and prepared to reenter Transylvania. Michael the Brave, allied with Giorgio Basta, defeated the Hungarian army at the Battle of Guruslău. A few days later Basta, who sought to control Transylvania himself, executed the assassination of Michael by order of the Habsburg Emperor Rudolf II.
Images for kids
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Engraving of Michael the Brave
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Michael the Brave, early 20th-century mural painting
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A contemporary illustration of Michael the Brave defeating the Turks at Târgovişte in October 1595
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The three principalities under Michael's authority, May – September 1600
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Michael the Brave entering Alba Iulia
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Michael the Brave at Alba Iulia, portrait by Mișu Popp
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Michael the Brave and his daughter Florica at Rudolf's court (detail of a contemporary painting by Frans Francken the Younger)
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Chancellor Jan Zamoyski
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Michael defeating the Hungarian nobility in Battle of Guruslău, 1601
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Portrait by Theodor Aman (1874)
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Michael the Brave and his troops, 19th-century painting by Nicolae Grigorescu
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Seal of Michael the Brave during his personal union of Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania
