As a medievalist enthusiast and a Vlad the Impaler fan, I learn daily about his life. One brother of his with a horror story is Mircea II of Wallachia.

Why Is Mircea Important To Vlad’s Story

When I hurt my back last week, I was glued to the bed with limited motion. I couldn’t do much, so I decided it was time to read. I was an avid reader from when I learned to read to my twenties. I can’t recall why I stopped.

I discovered Vlad when I was a tween but only started learning about his life as a teenager. My love for the paranormal and folklore won over me, and I wanted to know who the man behind Dracula from Bram Stoker was.

When I learned about Vlad’s family, I learned he had an older brother. At the time, I didn’t question much about him. I wanted to learn about Vlad alone, and as an only child raised alone, I didn’t know the importance a sibling could have.

As an older brother in the Middle Ages, specifically the 1400s, Mircea represented the solidification in their father’s crown. He was the one who led the children and led by example. Mircea became one of the first reasons Vlad would swear revenge on the boyars, a rank reserved for noble people in Wallachia. 

The Overall View Of Mircea II Of Wallachia

Born in 1428, Mircea II lived only for nineteen years and died in 1447. He was Vlad Dracul II‘s eldest son, the voivode, while his mother is believed to have been Cneajna, daughter of Alexander I of Moldavia. It was never confirmed, but scholars and historians alike agree that it is a strong possibility.

While there is little documentation about the life of Mircea, recollections found in other people’s documentation and archives helped put the pieces of the puzzle together. Like his father and brothers, Mircea was of the Orthodox belief and from the house of the Drăculești.

Mircea II became the prince of Wallachia and its voivode in 1442. Because of the location of Wallachia and its surroundings, it had no kings or queens. Such titles were reserved for Hungary’s rulers and the grip the Ottoman Empire had on the landmark.

Mircea II owed his name to his grandfather, Mircea cel Bătrân.

The Life Of A Future Prince Of Wallachia

As a reference, Wallachia was one of three separate landmarks and countries. Transylvania, Moldavia, and Wallachia, which later became Romania, but not without a captivating history and many obstacles.

Because of the need for more documentation, historians could place the year of birth of Mircea II through the writings of Walerand of Wavrin, a Burgundian crusader. A document specified that Mircea was fifteen years old in 1443.

The first mention of Vlad Dracul II’s sons was on January 20th, 1437. It mentions Mircea II and Vlad Dracula. At the time, Vlad Dracul II was the ruler of Wallachia.

It’s believed that Vlad II brought his son Mircea II to many military campaigns and meetings from a young age. The fragility of the throne of Wallachia was a constant reminder that Mircea and his brothers had to possess a tactical mind and a strong education, which they received.

The Conflicts Between Wallachia, Turkey and Hungary

In March of 1442, before leaving Wallachia to meet with the sultan Murad, Vlad Dracul left his son, Mircea, as ruler in his absence. Because accusations of treachery led to the imprisonment of Vlad Dracul, Murad sent an army of twelve thousand soldiers to invade Wallachia.

While Dracul’s family were Orthodox, allying themselves with Catholicism under Christianity, they were forced to do business with the Turks who followed Islam. Because Christian armies lacked the power the Ottoman had to preserve peace and safety for Wallachians, Dracul had no choice but to sign treaty after treaty with Murad to ensure his throne remained untouched. It not only saved Christianity in his land but also kept his people free, otherwise enslaved by the Turks.

Vlad Dracul’s hand force had Mircea disagree with his father regarding the Turks. The Dracul House made powerful enemies, such as John Hunyadi—a leading Hungarian military figure, who launched an attack on Wallachia in 1443. 

The attack forced Mircea to flee into hiding while Hunyadi won and pushed Vlad to seek help from the Turks. Despite his hiding, Mircea had powerful followers, and it helped him retain a great army during that period.

The Sacrifice Of Vlad Dracula And Radu The Handsome

While Vlad Dracul negotiated with Murad to regain his throne, Hunyadi placed Basarab II as Prince of Wallachia. The negotiation between the sultan and Dracul was one that displeased and hurt Mircea.

To ensure Dracul’s allegiance to him, Murad had him give up his two sons, Vlad Dracula and the youngest, Radu the Handsome. They would be his royal hostages to ensure Dracul’s honest position with the Turks. If he failed to answer Murad’s calls, his sons could be tortured or killed.

While Dracul promised to be faithful to Murad, he managed to help the Christian Faith. He warned Vladislav III, King of Poland and Hungary, to stop his crusade in Varna. He warned them about the army Murad possessed and how futile their attempt at regaining Christian land would be.

Vlad returned to Wallachia but left his son Mircea II in charge of four thousand men to help. While a defeat on the Christian side was inevitable, Mircea II won back the Fortress of Giurgiu in 1445 across the Danube because of his military skills.

His efforts were in vain when Murad had Vlad Dracul sign a treaty for him to give back the fortress of Giurgiu. Mircea II had won.

The End Of Mircea II And Rise Of Vlad Dracula

The ruling of Vlad Dracul II depended on the Turks and Murad. Nobody listened to Dracul explaining that Wallachia would become part of the Islamic faith without him. All Hunyadi saw was an Orthodox traitor using Turks to keep his throne.

In 1447, John Hunyadi launched another attack on Wallachia to seal its Christian faith. The armies of both Vlad Dracul and Mircea II failed due to numbers. It forced Vlad Dracul to flee and leave Mircea behind.

The horror story that was Mircea II’s life was to see his father continually having to bow to a sultan while being ignored by men who shared his faith. He saw his father, a great tactical man, having to give up his sons to protect his people.

But the most horrifying part of Mircea II’s life happened when the privileged Saxon, the boyars, captured him. The boyars were members of the Tîrgoviște council and wanted Vladislav to remain on the throne.

The Nightmare That Was Mircea II’s Death

The death of Mircea II was at the hands of the boyars who wanted Vladislav as their voivode. They accused Dracul and Mircea II of being on the sultan’s side and had no intention to let them speak and defend themselves.

Following Mircea II’s capture, he was beaten by a group of boyars until he couldn’t stand. Following the beating was the blinding of his eyes shut with a burning iron poker. Once his eyes were burned shut, the young man, nineteen years old, was thrown into a hole and buried alive.

However, there is a legend, as it isn’t confirmed to be true or false, that says Mircea II had to dig his grave before the beating and blinding. The legend says he wasn’t thrown in a hole but put in a coffin. He was then buried in an unmarked grave, never to be found. The boyars thought they were clever.

But when Vlad Dracula secured his throne, the legend said he had his men look for his brother’s grave. Then, when celebrating his coronation, little did the boyars who tortured his brother know that they feasted on Mircea II’s coffin covered with a red tablecloth.

Was The Legend True, Or Was It A Tale?

Vlad Dracula did know about the murder of his father and the torture of his brother. He swore to avenge their death and bring justice within the borders of Wallachia. He did sometimes with the help of Mehmed, Murad’s son, and sometimes with Christian’s help. But he did what he swore he would do.

I believe that Vlad Dracula found his brother’s grave and used the coffin as a table to send a message. Mircea II faced his own mortality every day of his young life until his tragic end. A life was taken too soon at the hands of privileged people who knew nothing of the life of a voivode and the political wars happening.

But rest assured, Vlad Dracula ensured they knew and would never forget.

OCD Vampire