Mihnea Turcitul
Mihnea Turcitul | |
---|---|
Alexandru II Mircea | |
Mother | Catherine Salvaresso |
Religion | Initially Orthodox Christian, later Sunni Islam |
Mihnea II Turcitul ("Mihnea the
between September 1577 and July 1583, and again from April 1585 to May 1591.The only son of
He, Ecaterina Salvaresso and Chiajna subsequently established what would become a highly unpopular rule, which followed the political guidelines imposed by Alexandru II, and saw a major increase in taxes — around 1583, the pressure was leading peasants to abandon their plots and flee to Transylvania in large numbers.[3]
Local
His wealthy mother's family gave gifts to the officials of the sultan, in order to purchase back the throne. The obligations he contracted in order to have Petru removed (around 700,000
One year after his mother Catherine's death, the Turks removed Mihnea for the second time. Despite the established contacts, the Ottomans deposed Mihnea, in favor of Ștefan Surdul (who was allegedly a leather cutter and harness maker by trade).[8] After moving to Anatolia, he bade without success for the throne in Moldavia.[8]
In a desperate attempt to regain the throne, Mihnea and his eldest son converted to Islam. This is why he is known as "Turcitul" or "the Islamized". The move qualified him for Ottoman administrative office - he was awarded the
He died in Istanbul in 1601 and was buried in an unmarked grave.[citation needed]
Notes
References
- (in Romanian) Letopisețul Cantacuzinesc
- Ștefan Ștefănescu, Istoria medie a României, Bucharest, Vol. I, 1991
- A. D. Xenopol, Istoria romînilor din Dacia Traiană, Vol. V, cap. 3, Iași, 1896