Radu Mihnea

Radu Mihnea
Prince of Wallachia & Moldavia
Reign	1611–1623 (intermittently in both Wallachia & Moldavia)
Born	1585 or 1586 in Istanbul
Died	1626 in Moldavia
Spouse	Arghira Minetti (five children)
Issue	Alexandru Coconul
Father	Mihnea II Turcitul
Mother	Voica

Radu Mihnea (1586–1626) was Voivode (Prince) of Wallachia between September 1601 and March 1602, and again between March and May 1611, September 1611 and August 1616, August 1620 and August 1623, and Voivode (Prince) of Moldavia in 1616–1619, 1623–1626. He was the illegitimate son of Mihnea Turcitul by Voica Bratcul.

Radu Mihnea spent part of his early years in Koper (Capodistria), on Mount Athos and in Greece. His stay in the Serenissima accounts for the pro-Venetian character of his rule, and his interest in reforming the institutions of Wallachia and Moldavia. After completing his studies in Istanbul, Radu became prince of Wallachia at a very important time in Romanian history: following the union of the three principalities of Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania under Michael the Brave. Radu would rule no less than four times in Wallachia and twice in Moldavia. He was loved due to his Renaissance-style and love of the arts. This was due to his upbringing by the monks of Iveron at Mount Athos, Greece. Radu Mihnea died in 1626 in Moldavia, and his body was carried to Bucharest and interred at the Church of Prince Radu. The monastery was protected by the monks of Mount Athos due to Radu's loyalty to his educators. Radu and his wife Arghira had five children, three boys and two girls. These five would be the last surviving direct descendants of Vlad III Dracula. The eldest was Alexandru Coconul.

He replaced Polish vassal Simion Movilă on the throne in Bucharest after the brief occupation of Wallachia by the troops of hetmans Jan Zamoyski and Jan Karol Chodkiewicz. His first rule in the country signified the return to Ottoman control, interrupted since Michael the Brave.

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