Radu Șerban
Painting of Șerban at Târgoviște Princely Court
Prince of Wallachia (1st reign)
Reign	August 1602 – December 1610
Predecessor	Simion Movilă
Successor	Radu Mihnea
Prince of Wallachia (2nd reign)
Reign	June – September 1611
Predecessor	Radu Mihnea
Successor	Radu Mihnea
Born	c. 1560's
Died	13 March 1620
Issue	Constantin Șerban
House	Basarab
Religion	Orthodox
Signature

Radu Șerban (c. 1560's^[1] – 13 March 1620^[2]) was a Wallachian nobleman who reigned as the principality's voivode during two periods from 1602 to 1610 and during 1611.^[3]

A supposed descendant of Neagoe Basarab, he attained high office during the reign of Michael the Brave.^[4] After ascending the throne, he continued the policy of independence of Wallachia first put forth by Michael the Brave. Having struggled with great difficulties inside and outside the country, he managed to cope successfully during a reign lasting almost ten years and successfully defeated Simion Movilă and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and stopped Gabriel Bathory^[5] and Giorgio Basta from advancing into Wallachia. He has been noted for his particular political skill and military prowess, proving to be one of the more noteworthy princes of Wallachia.

After the assassination of Michael the Brave and the short reign of the Moldavian Simion Movilă, Radu Șerban ascended the throne of Wallachia in October 1601,^[6] with the support of the great boyars Preda, Stroe and Radu Buzescu, to whom he was an uncle after his mother, and who, enjoying great political and military authority, constantly supported his reign.^[7]

The first year of his reign was a very difficult one, Radu Șerban having to fight first with the former lord, Simion Movilă, until he, being abandoned by the Polish armies sent by Jan Zamoyski, the great chancellor of the crown, was forced to retreat to Moldavia, then with Radu Mihnea, the pretender to the throne supported by the Turks.

A skilled commander of troops, Radu Șerban continued Michael the Brave's policy of liberating the country from the Turks and approaching the Habsburg Empire. He fought battles with the Turks, Tatars, and Hungarian princes from Transylvania, Moses Székely and Gabriel Bathory, who were supported by the Ottoman Porte.

In the autumn of 1602 Simion Movilă made a new attempt to regain the throne of Wallachia. To this end, he addressed the Tatars of the Crimean Khanate, "worse friends than the worst enemy" (as Nicolae Iorga characterized them), promising them that he would allow them to plunder freely in the country if they would help him occupy the Wallachian throne. On 13 September, Simion Movilă, together with the 40,000 Tatars (under the command of the khan Gazi Ghirai), the Moldavians sent by his brother, Ieremia Movilă, and about 300 Cossacks, entered Wallachia.^[8] Radu Șerban's army was much smaller, numbering about 8,000–10,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry, to which were later added 1,000 cavalry sent from Transylvania by the Habsburg general Giorgio Basta.^[9] Given the numerical superiority of the invaders, Radu Șerban adopted a defensive tactic. The decisive battle was fought at Teișani, in the Teleajen River valley, on 23 and 24 September 1602. All Tatar attacks against the Romanian camp, which was fortified with trenches and palisades, failed; finally, after suffering heavy losses, the Tatars were forced to retreat to Silistra, where they crossed the Danube, being expected as aid for the campaign that the Turks were to carry out in Hungary. During the Battle of Teișani, a memorable event occurred: the son-in-law (and nephew) of the Khan Gazi Ghirai came out in front of the Tatar lines, challenging the leaders of the Wallachian army to a single combat. The challenge was accepted by Stroe Buzescu, who after a fierce battle defeated the Tatar by beheading him in front of the terrified eyes of the Khan and to the enthusiasm of the Wallachian army. Unfortunately, Stroe Buzescu was also seriously wounded and died a few days later, on 2 October. His tombstone, from the Stănești hermitage (in Stănești-Lunca, Vâlcea County), has been preserved to this day, on which his wife, the lady Sima, had an inscription carved in beautiful Romanian about her husband's Christian and brave deeds, ending with: "And he was not in the presence of the Tatar dogs."^[10]

In the summer of 1603, Radu Șerban intervened in Transylvania against the coalition of Hungarian magnates, led by Moses Székely, who were trying to drive the Habsburgs out of Transylvania. The main reason for this intervention was not so much the alliance he had concluded with the Habsburg Empire, but the awareness that it was unacceptable that, while an anti-Ottoman struggle was going on south of the Carpathians, the pro-Turkish power of Moses Székely and the Hungarian nobles who supported him could not be established in Transylvania. Radu Șerban could not accept the capture of Wallachia in a "pincer" by the Ottoman Empire south of the Danube and a Transylvania subject to them.^[11] The vanguard of the Wallachian armies, under the command of the captains Gyorgy Racz and Vasile Mârza, crossed the mountains on the Teleajen Valley and set up camp near Brașov (a Saxon fortress that had remained loyal to the Habsburgs), first at Feldioara, then at Râșnov, awaiting the main forces.^[12] he voivode, with the bulk of his army, crossed the Carpathians through the Rucăr-Bran pass, joining up with the vanguard led by Gyorgy Racz. Moses Székely also arrived with his army (4,000 Hungarians, 2,000 Tatars and 25 light cannons) near Brașov, but considering that he had no chance of success in an open field battle, he adopted a defensive tactic, fortifying himself near Râșnov in a surrounded camp with wagons connected to each other. The decisive battle took place on the morning of July 17 (historians call it the First Battle of Brașov - 1603^[13]): the impetuous attack of the Wallachians managed to break through the defenses of the Hungarians and put them to flight. Radu Șerban's cavalry pursued the fugitives, wreaking havoc among their ranks; Moses Székely himself was killed while trying to escape. The imperial general Giorgio Basta, who was at Satu Mare, feared that Radu Șerban would take possession of all of Transylvania, just like Michael the Brave, but the Wallachian voivode was content with this victory, which secured his northern flank, and retreated to Wallachia.^[14] Several years of peace and relative tranquility followed for the country. With the northern border secured and the threat of Tatar invasions repelled, Radu Șerban managed to establish a "modus vivendi" with the Turks, who had other political and military problems at the time, thus securing the southern border of Wallachia. After consolidating his rule, Radu Șerban preferred Târgoviște as his seat (to be more protected from a possible Turkish invasion), but he did not neglect Bucharest either, where he built the Șerban Vodă pond, which is today in Carol I Park.^[15][16] Remarkably for that era, the voivode sought to support the country's economic development by taking measures to settle debts between individuals and compensate for "plunders and thefts and robberies" (a confirmation of these measures being found in a charter issued by Matei Basarab on June 12, 1636 ^[17])

In 1610, there were disturbing signs that the new prince of Transylvania, Gabriel Bathory, intended to take aggressive action against his neighbors across the Carpathians, Moldavia and Wallachia. Radu Șerban had meanwhile established friendly relations with the new ruler of Moldavia, Constantin Movilă. On 20 December 1610, Gabriel Bathory's mercenaries, after having plundered Țara Bârsei for five days, crossed the snowy Carpathians and entered Wallachia by surprise. Radu Șerban, being unprepared, was forced to leave Târgoviște and take refuge in Moldavia, with his friend Constantin Movilă. For three months, Gabriel Bathory's armies ruthlessly plundered Wallachia; including churches and monasteries suffered, being plundered of their sacred relics and lead roofs (melted for casting bullets), and graves desecrated. Meanwhile, Radu Șerban was trying to gather his troops in his camp at Roman and renewed the treaty of alliance with the Habsburg Empire. In early June 1611, he returned to Wallachia and gathered around him the army of the country, the boyars and boyars being "thirsty for revenge against Gabor [Gabriel Bathory] for the many evils he had done to Wallachia", as a chronicler of the time wrote.^[18] In July, Radu Șerban, with his entire army, crossed the Carpathians, surprising Gabriel Bathory in the camp at Prejmer (near Brașov), where he had fortified himself with his main forces. Gabriel Bathory tried to retreat towards Brașov, but Radu Șerban, although his troops were tired after the exhausting march over the mountains, did not let him go but attacked him on July 9 on the plain between Brașov and the village of Sânpetru. Here took place the battle called by historians The Second Battle of Brașov - 1611. The Wallachians and the Polish cuirassier riders (hired as mercenaries by Radu Șerban) crushed the Transylvanian army, Gabriel Bathory fleeing from the battlefield. The numerous mentions in the chronicles, letters and chancellery documents of the time are eloquent evidence of the importance that contemporaries attached to this brilliant victory. The Habsburgs' satisfaction at seeing a formidable enemy defeated was somewhat overshadowed by the fear that Radu Șerban would follow in the footsteps of Michael the Brave and conquer all of Transylvania. Radu Șerban understood, however, that the overall situation was no longer favorable to an attempt to unite the Danubian principalities into a state capable of successfully opposing the Ottomans, as Michael the Brave had attempted.^[19]

The Ottoman Empire, however, could not accept the expulsion of its protégé, Gabriel Bathory, from the throne of Transylvania. A large Turkish army, reinforced with a Tatar horde, invaded Wallachia. Radu Șerban returned from Transylvania, but was forced to retreat to Moldavia, pursued by the Turks and Tatars. His remaining army was attacked by his pursuers in a forest near Bacău, on September 30, 1611. In this clash, Radu Șerban lost his cannons and supply wagons, bogged down in the mud caused by the autumn rains, but also his best soldiers, including the Polish cuirassier cavalry, who sacrificed themselves to ensure the withdrawal of the main forces. Radu Șerban went to Suceava, where he took his family, and set off on the wandering path to Vienna.^[20]

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  Moses Szekely
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  Gabriel Bathori
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  Giorgio Basta
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  Simion Movila

In the summer of 1603, Radu Șerban intervened in Transylvania against the coalition of Hungarian magnates, led by Moses Székely, who were trying to drive the Habsburgs out of Transylvania. The main reason for this intervention was not so much the alliance he had concluded with the Habsburg Empire, but the awareness that it was unacceptable that, while an anti-Ottoman struggle was going on south of the Carpathians, the pro-Turkish power of Moses Székely and the Hungarian nobles who supported him could be established in Transylvania. "Radu Șerban could not accept the capture of Wallachia in a pincer by the Ottoman Empire south of the Danube and a Transylvania subject to them."^[21] The Wallachian army, led by Radu Șerban, crossed the mountains through the Rucăr-Bran Pass and joined the vanguard of Gyorgy Racz and Vasile Mârza, established near Brașov. The opponent, Moses Székely, supported by Hungarian and Tatar troops, barricaded himself near Râșnov.^[22] On July 17, 1603, the Wallachians attacked decisively, crushing Székely's army, who was killed in battle. The victory ensured Radu Șerban control of the area and the security of the northern border, although he did not occupy Transylvania, preferring to retreat to Wallachia.^[23][24]

In 1604, Radu Șerban concluded peace with the Ottoman Empire, setting the tribute at 32,000 gold coins. However, danger came from the north: the Transylvanian prince Gabriel Báthory sought to extend his influence over Wallachia and Moldavia. Although they had signed a treaty in 1608, Báthory invaded Wallachia in early 1611, occupying Târgoviște. Radu Șerban took refuge in Moldavia, at the court of Constantin Movilă. As Báthory was not recognized by the Porte, the sultan appointed Radu Mihnea in his place, to restore Ottoman control over the country.^[25]

In June 1611, Radu Șerban returned to Wallachia with Moldavian support, driving out Radu Mihnea. With an army of about 8,000–11,000 men, he crossed the mountains to Brașov, where he faced the twice-larger forces of Prince Gabriel Báthory. The battle, fought on 29 June 1611 (of St. Peter), was fierce: the Wallachian troops, decisively supported by the Polish hussars, achieved victory, causing heavy losses to the Transylvanians (approx. 10,000 dead and 120 flags captured). However, in his absence, the Ottomans reinstated Radu Mihnea on the throne, and Radu Șerban took refuge first in Moldavia, then in the Habsburg Empire, where he died in 1620.^[26]

“The Poles noticed that the Wallachians were in trouble and immediately came to their aid, so that Báthory was terribly frightened and fled to the side” — Mihai Seybriger

“And he fought a great battle on St. Peter's Day and defeated his enemy, Bátor Gabor, and many bodies were cut down by his army, making a large mound of them in the Brașov meadow” — The Chronicle of Wallachia

After the defeat in 1611, Radu Șerban sought support from the Habsburg Empire to regain his throne, but Vienna offered him only promises, fearing a conflict with the Ottoman Empire. Sick of gout and exhausted by military life, he died in Vienna on 13 March 1620, at the age of almost 60. As a sign of respect, Emperor Ferdinand II ordered that the ruler be buried in St. Stephen's Cathedral, a place reserved for the imperial family. In 1640, his daughter Ancuța brought the remains of Radu Șerban and her husband, Nicolae Pătrașcu (son of Michael the Brave), to the Comana Monastery, where they were placed in a common grave, as a tribute to their fight "for the law and for the estate".^[27][28][29]

Matthew of the Bride, a scholar born in Egypt and who had studied in Constantinople, arrived in Wallachia as abbot of the Dealu Monastery and later of the Bistrița Monastery, wrote about Radu Șerban in the preface to his work The Life of Saint Gregory the Decapolis:^[30]

He was a wise, kind, brave, gentle and merciful man; he loved the poor and strangers alike; he ruled his country and his estate well; [...] he did not like unrest, he only wanted peace with everyone.

Continuing the tradition of his predecessors, Radu Șerban was an important founder of monasteries and churches.

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  The royal court of Dobreni - ruin
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  Comana monastery
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  Cernica monastery

He rebuilt the Comana Monastery, founded in 1461 by Vlad the Impaler, which had completely fallen into ruin. In 1588, before becoming the ruler of Wallachia, he began the construction of a monastic settlement in the old enclosure, which was located on land inherited from his mother. Radu Șerban built a new fortified monastic settlement, resembling a plain fortress, with thick stone and brick walls, four defensive towers and a bell tower at the entrance. The church, dedicated to Saint Hierarch Nicholas, was painted in 1609, and in the votive painting in the narthex the ruler appears together with his wife Elina, wearing the princely insignia, according to the founding tradition.^[31]

Also during the reign of Radu Șerban, in 1608, the Cernica Monastery was built, which was founded by the great herald of Michael the Brave, Cernica Știrbei, and his wife, Chiajna.^[32]

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  Coat of arms of Radu Șerban as Wallachian pretender
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  Wallachian coat of arms in 1608
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  Wallachian Coat of Arms in 1608
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  Emblem of Wallachia under Radu Șerban 1608