Iliaș of Moldavia

Who is Iliaș of Moldavia?

Iliaş or Ilie I was Prince of Moldavia twice: from January 1432 to October 1433 and with his brother Stephen II from August 1435 to May 1443.

The son of Prince Alexandru cel Bun and Neacşa, he was designated co-ruler and nominated successor by his father. In 1433, Iliaş pledged his vassalage to Władysław II Jagiełło, Jagiellon King of Poland. He married Maria, a scion of the Olshanski family of Lithuanian nobility. Iliaş and Maria had at least two sons, Roman II and Alexăndrel.

Iliaş faced the rebellion of his brother Stephen and several boyars, who, helped by Prince Vlad II Dracul of neighboring Wallachia, managed to dethrone him. Iliaş enlisted the help of Władysław II, but he was defeated by the new prince and escaped to Poland. After Stephen pledged allegiance to the Poles, the latter imprisoned Iliaş until the ascension of Władysław III. In 1434, Iliaş' Polish supporters facilitated his freedom and convinced the king to consider withdrawing his support for Stephen.

After an indecisive battle in 1435, Władysław III intervened to appease the conflict and helped institute a shared rule of the two brothers over Moldavia. In return, Iliaş agreed to pay an annual tribute to Poland and to concede rule over Khotyn and Pokuttya.