Radu Negru

Who is Radu Negru?

Radu Negru also known as Radu Vodă, Radu Negru, or Negru Vodă, was a legendary ruler of Wallachia.

According to Romanian traditions, Radu would have been the founder and ruler of Wallachia at a date around 1290. This is plausible, given that, in 1289, the Kingdom of Hungary forced all nobles to adhere to the Roman Catholic Church, an act which could have determined the ethnic Romanian potentates to seek out new lands. According to the legend, Radu Negru has descălecat into what became Wallachia after crossing the Southern Carpathians from Fagaras . There are connections made by some historians between Radu Negru and the Teutonic Knights settled by the Hungarian kings in southern Transylvania.

The legend was first mentioned in 17th century Cantacuzino Annals, which also state that the prince built large churches in Câmpulung and Curtea de Argeş, successive capitals of Wallachia. This is probably a confusion with Radu I of Wallachia, who reigned 1377–1383. Legends surrounding Meşterul Manole also mention Radu Negru as the commissioner of the church, and blend his image with that of Neagoe Basarab, who ruled at a much later date than Radu I.