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Elveo — Radu cel Frumos the commaner of commanders
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Published: 2015-02-10 13:45:04 +0000 UTC; Views: 8284; Favourites: 44; Downloads: 26
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Description
Radu III cel Frumos and his titles.Beylerbey or Beylerbeyi (Ottoman Turkish "Bey of Beys", meaning "Commander of Commanders".
Radu, at the age of 22, became a leading figure at the Ottoman court. He was sent by Mehmed to suppress the rebellion and subdue Anatolia and the border with Persia. He became a successful Janissary commander in the Ottoman Empire.
Radu cel Frumos and his Janissary battalions were given the responsibility of repelling his brother's deadly raids after the Sipahis failed to subdue Vlad. Radu was now given the task of leading the Ottoman Empire to victory. He was positioned north of the Danube, after most of the demoralized Ottoman Turks withdrew. There the brothers, known in Turkish as the Blood Brothers, fought lingering battles. Radu and his Janissary blended into the hinterlands well supplied with gunpowder and a continuous flow of Dinars. Radu had soon gained control of much of the country side.
Radu chased Vlad to his castle north of Curtea de Argeș and, finally, out of the Romania itself, which was incorporated under Ottoman control.
After the victorious campaign north of the Danube the Ottomans placed the young Radu (then 26 years of age) as the pasha of Wallachia.
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Comments: 7
Romanians probably remember him as a loathsome traitor, but that’s an unfair assessment. Any child who was not yet set in his convictions can only plausibly become the creature his elders make of him. That said, I never cease to feel deep horror at hoe the ottomans viciously destroyed families like this.
If he was as gentle spirited as you depict him, he likely didn’t want to think of Vlad as his brother in any sense after witnessing his intolerably unchivalrous tactics. One should not become a worse monster then the one you’re trying to defeat.
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I don't think Ottomans destroyed more than other authorities did at those times. That was the cruel era after all. Noble families were usually "shattered" in the beginning, there was always a conflict for inheritance, heirdom, wealth and etc. because where is power, there is always no peace and rulers knew that.
Even if Radu was somehow attached to Vlad, I don't think this "broken bond" brought him suffering, I mean they did not spent much time of their childhood together.
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The monastic Orders were so successful, in part, because most surplus children that could not be easily married off were sent there. If they were still ambitious, they could then become an influential bishop or archbishop of some sort.
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Hey! I LOVE your work. I'm a medievalist who has studied Vlad Dracula and I have recently shifted to Radu. I was curious where you found the above information? I don't have access to Ottoman sources (unfortunately, can't read it yet), but I was curious if you could tell me where you find some of the material. Thanks!!! Looking forward to your next masterpiece!
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Well, depends on what exactly you want to study... History is a science and it can't be learned easily and fast. It takes years to search for sources and find what is myth or truth. Unhappily, there is not enough information on Radu but few years ago I personally made a great research samlib.ru/editors/e/elxfira_a/… which is written in Russian, although in the end of work you can see some notes on main sources.
Regards
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Wonderful. I have an advanced degree in history, but it's hard to obtain good sources at a small university, like the one I went to. I have been looking into Radu, but I have not come across Turkish sources. I appreciate your dedication and hard work. You are not only an incredible artist, but an awesome researcher.
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