Movie Review: Avatar: Fire and Ash

Yesterday I went to see the 3rd installment of the Avatar series, Fire and Ash, with Benjamin and William. I hardly ever go to the movie theaters anymore unless it's a big special effects production like this one (or Star Wars). I paid a little extra to get the 3d experience and it was very worth it. The 3d experience creates an amazing depth to the film putting the characters in the foreground with an incredible background. Also there were times it felt like we were in the setting, deep in forests, submerged in the water, as if we could reach the plants or the falling leaves. I took my glasses off a couple times to see the comparison and it was very noticeable. Most films I would say the 3d option is somewhat excessive, but in a sci-fi setting like Avatar it really helps you escape into that fantasy environment. Definitely worth the few extra dollars, if you've already made the effort to get the big-screen experience! It's like putting whip cream on an already delicious pie. 

So it should come as no surprise that the visual effects were a homerun once again. A visually stimulating film that is just hard to look away from. Director James Cameron has truly created a groundbreaking series here of science fantasy (that merges sci-fi with fantasy). It is ultimately a battle of technology verses the old natural world. I think this the central theme of all the Avatar movies and it was certainly relevant in Fire and Ash. The story itself had it's moments but certainly wasn't as amazing and magical as the original. All the same actors were back with some new additional characters, but for the most part it felt pretty similar to the 1st two movies.

I'd say my favorite addition to the film series was the villain Varang, played by the Spanish actress Oona Chaplin. She was the fierce leader of the enemy savage clan known as the Ash people. Her makeup alone was quite impressive with red, black, and white war paint. Her eyes were a piercing yellow (which especially caught my attention in the movie trailer). She wore a black-and-red feather crown, long black braided hair, and other various native adornments. She was like a seductive witch, a fierce warrior but also capable of fire magic. Everything about her was exhilarating, from the way she walked and swayed her hips, her sleek body, and the thong she wore. She was like the warrior version of Cleopatra or Medusa in full flight.

The rest of the usual characters were back led by Jake Sully seeking to continue his fight against the humans. His wife Neytiri who also begins to turn on the humans, most notably their adopted son Spider. Their main villain is still the Colonel Miles Quaritch who managed to escape death in the last movie. He is once again on a hunt to capture Jake Sully, who is considered the number one enemy by the human settlement in Pandora. The plot makes a unique twist when Kiri uses her magic of Eywa to save Spider and infuse him with Eywa's energy. This allows him to breath the air of Pandora without a mask. Once Colonel Miles and the humans discover this they seek to replicate his DNA so that the rest of the humans can breath on Pandora.

Jake's second son Lo'ak takes more of a central role in the story development as he further embrace his Na'vi identity. He partners with their reef allies, to convince the giant whales (known as tulkuns) to join their fight against the humans. This is a key development since the humans are still seeking to poach the whales for their precious minerals. There is once again a major water battle that develops towards the end of the film, where the whales save the day. The Sully family must constantly work together to save one another from capture. This is a reoccurring theme throughout the movie, where both Jake or Neytiri are captured, and the other must stage a heroic effort to save them. 

The villainy in the movie was actually quite complex and almost became 3 separate entities fighting against the Navi. First was the human settlement seeking to colonize the planet, collect all precious resources, and essentially eliminate all local natives. Colonel Miles was the specialist Navi avatar hired by the humans to hunt the navi hostiles. However Colonel Miles story grows more conflicted as he starts to care for his son, Spider. He eventually establishes a partnership with the ash clan led by their warlord, Varang. The Ash clan does not believe in Eywa and seeks to establish new authority in Pandora. Varang and Colonel Miles create a romantic partnership both intent to defeat their enemy and establish control of the region. At various times Colonel Miles comes at odds with the human command, and almost begins to go full on rouge native himself. 

During the final battle, the daughter Kiri is able to use her Eywa magic to unleash all the sea animals and air animals to attack (we saw this same thing in the first movies' finale). This time however Kiri was communicating directly with the goddess Eywa who we actually got a brief glimpse of underwater which was pretty cool. Jake and Colonel Miles have another epic hand-to-hand battle amidst a spinning vortex that basically ends in a stalement. Once Colonel Miles sees that he is outnumbered he then jumps into the vortex to what appears to be his final death (but of course this can't be assumed since he has died multiple times now in the film series).

There should most certainly be a sequel for these various reasons. First is that Varang escaped during the fighting, and she has already proven to be a very popular villain. Second is that the human issue has still not been resolved. They will continue to plunder the planet with new military forces unless some agreement can be reached. I don't see this problem going away unless Earth is destroyed. The final piece I'm not fully convinced on is the death of Colonel Miles. We last saw him falling thru this Vortex, but we never saw his body hit the ground, or any concrete evidence that he was actually dead. Since they already brought Colonel Miles back I wouldn't be surprised if they did again, although I think that would start to a get a little lame and repetitive. I think Varang should be the next central villain.   

Historical Study: Vlad the Impaler

So after a little detour into Mehmed II’s intriguing life, I now come to the main focus of this Romanian phase. This will be a detailed biographical study of the infamous life of Vlad the Impaler who inspired the iconic character of Dracula. The interest has come to me from reading Elizabeth Kosovo’s book, “The Historian” which I will later have a full book review on. I’ve heard of Vlad the Impaler for some time, but honestly didn’t know too much about the historical setting. He was not a king or conqueror rather a “voivode (like a prince or warlord) of Wallachia (modern day Romania). He reigned briefly in 1448, then from 1456-1462, and finally in 1475-1476.

His life is a very interesting one, albeit shrouded in darkness and cruelty. Perhaps his greatest claim to fame were his cruel methods of punishment, such as the impalement. However to be fair he was ultimately protecting his land from the Ottoman aggression of Mehmed II. He used these wicked executions mostly as a form of psychological warfare to shock his enemies, especially Mehmed II. He also used other extreme methods of political purges, justice, taxation, and scorch-earth tactics which eventually made him quite unpopular with the nobles and peasants. Despite these wicked acts he remains one of the few leaders in eastern Europe who was able to resist conquest from Mehmed II.

Early childhood with the Ottomans (1431-1448)

Vlad the Impaler also known as Vlad Tepes, was born in 1431. His father Vlad Dracul II was a member of the Order of the Dragon, a chivalric society which defended Christianity. Vlad II become the voivode of Wallachia in 1436 with Hungarian support. Throughout his reign he maintained balance and loyalty to both the Kingdom of Hungary and the Ottoman Empire thru tribute payments. However Vlad II was eventually forced to choose a side and joined the Ottoman invasion of 1438 against John Hunyadi in Transylvania. Hunyadi stood his ground however and continued to strengthen the Hungarian’s resistance to the Ottomans. As a result of Hunyadi’s rise to power the Ottomans increased their pressure on Vlad II, forcing him to swear allegiance against the Hungarians. In 1442 he gave up his two sons Vlad III and Radu as hostages to prove his devotion to the Ottoman Empire. Vlad III was eleven years old at the time.

While his two sons were learning of Ottoman customs, Vlad II continued to maintain a balance between Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. Despite various arrangements he was still caught in the crossfire and would frequently switch sides. Despite swearing allegiance with the Ottomans in 1442, he once again supported Hunyadi in 1444 during his campaign at the Crusade of Varna. Despite this however Vlad II was distrusted by both the Hungarian and Ottoman nobles for his constant flip-flopping of loyalty. In 1447 John Hunyadi invaded Wallachia and later captured and killed Vlad II. Some speculation is that he was assassinated by the noble Vladislav II. John Hunyadi made Vladislav II the new voivode of Wallachia, which was to be a Hungarian puppet state. This was of course still heavily disputed by the Ottomans.

1st Reign and exile (1448-1456)

Despite being a prisoner of the Ottoman court for five years, Vlad Tepes remained defiant of their Turkish customs. Nonetheless he was chosen by the Ottomans as the rightful ruler of Wallachia. He was released from his imprisonment and supported by the Ottomans to seize the throne from the Hungarian puppet voivode Vladislav II. An opportunity presented itself in 1448, when Vladislav II accompanied John Hunyadi during his campaign in Kosovo. Vlad III was able to lead a coup for the throne, and quickly attempted to gain support from the nobles. The reign was short-lived however only 2 months before Vladisav II returned from the loss Battle of Kosovo. Vlad was forced to flee back to Ottoman territory.

Vlad eventually made his way to Moldovia to take refuge with his cousin Bodgan II, and his son Stephen. Here he was able to strengthen his allies, and learn more about diplomacy. In 1451 Bodgan II was assassinated at a wedding feast by Peter Aron, causing both Stephen and Vlad to flee Moldovia. At this moment Vlad made a crucial decision to flee towards Hungary and not to Ottoman territory. In truth he hated both sides; the Hungarians for killing his father and the Ottomans for keeping him prisoner for 5 years. It seemed sensible that he would still lean in favor of the Ottomans since they supported his 1448 claim to the throne. However Vlad was eager to change the script, and realigned himself with the Hungarians instead. He ultimately decided that having support from the Hungarians would provide a better chance at Wallachian independence versus a continued vassalage with the Ottomans.

To his surprise, John Hunyadi welcomed Vlad III back to Hungary where he found refuge and began to plot his return to power. Hunyadi had recently lost faith with Vladislav II, the voivode he had personally put in power, due to Vladislav’s open relations with the Ottomans. This was the same flip-flopping tendencies that made Hunyadi oust Vlad II in 1447. Hunyadi therefore began to support and mold Vlad III as the new rightful claimant to the Wallachian throne. During this time Vlad III continued to strengthen his allies and establish a firm stance of anti-Ottoman fervor.

2nd Reign (1456-1462)

By mid-1456 Vlad III amassed a strong force with the support of Hunyadi to mount his 2nd coup against Vladislav II. He invaded from Transylvania and initiated raids and skirmishes throughout the Carpathian mountains. He eventually met Vladislav face-to-face near Targoviste and challenged him to single combat for the throne. Vlad III was able to kill Vladislav in the combat, and after a few weeks of fighting he had secured the throne of Wallachia. He quickly consolidated power by purging all his political opponents, especially the noble Hungarian boyars that arranged the death of his father. He invited many of these nobles to an Easter feast where he later had them all executed via impalement. This is considered his first use of the terrible impalement method which would later define his cruel reputation.

Once Vlad had consolidated power he continued to pay tributes to both the Hungarians and the Ottomans to keep the peace for some time. However he once again lost favor with the Hungarians after he killed many German-Saxon nobles and merchants. He implemented a harsh new code-of-law with heavy taxation and raided villages in Transylvania that were not completely loyal to him. He once again used his wicked methods of impalement as a form of judicial punishment to instill fear to all those who opposed him. His violent raids in the Saxon towns of Brasov and Sibiu were most noteworthy of his bloodthirst. It is estimated that he had several thousands of German-Saxons executed by various means (mostly impalement) from 1457-1461. According to legend he had a first wife during this time who committed suicide by jumping from the castle walls. It is believed she gave birth to Vlad’s son Mihnea the Bad before she died.

Conflict with Mehmed II (1461-1462)

Perhaps Vlad’s greatest claim to fame is his open defiance against the great Ottoman conqueror, Mehmed II. In 1461 Vlad openly defied the sultan, by refusing to pay him tribute. He made this intent crystal clear, when he executed Mehmed’s emissaries by nailing their turbans to their heads. Anticipating a response, Vlad began a war campaign into Ottoman territory south of the Danube River (primarily in Bulgaria). It is estimated he killed close to 20,000 Ottomans during these raids from 1461-1462. These raids infuriated Mehmed, who decided to organize a force of 150,000 men to conquer Wallachia (considered his second largest army behind the one that conquered Constantinople).

Vlad pulled back from Bulgaria to defend his homeland of Wallachia against the massive Ottoman army. He famously used scorch-earth tactics, which devasted his own land in order to slow the enemy. On June 1462 he launched his legendary Night Attack at Targoviste with an army of 30,000, with an intent to kill Mehmed himself. Mehmed was able to escape, but the attack was effective in causing great disarray and panic among the Ottoman army. It was here in Targoviste where Vlad coordinated his most shocking display of horror known as the Forest of the Impaled. Nearly 20,000-25,000 Ottoman prisoners were impaled by stake (which must have taken weeks to prepare logistically). The psychologic effect of this display served it’s purpose however when Mehmed witnessed it. It surely must have been like a scene out of some hellish horror movie. Fields of scorched fire and thousands of dead bodies pieced by giant wooden stakes.

Mehmed was so horrified by the scale of death, that he decided to abandon his campaign. He however appointed Radu the Handsome (Vlad’s brother) to continue the fight and lay claim to the throne. Vlad’s popularity among the Wallachian nobles quickly went into a freefall due to his scorched-earth tactics. Furthermore many found his methods to be far too cruel. Radu on the other hand quickly gained influence with support from the Ottoman empire. He was able to bribe many of the nobles and used his superior military and financial resources to eventually drive Vlad out of Wallachia. Vlad turned to Hungary’s king Matthias Cornivus for support, but instead Cornivus had Vlad arrested for his atrocities. The imprisonment of Vlad was also to be used as political leverage with the Ottoman Empire. Radu the Handsome became the new voivode of Wallachia, fully in support of the Ottoman Empire.

Imprisonment in Hungary (1462-1475)

Vlad was first imprisoned in the fortress of Alba Iulia in Transylvania under harsh conditions. He was a political prisoner and he was likely kept in the lower cells with the other common criminals. However this was only for several weeks until he was relocated to the fortress of Visegrad in Hungary. During this time he was treated as more of a noble prisoner, with some freedom, but still confined to the fortress grounds. This is considered a very mysterious period for Vlad where no historical documents or records are kept on his dealings from 1462 to 1475. It is believed he eventually did find favor with Cornivus, who even arranged a political marriage between Vlad and his cousin Ilona Szilagyi. Vlad remained prisoner in Hungary for nearly 12 years (almost the majority of his adult life). 

By 1475 Stephen of Moldovia had risen to prominence and achieved several great victories against the Ottomans, most notably at the Battle of Vaslui. He was thus able to convince Cornivus to release his cousin Vlad, so that he could reclaim Wallachia and join him in a campaign against the Ottomans. By 1476 Vlad began his campaign to retake the throne of Wallachia which was now controlled by Basarab Laiota. Vlad was supported by both Hungary and Moldovia as he marched into Transylvania. He once again resorted to his familiar tactics of night-raids, scorched earth, and more impalements against the Ottomans. Basarab was eventually forced to flee and Vlad returned to the Wallachian throne for his third reign in the autumn of 1476.

Third Reign and Death (1475-1476)

Despite coming to power with the support of Hungary and Moldovia, Vlad is unable to win the loyalty of the Wallachian nobles. They distrust him due to his previous reign and his harsh methods of punishment. Furthermore the tides of fortune quickly turn when Stephen suffers a terrible defeat at the hands of Mehmed in the Battle of Valea Alba. Stephen is forced to retreat and loses much influence in the region. This allows Basarab to lead an invasion into Wallachia with Ottoman support to take back his throne from Vlad. In December of 1476, Vlad’s small force cannot match Basarab’s greater army, and he is killed during the fighting. His reign lasted only two months and Basarab returned to the throne of Wallachia. The exact details and location of Vlad’s death are unclear, but it is believed he was killed in Snagov (either during the fighting against the Ottoman soldiers or possibly assassinated by his own noblemen). 

According to legend Vlad’s head was removed by the Ottoman soldiers and sent to Mehmed as proof of his final defeat. It was believed his body was buried at the Snagov Monastery however excavations could never officially verify this. Other speculations are that he was buried in the Comana Monastery, but still with no concrete evidence. This mystery of his final resting place has led to the famous depiction of him as an undead vampire seeking vengeance on the living. It would certainly fall in line with his darker methods of punishment. However aside from his wicked cruelty, there is not any historical evidence that suggests he was involved with occultism, witchcraft, or dark mysticism. This is no doubt where folklore and fiction (such as the book I am reading) have taken liberties in an attempt to connect the dots between Vlad and Dracula. It’s a fair pursuit, since Vlad was without question one of the darkest yet most fascinating figures in history.

Historical Study: Mehmed's Greatest Rivals

While there can be no question of Mehmed’s greatness, those who resisted him can also be considered as great heroes of their own respected nations. These leaders were defiant in the face of conquest such as the great John Huynadi (Hungary), Vlad the Impaler (Romania), Skanderberg (Albania), Mathius Cornivus (Hungary), and Stephen the Great (Moldovia). Even Constanine XI (Byzantine Empire) who although fell, achieved legendary status for his defiant resistance against the Ottoman siege of Constantinople. His final stand was truly a great moment of death and glory (like something right out of the movies). In this section I’d like to highlight these famous leaders who were able to repel Mehmed’s campaigns of conquest. This group of iconic rivals is what makes the 1450s-1460s such an intriguing period in world history.

John Hunyadi- (Kingdom of Hungary)- 1456

During his campaign against Serbia, Mehmed II sought to strike at his greatest threat in Eastern Europe, the Kingdom of Hungary. The fortress of Belgrade in central Serbia, was considered the gateway into Hungary and of great strategic importance for Mehmed. It was also a vital location to control access to the Danube River in the Balkans. The Kingdom of Hungary found itself in a vulnerable position at this time due to instability under the youthful king Ladislaus V. Mehmed was aware of those and saw it as the perfect opportunity to press his advantage and drive straight for Belgrade.

The de-facto leader of the kingdom at that time was the military statesman John Huyandi. He was no stranger to war with the Ottomans, and had served in various battles prior to this one. He resisted Ottoman advances in Serbia at the Battle of Semendria (1439), led a victorious campaign in Romania during the Battle of the Iron Gate (1442), achieved another victory at the Battle of Nish (1443), and barely escaped at the Battle of Varna (1444), and the Second Battle of Kosovo (1448). By 1446 he became a governor for his valiant military leadership to help oversee Hungarian political affairs. The looming threat was always the Ottoman Empire however, and when Mehmed began his Serbian campaign in 1454, John Hunyadi was tasked with the defenses of the kingdom.

By July of 1456 Mehmed arrived with a massive army of 80,000 soldiers, including janissaries and heavy artillery. The walled city of Belgrade had approximately 35,000 Hungarian soldiers led by John Hunyadi, as well as some Christian crusader factions. The scale was similar to Constantinople, and Mehmed began with a heavy bombardment of the walls as well as a naval blockade of the Danube River. Hunyadi was able to break the blockade with a daring river assault. After several weeks of bombardment there were notable gaps and breaks in the wall, however the rubble was still impassable.

On July 21-22nd Mehmed personally led the final assault on the walls, but the charge was repelled by Hunyadis’ force. In turn Hunyadi led a bold counterattack outside his walls by attacking the Ottoman trenches and artillery. Mehmed was wounded during this fight, which ultimately caused him to retreat and abandon the siege of Belgrade. It was his first major defeat and marked a major moral boost for the Christian states thanks to the brave leadership of Hunyadi. In a cruel twist of fate however, despite this glorious victory for Huynadi he died several months later due to a plague. His son Matthias Corvinus later became king of Hungary in 1458 and reigned for 32 years.

Vlad the Impaler (Wallachia)- 1456-1462

Now we come to the crux of the era pertaining to one of histories most villainous figures, Vlad the Impaler. Mehmed’s feud with Vlad the Impaler is probably the 2nd most famous chapter of Mehmed’s intriguing life, after the Fall of Constantinople. I intend to later make a deeper dive on Vlad the Impaler so won’t go into too much detail here. However I do want to highlight the vital role Vlad played in resisting Ottoman conquest of the Romanian region of Transylvania. While there can be no question that Vlad’s methods were sinister, he was ultimately serving a greater purpose in defending his territory against invaders.

By 1417 Wallachia became a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire and was expected to pay tribute. Wallachia’s allegiance frequently went back-and-forth from the Ottomans to the Hungarians, most notably by Vlad’s father, Vlad II. However in 1447 Hungarian leader, John Hunyadi grew tired of Vlad II’s instability, invaded Wallachia, and assassinated Vlad II. His son Vlad III fled to the Ottoman Empire and thus found favor with them in the early part of his life. With support of the Ottomans, Vlad III was able to briefly return to power in 1448, however he was quickly ousted again by the Hungarians that same year. After Hunyadi’s death in 1456, Vlad III regained power in Wallachia to serve as Voivode (like a warlord).

During the early portion of Vlad III’s reign he continued to pay tribute to Mehmed, as a means to buy time and consolidate his power. Once he felt strong enough, in 1461 he suddenly turned on the Ottoman Empire in the ultimate act of defiance. Vlad took this a step further by waging a military campaign on Ottoman territory in Bulgaria. It was here that he conducted terrible massacres, torture, scorched-earth tactics, and his infamous impalements as a strong message to Mehmed. In 1462, Mehmed launched a campaign into Romania to squash this resistance. However in response Vlad led a bold night attack on Mehmed’s encampment in Targoviste, seeking to assassinate the Ottoman sultan. Mehmed was able to escape and left Wallachia due to sheer shock from the impalements, but also a lack of resources from Vlad’s scorched earth tactics.

Although Vlad was successful in repelling Mehmed’s campaign, his army suffered heavy losses and much of his territorial resources were now destroyed by his own sabotage. He quickly lost popularity within Wallachia and turned to Hungary for support. However Matthias Corvinus had grown tired of Vlad’s cruelty and had him arrested. Vlad was imprisoned in Hungary for 12 years while his brother Radu the handsome took over as the new leader of Wallachia. In 1475 Vlad was finally released with the support of Stephen the Great of Moldovia to join him on a campaign against the Ottomans. Vlad once again briefly became leader of Wallachia but died shortly after in battle against the Ottomans. His head was later sent to Mehmed as proof of his death.

Skanderberg (Albania) 1455-1478

After the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, the Ottomans began their influence over the region of Albania. Once the stronghold of Kruje was captured in 1415, the Ottoman Empire essentially annexed this territory and established administrative districts. Around this time the young noble Gjergj Kastrioti was sent to the Ottoman Court to learn their customs as a diplomatic gesture. Kastrioti received military training and quickly climbed the Ottoman ranks to be known as “Skanderberg”. He even led various military campaigns on the side of the Ottomans such their campaigns into Anatolia, the Balkans, and against the Hungarians. In 1443 he found himself on the losing side against the Hungarians under John Hunyadi at the Battle of Nis. This Christian victory demonstrated the vulnerability of the Ottoman Empire. It was the perfect time for Skanderberg to defect and return to his homeland of Albania. He had made up his mind at this point to turn on the Ottomans just as Vlad the Impaler had done.

Within days of his return to Albania, Skanderberg seized the Ottoman-controlled fortress of Kruje to reclaim it as his own. He then called upon other regional “Albanian” nobles to unite and establish the Legion of Lezhe in 1444. Skanderberg was chosen as their leader, to defend the region from Ottoman conquest. Shortly after Skanderberg began a guerilla campaign against Ottoman positions achieving many victories from 1444-1451. He even defeated the Venetians over a territorial dispute in 1447-1448. Skanderberg’s fame quickly spread throughout the Balkan region, as they considered him a Christian hero. This allowed him to gain support from the wealthy merchant republics of Naples and later Venice.

During Skanderberg’s early rise to power in Albania, Mehmed II was preoccupied with his military campaigns in Turkey. After his monumental victory at Constantinople in 1453, he turned his full attention towards the Balkan region. By 1455 as Mehmed launched his Serbian campaign he also began attacks on Skanderberg in Albania. However Skanderberg was able to resist the attacks thanks to solid fortifications and ambush tactics. In 1460 Skanderberg stepped away from leading the Albanian defenses to support his ally in Naples. During this Italian Expedition he came to the aid of Alfonso of Aragon who was facing political insurgency. After a year in Italy, Skanderberg returned to Albania to continue his military command. As the Ottoman-Venetian war broke out in 1463 he sided with the Venetians since they both shared a common enemy.

In 1466, Mehmed II personally led a major offensive into Albania to confront Skanderberg. He built a fortification in the Albanian city of Elabsan to organize his attack (just as he did with the Roumeli Hissar Fortress in Constantinople). Mehmed marched with a powerful army of 100,000 soldiers seeking to crush Skanderberg’s resistance and secure the Adriatic seacoast. However Skanderberg once again was resilient in the face of heavy opposition. He continued to use his guerilla tactics, fortification defense, scorched-earth tactics, and frequent retreats. Thus Mehmed could never deliver a crushing blow to Skanderberg’s forces. In 1467 Skanderberg led a heroic counterattack against the invading Ottoman army near Elbasan inflicting heavy casualties. He however suffered a similar fate as John Hunyadi and died a year later in 1468 due to fever. Mehmed eventually conquered Albania in 1478, but was never able to do it while Skanderberg was in power. It is this reason that he is considered to this day as the national hero of Albania.

St. Stephen the Great (Moldavia)1473-1481

In 1451 the King of Moldovia Bodgan II was brutally murdered by his brother Peter III of Aaron in a conspiracy to take the throne. Bodgan’s son and rightful heir Stephen fled into Hungary, and eventually found refuge with his cousin Vlad the Impaler in Wallachia. In 1456 under the leadership of Peter Aaron, Moldovia became a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire. A year later Stephen returned to his home nation with the support of Vlad to reclaim his rightful throne. A civil war ensued where Stephen was able to defeat Peter (with the support of the Wallachian army) at the Battle of Doljesti and the Battle of Orbic. Stephen quickly purged his dissidents, while Peter Aaron fled into exile in Hungary.

Once Stephen was able to consolidate his power he began a military campaign with Ottoman support against the Kingdom of Poland (1460-1463) and then the Hungarian Kingdom (1462-1467). He failed to capture the seaport of Chilia (modern day Ukraine) however was able to resist invasions from the Polish and Hungarians. He decisively defeated Matthius Corvinus at the Battle of Baia (1467) which gave him some autonomy and great reputation as a military leader. Peter Aaron mounted an offensive in 1470 with Hungarian support but he was soundly defeated and executed (thus completing Stephen’s vengeance over the man who murdered his father).

Stephen continued to strengthen his position for some time in Moldovia, before he decided to turn on the Ottoman Empire (just as Vlad and Skanderberg had done). This was mostly due to increased Ottoman pressure and higher tribute payments. Once Stephen stopped paying tribute to Mehmed, he quickly built up his defenses anticipating a military response. Mehmed organized his military response by appointing Hadim Suleiman Pasha to lead an army of 60,000 to conquer Moldovia. Stephen however used scorch-earth tactics to disrupt the Ottoman advance. Both military faces finally came head on at the Battle of Vaslui in 1475. Stephen led an army of 30,000 thru heavy fog and ambush attacks to achieve one of his greatest victories. Pasha was forced to retreat, and Mehmed was shocked by this Moldavian victory. Stephen was declared Athleta Christi by Pope Sixtus IV “The Champion of the Church”. 

Historical Study: Conquests of Mehmed II

As I continue my deep dive into the late Middle Ages of Romania, it’s hard to ignore the influence of the mighty Ottoman Empire. I eventually intend to do a full biographical study on the famous figure of Vlad the Impaler (much inspired by the book The Historian). But first I need to better understand the setting and it’s surrounding players. There were so many great historical leaders and figures in Eastern Europe during this time. Of course there’s the most famous Vlad the Impaler, who was supported by other great leaders such as John Hunyadi, Matthias Corvinus, Stephen the Great, and Skanderberg. All united in their opposition against the great Ottoman conqueror Mehmed II.

When you think of great historical conquerors some of the first names that come to mind are Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Julius Caesar, or Napoleon. However it seems like names such as Cyrus the Great, Timur, or Mehmed II are sometimes overlooked perhaps due to their eastern influence. I’ve yet to really see a great Hollywood Biopic epic production that covers the lives of these intriguing eastern conquerors (compared to the western conquerors). Nonetheless I confess that I have just recently discovered the magnitude of Mehmed’s conquests. Sure I have written about the famous 1453 Siege of Constantinople many times now that established Mehmed’s glorious legacy. But I was not aware of the many more conquests he achieved throughout his 30-year tenure to expand the Ottoman Empire into a world power in the east.

The Fall of Constantinople is often considered a historical turning point for many reasons. Not only did it mark the end of the Byzantine Empire and the beginning of the Ottoman Empire. It marked the end of the middle ages and the dawn of the early modern period, the Renaissance and the Age of Exploration. The Ottomans quickly gained great wealth from the city’s booming trade, as well as a significant military advantage. They transformed the city into Istanbul where it became their cultural center of trade and the gateway from Europe to Asia. From here Mehmed II was able to continue his military campaigns of conquest for the next 30 years to expand the Ottoman Empire. What is most admirable about Mehmed is that he would often joined his soldiers in battle, similar to Alexander the Great.

Conquest of the Byzantine Empire (1453)

I’ve written about the decisive Battle of Constantinople various times now (see link), but not so much on the campaign leading up to it. This was to become Mehmed II’s crowning achievement, and it was actually one of his first conquests. Constantinople was the capital and heart of the mighty Byzantine Empire that controlled much of the Eurasian bridge along the Mediterranean from Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Anatola, Levant, and northern Africa. The Byzantine Empire had been the undisputed power of this region for the past thousand years since the fall of the Roman Empire.

However as is the case for most vast empires that are far too stretched, portions on the outskirts began to slowly crumble and whither away. This first began in 1071 when they lost the Anatola region to the Seljuk Turks. This continued throughout the 1200s, with further fragmentation of states breaking away such as the Latin Empire, Empire of Nicea, and Empire of Trebizond. The Italian city states of Venice and Genoa also began to rise to prominence. Meanwhile by 1299 Osman I united several Turkish tribes to break away from the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. This marked the beginning of the Ottoman Empire as it quickly began to overtake the Seljuk empire and expand across Turkey.

By 1299 the Ottomans began their military campaign against the Byzantine Empire led by Osman. They achieved a crucial victory at the Battle of Bapheus in 1302 and captured the city of Bursa in 1326 to make it their new capital. Under Orhan I they began their campaign into Europe achieving victories in Gallipoli, Kosovo, and Nicopolis. In 1422 Murad II led the first siege of Constantinople which was unsuccessful due to the impenetrable walls of the city. By 1444 Mehmed II became sultan and established a new strategy to conquer Constantinople. He essentially began to surround the city, by cutting off Byzantine supply lines in Thrace and Anatolia. He also constructed the Roumeli Hissar Fotress on the Bosphorus strait about 4 miles north from the walled city. This fortress would serve as his command center and shipping lane during the assault on the city.

However even though Mehmed controlled the supply lines and had the superior force this meant nothing if they could not penetrate the Theodosian Walls (which had repelled attacks for over 800 years). This was of course the main reason the 1st siege failed under Murad II. Mehmed’s greatest military tactic was the use of gunpowder cannons. While gunpowder had been around for a couple hundred years this was the first major use of cannon weapons. Mehmed II commissioned massive bombard guns from the famous Hungarian engineer Orban. These modern weapons (such as the Dardanelles Gun) could fire massive balls of stone that weighed nearly 700 pounds. This would forever change warfare, thus bringing an end to the Medieval era and the dawn of the early modern period. Swords and arrows now became futile in the face of guns.

As the siege began on April 6 the Byzantine defenders were most likely horrified at the force that stood outside their walls (reminds me of the assault on Minis Trith in Return of the King). 100,000 Ottoman soldiers with their elite Janissaries, a naval blockade of 100 ships, and the massive bombard guns. The thunderous roar of the cannons shattering walls, surely would break any soldier’s spirit. However their leader Constantine XI was resilient and defiant to the end. After 53 days of bombardment, the famous Theodosian Walls were finally breached. On May 29th the Ottoman army stormed into the streets of Constantinople. Constantine XI himself made a heroic final stand by charging at the enemy but was quickly killed in the fighting. This marked an end of the siege and the fall of Constantinople. At the age of 21 Mehmed II had already conquered the capital of the world.

Conquest of Serbia (1454-1458)

The Ottomans had turned their attention towards Serbia as far back as the mid 1300s. Dusan the Mighty established the Serbian Empire in 1346, as an expanded territory that included Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, Macedonia, Albania, and the northern portion of Greece. They had become a major growing threat alongside the Byzantine Empire in the Balkan territory. The Ottomans intended to control the region and achieved their first major victory at the Battle of Maritsa in 1371, which marked the collapse of the Serbian Empire. However due to limited resources and fragmented states the Ottomans could not consolidate the area. Instead the Serbian Empire evolved primarily into the principality of Moravian Serbia. The Ottomans once again waged war against the region at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. Despite being one of the largest battles in medieval history it was ultimately inconclusive and resulted in the death of the Ottoman sultan Murad I.

Following the Battle of Kosovo, Serbia eventually became a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire requiring tributes. In an effort to become an independent state again the Moravian principality dissolved and aligned itself once again with the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1402 the Serbian Despotate was established which briefly allowed them some partial independence (however they still had to pay tributes to both Hungary and the Ottoman Empire to avoid conquest). Following the fall of Constantinople a sudden power vacuum began to unfold within the Balkan territory pinning the Kingdom of Hungary against the Ottoman Empire. The Serbian Despotate began to align itself much more with Hungary and even stopped paying tribute to the Ottomans.

In 1456 Mehmed intended to wage war on Hungary by invading the city of Belgrade. However the city was well defended by the regent John Hunyadi who was able to repel the attack. Mehmed suffered injuries from this battle and was forced to retreat to Bulgaria, leaving many cannons behind. Mehmed Eventually regrouped and turned his attention to the Serbian Despotate in 1458, seeking to conquer the Balkan territory. He led his army along the Danube river capturing key fortresses and towns within the Serbian Despotate. By the time Mehmed’s army marched at the capital of Smederevo, the Despotate had undergone political collapse from within. Many of the nobles and key leaders fled to Bosnia or Hungary and the city was essentially left defenseless. By 1459 Mehmed completed his conquest of the Serbian region, by annexing the Despotate into the Ottoman Empire.

Despotate of Morea (Peloponnese peninsula) 1460

Following the collapse of Constantinople, Serbia, and Athens in 1456, one of the last remaining strongholds of the Byzantine Empire was the Greek islands known as the Despotate of Morea (present day Peloponnese). Morea quickly found themselves in a very vulnerable position and turned to the western Italian states for support (Venetians, Genoese, and Papal States). However the region was also in constant civil turmoil between the two ruling brothers, Thomas and Demetrios Palaiologos. Following his conquest of Serbia, Mehmed decided to turn his attention to Morea, especially since they refused to pay tribute to the Ottoman Empire. In 1460 Mehmed marched his army into the heart of the Peloponnese island, fairly unchecked. The capital city of Mystras was briefly sieged and lasted only few days until falling to Ottoman control.

Black Sea Campaign (1460-1461)

After capturing the Despotate of Morea, Mehmed II pivoted towards the eastern front seeking to capture territory along the coastline of the Black Sea. These regions were heavily controlled by the Republic of Genoa as key merchant hubs. Mehmed first besieged the fortress of Amasra, with a land and navy force. The Genoese colony easily fell within 2 days. The following year the Ottoman army pressed further east along the coastline of the Black Sea seeking to confront the Trebizond Empire. This was a Byzantine break-away state that established along the coastline of the Black Sea by the early 1200s. Beginning to fear the Ottoman’s rise to power, the Trebizond Empire formed an alliance with the Aq Qoyunlu confederation (based in the middle east).

Mehmed began his campaign against the Trebizond Empire in the spring of 1461 first by attacking the port city of Sinop. After that he pressed towards the capital city of Trebizond with a massive land and sea force. Without the key trading hubs of Amasra and Sinop, Trebizond quickly found itself quite isolated. The siege lasted for about a month with heavy bombardment artillery. While Trebizond was able to put up a strong resistance their morale was low, and eventually the city was surrendered. The city was eventually annexed and their leader was executed. This marked the fall of the Trebizond empire and a significant conquest for Mehmed who now controlled a major portion of the Black Sea.

Conquest of Lesbos (1462)

Two years after conquering the Peloponnese islands, Mehmed moved towards their nearby neighbors of the Lesbos islands in 1462. This island was also in a very vulnerable spot near the Ottoman influence and found itself leaning towards the western Italian states for support. Once again Mehmed saw this as a strategic fortification in the Aegean Sea that he had to have control of. After just 15 days of siege, the Castle of Mytilene fell and their leader Gattilusio was captured and executed. The island was annexed into the Ottoman Empire.

Conquest of Bosnia (1463-1464)

Following the collapse of Serbia, many nobles fled to the Kingdom of Bosnia to try to regroup. However there was no secret that Mehmed intended to continue his conquest of the Balkan region by claiming Bosnia. King Stjepan Tomasevic fully aligned himself with Hungarian support and stopped paying tribute to the Ottoman Empire in 1461. He even appealed to the papacy and the western Christian states. Nonetheless Bosnia found itself quite vulnerable by 1463, due to internal issues within the Kingdom of Hungary. As Mehmed began his rapid campaign into Bosnia, the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus did not have the proper resources or finances to aid Bosnia.

Mehmed began his campaign in the spring of 1463 with an estimated 50,000 soldiers, including janissaries and heavy artillery. He marched his army from Serbia, across the Drina River, using psychological warfare to spread fear and rumors throughout the countryside. The Ottoman army first sieged the royal fortress of Bobovac, then Jajce, and Kljuc. All fortresses fell fairly easy which gave Mehmed significant loot and ruined the Bosnian’s morale. King Stepjan Tomasevic made his final stance at the fortress of Kljuc, hoping for Hungarian aid that never came. He surrendered hoping for mercy, but Mehmed shown him none by having him executed. This harsh act was to serve as a warning to all other leaders who chose to defy him. The Hungarian king Corvinus was later able to recapture some territory in the north, but the majority of Bosnia was annexed into the Ottoman Empire.

Negroponte- Euboea Island (1468)

Following Mehmed’s conquest in Bosnia and the islands of Southern Greece, the Republic of Venice felt their key trading hubs in the Mediterranean were now at risk. Thus the Ottoman-Venetian War began in 1463, when the Republic of Venice attacked Ottoman forts in Morea and Argos. Mehmed responded with swift counterattacks to reclaim his territory in southern Greece. Meanwhile the Albanians allied with the Venetians, who fought fiercely against Mehmed’s army under the leadership of Skanderberg. This resistance went on for several years until the death of Skanderberg in 1468. Mehmed was eventually able to capture the capital city Scutari, annex Albania, which thus left the Venetians all the more stranded.

The true turning point of Mehmed’s war against the Venetians came at the siege of Negroponte (modern day Euboea Island) in 1470. Mehmed invested heavily in his navy to lay siege to this crucial Venetian island in the Aegean Sea. He organized both a ground force of 70,000, along with a powerful fleet, and heavy artillery to lay siege to the key fortifications. This was to be the decisive battle of the Ottoman-Venetian Wars, and both sides fought fiercely. Mehmed personally lead the land forces to lay siege to the walled fortress of Negroponte (just as he had done with Constantinople). The bombardment lasted for several weeks, until finally the walls were breached and the Ottoman army stormed into the city. This marked an abrupt end to Venetian control of the Mediterranean and can arguably be considered Mehmed’s 2nd greatest victory after Constantinople.

Anatolia Campaigns (1468-1473)

After failing to capture Albania from the fierce resistance of Skanderberg, Mehmed continued his fight in the Balkans during the Ottoman-Venetian wars. Meanwhile he also had to split his attention to the eastern Asian front. The Karaman Empire, located in the southeastern portion of Turkey, had begun to intensify it’s aggression against the Ottoman Empire. The Karamans had also allied themselves with the Venetians and the Persian Akkoyunlus seeking to press their advantage. Mehmed thus found himself caught in a two-front war against the Venetians on the west and the Karamans on the east. This offered him a good reason to expand into eastern Turkey as well as towards Anatolia.

Mehmed began his Karaman campaign from Bursa and Ankara in 1468 heading straight for the capital city of Konya. Once again his army moved rapidly and sacked fortresses without much resistance thanks to their superior heavy artillery. Once Konya fell, the city of Larende fell shortly after and their leader Pir Ahmed fled into the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt. Ahmed was able to return with a Mamluk force to reclaim some of his territory in Karaman. This led to a 2nd Ottoman offensive in 1474 where Mehmed delivered the final blow to the Karaman Empire and annexed the territory. Mehmed also furthered his conquest into eastern Turkey by crushing the Akkoyunlus under Uzun Hasan at the Battle of Otlukbeli. With this victory Mehmed had total control of eastern and central Anatolia. He decided not to press further into Persia so that he could fully focus on his Balkan campaigns.

Conquest of Otranto (1480)

This was to be Mehmed’s final major conquest, his first outpost in Italy, and his farthest westward expansion into Europe. Otranto was a profitable merchant hub of the Kingdom of Naples and thus very desirable for Mehmed to control after he had recently secured Albania. He appointed Gedik Ahmed Pasha to lead the naval and land assault with an army of 18,000 soldiers and a fleet of 128 ships. The siege began in July 1480 and lasted for 15 days until the walls were breached and the infantry stormed the city. There is a famous account of 800 Italian prisoners who refused to convert to Islam and were subsequently beheaded. They are considered the Martyrs of Otranto and celebrated to this day. After this victory in Southern Italy, Mehmed intended to continue his campaign into Italy however died of illness the following year in May 1481. This conquest of Otranto was very short-lived due to Mehmed’s death, and regained by the Christian armies within a few months in September 1481.

Cultural Study of Romania

After studying Romania's history it occurred to me that the majority of their history was more-or-less occupied by foreign nations. Romans, Byzantines, Bulgarians, Ottomans, Hungarians, and the Austrian Habsburgs. Hardly were they in charge of their own destiny without some form of foreign influence. So it's fair to say that much of their history and culture is a byproduct of those other nations. However quite often when an empire becomes vast, new sub-cultures emerge within the primary culture. It's not so much about the governing authority, rather the geographical region and it's local history that establishes a culture. Think of how different Los Angeles is from Texas, Minnesota, or New York City, even though they are all members of the same national culture. 

This is certainty the case for Romania located on the far southeastern pocket of Europe along the Black Sea. The nation is defined not by it's foreign influence but more so it's geographical identity; the impenetrable Carpathian Mountains. And while these foreign powers came and went, the native Romanians (such as the Dacians, Maygars, and Avars) endures up in these mountains. Throughout history these various foreign nations integrated with the local natives to create something uniquely Romanian. While it's still considered a fairly new nation, it has ancient roots within it's land that defined it's current culture.

As I mentioned in my previous post, this random fascination with Romania comes from the books Dracula and The Historian. To be fair though I have always admired European history as a whole. I probably first began with a fascination of Western Europe, but the past few years I have been quite pulled to Central and Eastern Europe. With academic studies on Russia, Germany, Czech, Austria, and the Baltics. There's still so many more regions in Europe I need to study some day, but for now it's Romania's turn. I must confess the only Romanians things that come to mind are Vlad the Impaler, Dracula, and the Romani people (also known as gypsies). I can't really think of any Romanian cuisines, writers, musicians, or great athletes. So this will be a learning experience for me, and I know it will not disappoint as I am already very inspired by their history, architecture, and folklore.   

Geography

So the story of every culture and civilization always begins with the geographical location. It's the distinctive features of the land, the climate, and the resources that help establish a people's identity. The land of Romania is defined by the Carpathian mountains that have protected them throughout history. This horseshoe mountain range, creates a valley a the center of Romania, which was once known as Transylvania. It is here that many native tribes survived foreign influence, and developed some of Romania's earliest known traditions. The iconic Danube river runs at it's Southern border dividing it from Bulgaria. The Black Sea sits at it's eastern coast like a gateway into the Middle East. 

Ethnicity

What makes Romania so unique is it's ethnic diversity, a product of cultural integration that occurred as far back as the Roman Empire. It's location on the eastern border of Europe has made it buffer zone for the West and the East. So it has Western European ethnicities while also Asian ethnicities. It's early western identity is mostly derived from Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Balkans. Their is also some identity that comes from the Slavs during migrations from Poland in the 500-800s. Although not as much compared to the rest of Eastern Europe. The Magyar Hungarians also made a big chunk of their ethnicity in the 800-900s.

Romania also has a deep middle-eastern/Asian identity beginning with the Avars from Turkey and Iran. Then the heavy influence of the Ottomans during the Middle Ages.  And of course there's the iconic Romani gypsies who migrated from northern India, into Persia, and arrived to the Balkans by the 1300s. The majority of this nomadic people eventually settled in Bulgaria, Macedonia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania. Today they make up 3% of Romania's ethnic minorities. It's quite coincidental that the term Romani sounds like Romania, but they are actually quite different. The term "Romani" means people in the Indian language, while the term "Romania" is Latin and refers to the nation's cultural ancestors of the Romans. The common language today of Romania is a distinctive form of Vulgar Latin.   

Folklore

For me the most curious aspect of Romania's culture is their folklore, much thanks to Bram Stoker. It's quite interesting that he never set foot in Romania before writing Dracula, however he seemed well versed in the folklore of Transylvania. This famous reference to vampires is of course a mythological species, but it is very much rooted in Romanian folklore as far back as the 1300s. It is unique practice that developed there during the Middle Ages, which was ultimately a superstition of the undead. This ritualistic belief was most common among rural Romanians and gypsies. It of course led to the many written narratives and legends about this belief in the undead (nosferatu), spirits (known as Strigoi), and most famously the vampire.

Romanian folklore also dives into other magical elements made famous by Ion Creanga's Povesti stories. Such as the Zane and Iele fairies, the spiritual forest mother known as Muma Padurii, Solomonari the heroic Fat-Frumos, the princess Ileana Cosanzeana, wizards, dragons, and so forth. They also have unique seasonal traditions such as the Colinda Christmas carol, the Martisor tradition (wearing a brooch during the New Moon of Spring), and the Paparuda rain dance during the summertime. Grim rituals include the use of garlic, holy water, and charms to protect from evil spirits. Celebratory rituals include jumping over a broom for weddings, the midsummer fairy festival of Sanziene, and other crafts that feature magical elements. It's no question their cultural folklore is very much rooted in the mystical. 

Literature

One of the most famous Romanian writers is the poet Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889), considered the national poet of Romania. He worked as a journalist and wrote many famous works of poetry such as the Luceafarul (The Evening Star) and the Scrisoaerae (Letter 3). Ion Creanga (1837-1889) was another significant writers that contributed to Romanian cultural identity. He was most famously for his humorous folktales such as Memories of my Childhood and the Povesti folk-stories. Ion Luca Caragiale (1852-1912) was Romania's most celebrated playwrights renown for his local humor. These three writers made up the influential literary society known as the Junimea which helped establish Romanian culture during the late 1800s to early 1900s. The group was founded by the literary critic, Titu Maiorescu. 

Other famous writers include

• Mircea Eliade (1907-1986)- Philosopher, historian, fiction writer, and professor
• C.A Rosetti (1816-1885)- Journalist, Politician
• Peter Ispirescu (1830-1887)- Folklorist, wrtier
• Liviu Rebreanu (1885-1944)- Novelist, realist
• Marin Preda (1922-1980)- Novelist, social-realism
• Ion Heliade Radulescu (1802-1872)- Poet, essayist, journalist

Music

The traditional core of Romanian music is derived from Hungarian and Balkan influence. It's folk
music puts an emphasis on the violin as the driving force of the melody. The Taraf band is a popular format in Wallachia usually of string instruments, flutes, tambourines, accordions, and bagpipes. The Doina is a middle-eastern Romanian tradition popular among the peasants known for it's slow melodies of ballads, lamentation, or melancholic music (somewhat like the Blues). The most famous Roman classical composer is George Enescu (1881-1955) while their most famous opera singer is Angela Gheorghiu (1965-present). Maria Tanase was a popular singer of the 1940s-1950s considered as the Edith Piaf of Romania. 

Other famous musicians include

• Gheorghe Zamfir (1941-present)- pan flute composer
• Dinu Lipatti (1917-1950)- pianist, composer
• Ciprian Porumbescu (1853-1883)- composer

Architecture

• 
  Peles Castle (1873-1914)- Gothic castle of King Carol I in Sinaia
• Bran Castle (1377) Iconic medieval fortress in Transylvania that inspired the Dracula story
• Corvin Castle (1446-1480)- Gothic Renaissance castle in Huneadora built for the Hungarian regent John Hunyadi. It is one of Europe's largest medieval castles. 
  
• Voronet Monastery (1488)- Orthodox church famous for it's color exterior and interior blue frescoes
• Curtea de Arges Cathedral (1512-1517)- Byzantine cathedral in Curtea de Arges that houses many Romanian royal tombs
• Sucevita Monastery (1581-1601)- Orthodox fortified monastery. Once again it has unique colorful frescoes on it's exterior.
• Maramues Wooden Churches (1600-1700s) Wooden churches with high spires, that look like eerie witch temples.
• Anghel Saligny Bridge (1890-1895) Once referred to as the King Carol bridge it went across the Danube River and once was the longest bridge in Europe 
• Romanian Athenaeum (1886-1888) Neo-classical concert hall. One of the most iconic buildings in Bucharest.
• Dacian Fortress (80 BC)- Ancient ruins of the Dacian 

Sports

The first name that comes to mind in Romanian sports is their greatest Olympian of all time, the gymnast Nadia Comaneci. She famously achieved the first ever perfect 10 at the 1976 Montreal Olympics during her uneven bars routine. She went on to win 9 Olympic medals at the 1976 and 1980 Olympics (5 of which were gold medals). The Romanian women's team gymnastics is the 2nd most successful in Olympic history with 6 team gold medals (behind Russia's 9 medals). They also have a strong history in Rowing and Canoeing ,where Elisabeth Lipa is their most decorated Olympian with 10 rowing medals over 6 Olympic games from 1984-2004.

It's no surprise that soccer is the most popular sport in Romania, however they have never gone too deep in the tournament. The furthest they have gone was the quarterfinals at the 1994 World Cup (after famously defeating the mighty Argentina that year). They've only once made the quarterfinals in the Euro Cup in 2000. Their most famous soccer player is Gheorghe Hagi, known as the Maradona of the Carpathians, who led Romania far in 1994. They've also had a standout tennis performer the last ten years in Simona Halep who won the French Open in 2018 and Wimbeldon in 2019.  

Cuisine

I've never had any Romanian cuisine and wouldn't even know where to begin. It's of course influenced by the integration of Balkan, Ottoman, Hungarian, and Slavic traditions. It should come as no surprise that many of their dishes are heavy with the garlic (as well as cabbage, onions, and sour cream). Some of their most famous dishes include the Sarmale (cabbage, pork, rice, and spices), the Mamaliga (cornmeal porridge with cheese), the Ciorba (sour soups of meet, veggies, and fermented wheat), mititei (skinless sausages), Tocanita (hearty stews of meat and veggies). Their traditional desserts include cozonac (sweet bread with nuts, cocoa, and cream filling), papanasi (fried cheese donuts), and placinta (pastry pies with filling). Some of their most famous drinks include the Tuica and palinca (fruit brandy), various wines, and the beer brands of Timisoreana and Ciucas. 

Historical Study of Romania

For me Central Europe has always been shrouded in mystery, never quite as impactful as the western powers or Russia on the east.  But they still hold a significantly rich culture and history that has captured my interest the past few years. I've written before on the history of Czech Republic and Austria prior to my visit there in 2022. In 2023 I was in a WWI phase and made a deep dive on the Balkan region (see Balkan History). And just a few months ago I made a deep dive on the eastern front of WWII (which covered the majority of the war's death toll). But I was especially curious on the ethnicities of this region that were persecuted by the Nazis, primarily the Slavs and the Romani people (often referred to as Gypsies). 

So my big question was who exactly are the Slavs? The Slavic region spans east of Germany and west of Russia (consisting of Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Belarus in the north; while the Baltic states in the south). They were primarily barbarians from Russian lands that began to occupy this territory in the 5th century after the fall of the Roman Empire. However quite oddly they did not inhabit the lands of Hungary, Romania, and Moldova (almost as if avoiding a cursed land). This was mostly due to geographical reasons, such as the Danube River and the mighty Carpathian Mountains that somewhat protected Hungary and Romania from occupancy. 

So who did inhabit this Carpathain-Danubian, "non-Slavic region" after the fall of Rome? It's actually a mixture of ethnicities which adds to the intrigue of Hungary and Romania. At the core of Transylvania was the kingdom of Dacia that was captured by the Romans in 106 AD. This region evolved into a Daco-Roman people (even after the fall of Rome). They were later joined by the Avars in the 5th century, a nomadic warrior tribe from the Pontiac-Caspian steppe (Russia/Kazakhstan). The Avars were a mighty people that were able to repel Slav expansion into Romania and Hungary. Meanwhile the Daco-Roman's existed independently deep in the Carpathian mountains of Romania.

So this now brings me from the Slavs to the Romanian people. Perhaps some other time soon, I might dive into Hungarian culture/history which I find to be somewhat similar to Romania. But to be completely transparent this fascination into Romania didn't so much stem from my WWII eastern phase. It's rather the byproduct of the vampire folklore brought on from Vlad the Impaler and Dracula. This is without question Romania's true claim to cultural fame, and in reading Bram Stoker's Dracula and Elizabeth Kosova's The Historian, I need to better understand the full history of Romana (aka Transylvania). 

The Dacians

Also known as the Getae, the Dacians were the ancient inhabitants of Romania prior to the rise of the Roman Empire. They were descendants of Thracians, from Greece and Bulgaria who began to establish tribes within the Carpathian Mountains (which would become the heartland of Transylvania). They were known as a fierce people, warriors who used the mountainsides to their tactical advantage. By around 82 BC the various Dacian states were unified into one centralized kingdom by Burebista. The Kingdom of Dacia stretched from the Black Sea into the Balkan Mountains and as far east as Bohemia (southern Germany and Czech Republic). This was rather short-lived however due to Roman conquest from 101-106 AD. 

The Roman Emperor Trajan achieved final victory over King Decebalus at the Battle of Sarmizegetusa. While the Romans began to establish their provincial laws they also admired the Dacian's fierceness and adopted some of their own customs. This led to a slow fusion of cultures between Romans and Dacians that eventually became the main ethnicity of Romania. By around 271 AD as the Roman Empire began to crumble, the Roman government completely abandoned it's post in Dacia. A new society of Daco-Roman people stayed in the Transylvania region to govern themselves and resist foreign expansion.

Despite threats from barbarian tribes such as the Goths and Carpi the Daco-Roman people were able to maintain their region in the mountains. They continued to practice a Roman/Latin structure whilst establishing their own cultural identity. This was no longer a government rather a tribe of rural warriors, defending their mountaintops. The region was later shared with other various tribes of Goths, Capri, and Huns. During Constantine's reign he was able to swallow up a good portion of Romania along the Danube River, which became a part of the Byzantine Empire. However he was unable to lay claim to the Daco-Roman pocket in the mountains.

The Avars and the Bulgarian Empire

The region of Romania was mostly controlled by the Byzantine Empire with barbarian pockets on the eastern front (primarily the Huns). The Huns began their conquest of western Romania in 370AD and eventually were driven out by 454 AD after the death of Attila. This gave way for a new rising force in the Caucasus, known as the Avars. They migrated from Kazakhstan and eventually established a stronghold in Hungary which covered a good portion of Romania. By 560AD, the Avar Khaganate spanned from Ukraine to Bohemia (covering most of Hungary and Romania). They had multiple wars with the Byzantine Empire in the south, seeking to control the Balkan territory. The Azar-Byzantine wars of 586-626 ultimately weakened both sides, and allowed the Slavs to inhabit this southern region of Europe.

By around 681 the Bulgarian Empire was established by Khan Asparukh who swallowed up a big region of Romania in Southern Wallachia (south of the Capathian mountains), Moldova, and Dobruja (the eastern coast along the Black Sea). Despite many clashes with the Bulgarians, the Avers were able to sustain their territory in Transylvania. That is until the Frankish campaigns of Charlemagne begun in 788-803 AD. The Avars soon found themselves pinched on a two-front war between the Frankish Lombards and the Bulgarians which caused them to capitulate. Yet strangely enough neither side properly laid claim to the mountains region of Transylvania and it was rather inhabited by a new tribe from Hungary known as the Magyars. 

Magyars and the Hungarian Kingdom

Throughout the 800-900s the Magyars continued their expansion from Hungary into the Carpathian Basin of Romania. By this time the Daco-Romans had evolved into the people known as the Vlachs. There were also various Turkish nomads such as the Pechenegs, Cumans, and Uzes that were inhabiting the region of Romania. Alongside pockets of Slavs. These were to be the early founding peoples of Romania, amisdt the shadow of influence from the Bulgarian Empire. Under Simeon the Great, Bulgaria had reached it's zenith and was continuously fighting for territory against the Byzantine Empire. 

In the year 1000 AD Stephen of Hungary transforms the Magyar people into the first Hungarian Kingdom. It is a western influence Christian kingdom that consolidates it's control over Transylvania. The kings that follow Stephen, continue to further expand their territory throughout Romania. Meanwhile by around 1018, the Byzantines finally deliver a crushing blow to the Bulgarian Empire. In 1185 they are able to establish a Second Bulgarian Empire and endure in the Balkans for a while longer, however never challenging Transylvania. During this time much of western Europe such as England, the Holy Roman Empire, and France were consumed with the Crusades.  

By the 1200s the Byzantine Empire begins to lose sway of the Balkan territory. This allows for a new military power to invade from the eastern lands of Mongolia. Under their leader Batu Khan the Mongols destroy many settlements throughout the Carpathian region of Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. The Kingdom of Hungary is severely weakened by the invasion but the Vlach communities are able to endure in their mountaintops. Within a year, the Mongols were pushed back to their Golden Horde territory in Russia. Despite the heavy loss and devastation both the Hungarian Kingdom and Bulgarian Kingdom were able to quickly rebuild. 

Wallachia, Moldova, and Transylvania

By 1310 the southern region of Romania under the leadership of Basarab I established an independent nation known as Wallachia. This was essentially a Vlach community that sought to govern itself, free from Hungarian influence. Basarab I decisively defeated the Hungarian army at the Battle of Posada in 1330 to secure this new Wallachia region. The region of Moldova followed suit shortly after when the Hungarian noble Dragos began to coordinate a Vlach defiance against Hungarian control from 1345-1359. Dragos essentially laid the groundwork for Bogdan I to complete the defiance and declare an independent Moldavia in 1359. After many skirmishes and and sieges throughout the Carpathian mountains the Kingdom of Hungary was finally forced to recognize Moldovia's independence.

By the late 14th century, the Ottoman Empire becomes the new rising power in the middle east. They are able to defeat the Second Bulgarian Empire and swallow up territory in the Balkans. In 1453 they achieve their monumental victory at Constantinople which marks an abrupt end to the Byzantine Empire. And yet again, just as with the Slavs, and the Franks, this new military power chose not to occupy the Carpathian mountains of Wallachia, Moldova, and Transylvania. Instead they established political tribute arrangements so they maintained their independence while still honoring Ottoman influence. During this time waves of gypsies began to migrate from India and the Balkans into modern day Hungary and Romania. They brought unique customs, crafts, and folklore that was later adopted into Romanian culture. (I'd like to someday make a deeper dive into this group of people). 

The central Romanian region of Transylvania however did not achieve independence (like Moldova and Wallachia) and still remained a vassal of the Hungarian kingdom. The Hungarian kings saw this mountainous territory as a crucial stronghold in their ongoing battle against the Ottoman Empire. Therefore Transylvania was the fierce pocket of Hungarian resistance that did not offer any tributes to the Ottomans. It was most famously defended by Vlad III the Impaler, a Wallachian prince who later inspired the great tale of Dracula. (I will later make a deeper dive on him as he is without question one of the most iconic Romanian historical figures). 

During this time, Stephen the Great of Moldova also achieved many defensive victories over the Ottomans (most famously at the Battle of Vaslui in 1475). He is best renown as a devout Catholic who would go on long fasts and sought to establish a Christian nation in the midst of Ottoman influence. He strengthened Christian monasteries and castles across Moldavia. He resisted not only the Ottomans on the eastern front but also Polish and Hungarian opposition on the west. He was later canonized for the many monasteries he built and defended throughout Moldova. He is considered a national hero of Moldova, but also a hero of the Catholic faith.  

Ottoman and Habsburg Romania

While Moldova and Wallachia remained independent tributary stats of the Ottoman Empire, Transylvania continued to resist well into the 1500s. That is until the fateful Battle of Mohacs (1526) where the Hungarian Kingdom was once and for all defeated by Suleiman the Magnificent. This marked the collapse of the Hungarian Kingdom and a new period of Ottoman influence over the majority of Romania. Transylvania became a vassal state that now offered tribute to the Ottomans (similiar to Moldova and Wallachia). The Hungarian territory is mostly divided between the Ottomans and the Habsburg dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire. 

During this period a new cultural fusion began, of Christians and Muslims throughout the Romanian states of Wallachia and Transylvania. Religious freedom was tolerated by the Ottomans, and Protestantism also began to take root throughout Romania. In 1593, the Wallachian Prince Michael the Brave united Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania to begin a campaign of Ottoman resistance. This was part of a greater conflict iniated by the Habsburg monarchy known as the Long Turkish War (1593-1606). While Michael the Brave was able to take advantage of the dispute and achieve victories such as at Battle of Girugiu, his political alliance was eventually crushed by the Ottomans in 1601. 

The state of Transylvania reached it's golden age in 1613 to 1629 under the rule of Gabor Bethlen. He strengthened his alliance with the western Protestant powers, seeking to establish a Calvinist state whilst balancing peace with the Ottomans. This saw the first major flourishment of Romanian trade, agriculture, schools, and urban development. By 1687 the Habsburg dynasty presses it's advantage on the Ottoman Empire during the Great Turkish War. With a powerful alliance of the Holy Roman Empire, Poland, Russia, and Venice they are able to achieve victory and redistribute new lands. The Habsburg dynasty takes ownership of Transylvania in 1699 while Wallahia and Moldavia stay with the Ottoman's influence.

Throughout the 1700s Romania remains divided by Habsburg and Ottoman influence. Wallachia attempted to regain it's independence under the leadership of Constantin Brancoveanu who oversaw a boom of art and architecture. However he was later executed by the Ottoman's for plotting with the Christians. Meanwhile the Russian Empire began to make it's grand entrance in the region during the Russo-Turkish War of 1710-1711. Moldavia boldly sided with Russia hoping to achieve it's independence once again, but were ultimately defeated by the Ottomans. Despite this foreign intervention Romania continues to build it's cultural identity. The city of Bucharest becomes a booming cultural trade hub for the Ottomans and the Balkans during this period.

Romanian Independence

During the 1800s the European wave of nationalism spread into Romania as political cries for independence began. In 1821, Tudor Vladimirescu organized a Pandur militia and led an uprising in Wallachia seeking to achieve independence for Wallachia, Transylvania, and Romania. The uprising was brutally crushed by the Ottomans however and Tudor was executed. However this event only intensified Romania's desire for a unified state and independence from the Ottomans. During the Spring of Nations in 1848, various national uprisings occurred in Romania, primarily in Bucharest led by Nicolae Balcesu and Ion Heliade Radulescu. The revolution was once again crushed, and Romania was left alone to seek independence from the Ottomans.

In 1853 the Romanian nationalist movement finally got some help during the Crimea War between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. Their was a sudden shift of eastern European powers, as both Russia and the Ottoman Empire were weakened by the three year conflict. As a result Romania was allowed more autonomous control, but still under the influence of the Habsburg Austrian dynasty. Alexandru Ioan Cuza became a key Romanian figure in 1859 when he successfully united the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia to establish the first independent nation of Romania. The name "Romania" was adopted as their new state name since it referred to their ancestral Roman roots in Dacia. Transylvania however remained under Austro-Hungarian control for a while longer.

The nationalist movement however continued in Transylvania seeking to unite with the new state of Romania. Even after the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 where Romania was recognized as an official state, Transylvania was still unable to join the party. Carol I became the first king of Romania and instituted a cultural boom such as the development of infrastructure, industry, arts, and architecture. Some of his most famous buildings include the Peles Castle and the King Carol Bridge which spanned across the Danube River to become the longest bridge in Europe at it's time. 

However despite this boom in Romanian culture, The Austro-Hungarian Empire stood firmly against Transylvanian nationalist movements. This tense situation remained until the end of WWI, where the Austro-Hungarian Empire was defeated by the western allied powers. Transylvania finally had the freedom to join Romania in 1918, and became the independent state we know it as today. Moldova eventually broke away in 1990 after the fall of the Soviet Union. Both nations still hold a friendly brotherhood of shared historical development. It's a very rich history, that was mostly occupied territory, however a cultural identity of resistance was established in those stubborn Carpathian Mountains.