Stephen the Great and Balkan Nationalism: Moldova and Eastern European History (International Library of Historical Studies)

Iwould like to thank my supervisor,Professor Andrew Reynolds, together with Mr TimSchadla-Hallfor supporting me throughout the project. Ihave also benefited from advice received from my examiners, Dr David Clarke and Dr Rebecca Haynes. Ia mg rateful to staff and research students in the School of Slavonic and East European Studies at UCL for support and guidance. The origins of my research work at UCL lie at the turn of the millennium, when Iworked as an academic writing instructor in the Department of Medieval Studies at the Central European University (CEU) in Budapest. Sitting in on some of the department'sseminars, Iw as struck in particular by the advice of Professor Ja ́nos Bak, a friend of the University'sp atron, the financier George Soros. The CEU was established in the early years after the fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe. Bak spoke to his students of how he had persuaded Soros of the importance of including medieval studies in the programme of the new university.A ccording to Bak, an understanding of medieval history was essential to an understanding of the region. He also had practical words of encouragement for his multi-national,m ulti-lingual students: if you're presented with material in alanguage or form you do not understand, do not discard it; persevere in reading adocument and with the linguistic skills you do possess you may be surprised by what you can discern from a seemingly incomprehensible piece of evidence. It was both practical advice and am etaphor for the process of academic study. In my remembrance of Bak'swords Idonot quote him but rather make acknowledgement of the inspiration given by am edievalist who was both as cholar of the period and an advocate for the importance of medieval history in the contemporary world. In my own journey from being an undergraduate medievalist at the University of St Andrews to being as ometime field researcher in former communist countries, that interval at the CEU in Budapest served to crystallise my understanding of the medieval period as an evergreen area of research. This book seeks to meld medieval history and archaeology in a manner that is the product of instruction in both disciplines, formally and informally,fi rst at St Andrews and then through field schools and other university departments over the course of two decades. Ic ould claim numerous influences in this regard, not least Dr Colin Martin who supervised my first doctoral study.B ut my understanding of the relationship that historical and archaeological studies can have to one another was initiated by taking part in excavations at Wroxeter Roman City,t hrough an umber of warm summers in the 1980s, under the direction of Mr Philip Barker. Dr Judith Rasson of the Department of Medieval Studies at the CEU first directed me to consider Moldovan history as an interesting research topic. Ia mi ndebted to Dr Sergiu Musteat a ̆of the Ion Creanga State Pedagogical University in Chis ina ̆ua nd Dr Marian Zidaru of the Andrei S aguna University in Constant af or advice and help with materials. An umber of the illustrations in this book are reproduced with the permission of the Centre of Research and Documentationdedicated to Stephen the Great at Putna monastery: my thanks are due in particular to the secretary of the centre, Father Ieremia Berbec. Further acknowledgementsare given in the text and in the notes. Mr Stephen Wade improved the text; all errors of fact and judgement are my own. S TEPHEN THE G REATA ND B ALKAN N ATIONALISM viii AN OTE ON DATES, NAMESA ND CONVENTIONS In Stephen the Great'sM oldova, years were recorded using the Byzantine calendar; in this book all dates are given using the Gregorian calendar.Regnal dates are given in parentheses at the first appearance of significant individuals (although, in the case of certain modern personalities, the dates given are for birth and death). The names of prominent people, places and entities that appear repeatedly in the text are defined at their first appearance (definitions appear in bold, inside parentheses). Ih ave anglicised the names of many individuals (not least Stephen himself ), but incidental characters in the book bear Romanian names. The majority of the place names of Romania and Moldova appear in Romanian form, Bucharest being a notable exception. For readers who are unfamiliar with the pronunciation of Romanian language terms, the following brief notes should be sufficient: S /s =' sh', hence S tefan =' Shtefan' C=' ch'; E='e ́', hence S tefan cel Mare =' Shtefan chel Marey' Ch ='k'; A ̆/a ̆is ah ard 'ah', hence Chis ina ̆u =' Kishinow' T =' ts'; the 'i' of -t iissilent, hence Pa ̆tra ̆ut i =' Patrowuts' Ias iisoften anglicised as 'Jassy', but Iprefer the Romanian form, which is pronounced 'Yash'. The defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans in 1475 at the Battle of Vaslui heralded the beginnings of a historic legacy. The victor became known as Stephen the Great or Athleta Christi, Champion of Christ. Perceived as the founder of a Balkan identity, Stephen the Great maintained Moldova's independence during periods of fierce Ottoman attack between 1457 and 1504. His Christian religious stance meant that, in the eyes of Europe, he had not only defeated a significant territorial threat but had elevated Christianity to a superior level as victors over its Muslim opponents. Here, Jonathan Eagles seeks to unveil the mechanisms behind this legacy, reviewing the state formations that allowed this national hero to emerge, and explaining the methods that preserve his memory in the region today. By combining the latest historical studies of the anti-Ottoman resistance with new archaeological findings, Stephen the Great and Balkan Nationalism engages with a fresh approach to the history of the Balkans, and reinvigorates the study of the Ottoman Empire's impact in Europe. This is an important book for those with an interest in medieval history, Balkan history and the Ottomans. The defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans in 1475 at the Battle of Vaslui heralded the beginnings of a historic legacy. The victor became known as Stephen the Great or 'Athleta Christi', Champion of Christ. Perceived as the founder of a Balkan identity, Stephen the Great maintained Moldavia's independence during periods of fierce Ottoman attack between 1457 and 1504. His Christian religious stance meant that, in the eyes of Europe, he had not only defeated a significant territorial threat but had elevated Christianity to a superior level as victors over their Muslim opponents. This book seeks to unveil the mechanisms behind this legacy, to review the state formations that allowed this national hero to emerge, and to explain the methods that preserve his memory in the region today. By combining the latest historical studies of the anti-Ottoman resistance with new archaeological findings, Jonathan Eagles engages with a fresh approach to the history of the Balkans, and reinvigorates the study of the Ottoman Empire in Europe. This is an important book for those with an interest in medieval history, Balkan history and the Ottomans. The defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans in 1475 at the Battle of Vaslui heralded the beginnings of a historic legacy. The victor became known as Stephen the Great or Athleta Christi , Champion of Christ. Perceived as the founder of a Balkan identity, Stephen the Great maintained Moldavia s independence during periods of fierce Ottoman attack between 1457 and 1504. His Christian religious stance meant that, in the eyes of Europe, he had not only defeated a significant territorial threat but had elevated Christianity to a superior level as victors over their Muslim opponents. This book seeks to unveil the mechanisms behind this legacy, reviewing the state formations that allowed this national hero to emerge, and explaining the methods that preserve his memory in the region today. By combining the latest historical studies of the anti-Ottoman resistance with new archaeological findings, Jonathan Eagles engages with a fresh approach to the history of the Balkans, and reinvigorates the study of the Ottoman Empire in Europe. This is an important book for those with an interest in medieval history, Balkan history and the Ottomans. Perceived As The Founder Of A Balkan Identity, Stephen The Great Maintained Moldavia's Independence During Periods Of Fierce Ottoman Attack Between 1457 And 1504. His Christian Religious Stance Meant That, In The Eyes Of Europe, He Had Not Only Defeated A Significant Territorial Threat But Had Elevated Christianity To A Superior Level As Victors Over Their Muslim Opponents. This Book Unveils The Mechanisms Behind This Legacy, Reviews The State Formations That Allowed This National Hero To Emerge, And Explains The Methods That Preserve His Memory In The Region Today. Jonathan Eagles. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [221]-262) And Index. CONTENTS Preface and Acknowledgements A Note on Dates, Names and Conventions Introduction SECTION I - HISTORY 1. ROMANIA AND MOLDOVA: AN HISTORICAL OVERVIEW 2. THE REIGN OF STEPHEN THE GREAT SECTION II - MEMORIALISATION 3. CHRONICLES, HISTORIES AND EULOGIES 4. THE HOLY BONES OF PUTNA 5. THE MATERIAL REMAINS OF THE REGIME SECTION III - THE PRINCE AS A NATIONAL SYMBOL POSTSCRIPT - STEPHEN THE GREAT IN THE MOLDOVAN ELECTION CRISIS OF 2009 CHRONOLOGY OF THE REIGN OF STEPHEN THE GREAT NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX The defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans in 1475 at the Battle of Vaslui heralded the beginnings of a historic legacy. Suitable for those interested in medieval history, Balkan history and the Ottomans, this title offers a fresh approach to the history of the Balkans, and reinvigorates the study of the Ottoman Empire in Europe.