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Bogdan IIILord of the Moldavian Principality in 1504-1517
Date of Birth: 01.01.1479
Country:  Romania |
Content:
- Early Life and Ancestry
- Reign and Diplomacy
- Invasion and Mediation
- War with Wallachia and Poland
- Foreign Influences and Tributary Status
- Tributary to the Ottomans
- Death and Legacy
Early Life and Ancestry
Bogdan III the Cripple (c. 1477-1517) was the son of Stephen III the Great, the legendary ruler of Moldavia, and Maria Voichița.
Reign and Diplomacy
Alliance with PolandIn 1504, Bogdan III ascended to the Moldavian throne. To strengthen his position, he established a diplomatic embassy at the Ottoman court and sent envoys to King Alexander of Poland, requesting the hand of his sister, Elisabeta. The princess's mother opposed the union, and Bogdan was initially denied.
Undeterred, he waited until after the queen mother's death and repeated his proposal. However, Alexander, influenced by Elisabeta's knowledge of Bogdan's physical deformities, again refused.
Invasion and Mediation
Angered by the rejections, Bogdan III invaded Poland and ravaged its border regions. He was swiftly repelled, and captured Moldavian nobles were executed at Kamianets.
Through the mediation of the Hungarian king, peace was restored, but Bogdan III remained ambitious. He sent further embassies to Poland, and King Alexander eventually promised to marry Elisabeta to him, on the condition that Bogdan convert to Catholicism and acknowledge Polish suzerainty.
War with Wallachia and Poland
However, Alexander's untimely death in 1506 nullified the agreement. Instead, Radu the Great, the ruler of Wallachia, invaded Moldavia and ravaged part of its territory.
Bogdan III swiftly retaliated, invading Wallachia and forcing Radu to sue for peace. Buoyed by this success, he then invaded Poland, capturing Kamianets and bombarding Lviv before retreating with impunity.
In response, Poland invaded Moldavia but was defeated by Bogdan III's army. A peace treaty was signed, pledging mutual assistance.
Foreign Influences and Tributary Status
Tatar Invasions and Polish AidIn 1512, Moldavia was attacked by Tatars. Bogdan III appealed to Poland for help, and a large Polish army aided him in repelling the invaders.
Tributary to the Ottomans
To prevent further Tatar incursions, Bogdan III normalized relations with the Ottoman Empire in 1514 and agreed to pay an annual tribute.
Death and Legacy
Bogdan III the Cripple died on April 20, 1517. He was buried in the monastery church at Putna, where his tomb can still be visited.
