Ioan Joldea
- Ioan Joldea's Reign as Prince of Moldavia
- The Boyars' Choice
- The Downfall of Joldea
- Alexander Lăpușneanu's Ascendance
Ioan Joldea's Reign as Prince of Moldavia
In September 1552, Ioan Joldea became the Prince of Moldavia. A conspiracy hatched by a faction of Moldavian boyars, as well as boyars who had fled to Poland, led to the assassination of the previous ruler, Stephen VI Rareș, near the village of Țuțora on the Prut River.
The Boyars' Choice
Instead of waiting for a response from the boyars in Poland, the Moldavian boyars named Ioan Joldea, himself a boyar, as their new prince. However, a group of Moldavian boyars in Poland objected to this appointment and elected their own prince, Petre Stolnic. Stolnic subsequently invaded Moldavia with the support of Polish troops.
The Downfall of Joldea
Petre Stolnic dispatched Voinic Moțoc with a portion of the Polish army to apprehend Joldea. Joldea was eventually cornered at Șipotele, where his nose was cut off and he was sent to a monastery.
Alexander Lăpușneanu's Ascendance
Joldea's bride, Roxanda, was taken as a wife by Petre Stolnic, who ascended to the throne of Moldavia and took the name Alexander Lăpușneanu.
