Stephen the Great: Romania's Medieval Defender

Before Vlad the Impaler, another prince shaped Romania's fate: Stephen the Great of Moldavia. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Stephen's 47-year reign, his legendary victory at Vaslui in 1475 against the Ottoman Empire, and his strategic use of faith and fortification. They unpick the man behind the myth—his ruthless consolidation of power, his cultural patronage that built dozens of churches, and his diplomatic tightrope between Hungary, Poland, and the Ottomans. Along the way, they revisit the Battle of Baia, the fall of Chilia and Cetatea Albă, and the controversial legend of his son, Alexandru, and the 'Bogdan's Oak' tale. Stephen's legacy as a saint and national hero is probed, asking what his reign meant for the Romanian identity that emerged centuries later. A nuanced portrait of a warrior-king who turned a small principality into a formidable state.

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