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Who was Radu the Handsome?
Radu the Handsome, also known as Radu III of Wallachia or Radu the Fair, was the younger brother of Vlad the Impaler, the infamous ruler who inspired the legend of Dracula. Radu was born in 1438 as the son of Vlad II Dracul, the prince of Wallachia, a region that is now part of Romania
Unlike his brother, who was known for his cruelty and brutality, Radu was praised for his beauty and charm. He was also a devout Muslim, having converted to Islam during his captivity in the Ottoman Empire
Radu and Vlad were both taken as hostages by the Ottoman Sultan Murad II in 1442, when they were only children. They were held as guarantees for their father’s loyalty, who had to pay tribute and fight for the Ottomans
While Vlad hated his captors and plotted his revenge, Radu became close to the sultan’s son, Mehmed II, who later became known as Mehmed the Conqueror. Radu and Mehmed developed a friendship that some historians believe was also a romantic relationship
How did Radu the Handsome become the prince of Wallachia?
Radu the Handsome was loyal to the Ottoman Empire and served as a commander in the Ottoman army. He participated in the siege of Constantinople in 1453, which marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and the rise of the Ottomans
Radu also fought against his own brother, Vlad, who had become the prince of Wallachia in 1456. Vlad was a fierce enemy of the Ottomans and resisted their invasion. He was notorious for impaling thousands of his enemies on stakes, earning him the nickname of Vlad the Impaler
In 1462, Mehmed II launched a massive campaign to conquer Wallachia and put an end to Vlad’s reign of terror. Radu accompanied him and led a contingent of Janissaries, elite Ottoman soldiers. Radu used his diplomatic skills and his knowledge of the local culture to persuade many Wallachian nobles to defect to the Ottoman side. He also exploited the resentment that some Wallachians felt towards Vlad’s harsh rule
After a series of battles, Vlad was forced to retreat and seek refuge in Transylvania, a neighboring region that was allied with Hungary. Radu was appointed by Mehmed as the new prince of Wallachia, with the condition that he would pay tribute and obey the sultan. Radu accepted and ruled Wallachia from 1462 to 1475, with some interruptions caused by Vlad’s attempts to regain his throne
What was Radu the Handsome cause of death?
Radu the Handsome’s cause of death is not certain, but there are some clues and speculations. According to some sources, Radu died in January 1475, at the age of 36 or 37. He was buried in the Curtea de Argeș Monastery, a historic site in Wallachia
Some historians suggest that Radu died of syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease that was common at the time. According to this theory, Radu contracted the disease from his lover, Mehmed, who was known for his promiscuity and bisexuality. Mehmed himself died of syphilis in 1481, at the age of 49
Another possibility is that Radu was poisoned by his enemies, who wanted to remove him from power and replace him with another candidate. Radu had many rivals and opponents, both within Wallachia and outside. Some of them were his own relatives, who claimed the right to rule. Others were foreign powers, such as Hungary and Poland, who wanted to weaken the Ottoman influence in the region
A third option is that Radu died of natural causes, such as an illness or an accident. He may have suffered from a chronic condition or a sudden infection that proved fatal. He may have also been injured in a battle or a hunting accident that led to his death
Conclusion
Radu the Handsome was a fascinating and controversial figure in the history of Wallachia and the Ottoman Empire. He was the brother of Vlad the Impaler, the lover of Mehmed the Conqueror, and the prince of Wallachia. He was admired for his beauty, intelligence, and diplomacy, but also despised for his betrayal, submission, and corruption. He died in mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a legacy of intrigue and mystery
