Stephen the Great

Uncommon card · No. 84611

Stephen III, better known as Stephen the Great (Romanian: Ștefan cel Mare; [ˈʃtefan tʃel ˈmare]; died 2 July 1504), was Voivode of Moldavia from 1457 until his death. He was one of the most prominent rulers of late medieval Eastern Europe, noted for his long reign, military leadership and astute diplomacy. His efforts to preserve Moldavian autonomy from more powerful neighboring states such as the Ottoman Empire, Poland and Hungary, as well as his aptitude for nation-building and repute as a protector of the Christian faith, made him into a national hero in both Romania and Moldova. He is canonised by the Romanian Orthodox Church. In 1450, Stephen with his father, Bogdan II, repulsed the Polish invasion of Moldavia. However, his father was assassinated in 1451, with Stephen taking refuge in Transylvania. Following a period of internal strife, Stephen took the Moldavian throne in 1457, after his victory at the Battle of Orbic, with his cousin Vlad the Impaler's support. Peter Aaron, the...

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