Battle of Posada
A mountain pass on the border of Wallachia and Transylvania, Romania
What happened
Basarab I, the first independent ruler of Wallachia, fought King Charles I of Hungary. King Charles of Hungary led an army into Wallachia to bring Basarab back under his control. As the Hungarian army returned through the mountains, Basarab's smaller force of horsemen, archers and peasants trapped it in a narrow gorge.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It made Wallachia independent of the Hungarian crown. Historians call Wallachia the first independent Romanian principality.
What came next
Relations stayed tense until 1344, when Basarab sent his son to make peace. Basarab's descendants ruled Wallachia for at least two centuries.
Did you know?
The region of Bessarabia was named after Basarab's family, and his descendants included Vlad Dracula.
Timeline
- 9-12 November 1330Basarab defeats the Hungarian army at Posada.
- 13 December 1335Charles I describes his escape in a charter.
- 1344Basarab's son restores ties with Hungary.
- 1812The name 'Bessarabia' is used after Russian annexation.