Vlad II Dracul

Timeline

1. c. 1395–1431Nuremberg · Holy Roman EmpireVlad II was an illegitimate son of Wallachian voivode Mircea the Elder, and in his youth lived at Sigismund's court. On 8 February 1431 he joined the Order of the Dragon in Nuremberg and was recognized as the lawful voivode, thereby gaining the name 'Dracul'. Sigismund did not immediately send troops to escort him home, so he had to wait in Transylvania for an opportunity.
2. 1431–1436Sighișoara · TransylvaniaWhile his half-brother Alexandru I of Alba held Wallachia and submitted to the Ottomans, Vlad II could only organize supporters in Transylvania. Around 1431 his son Vlad (later called III) was born in this exile. Only after Alba's death in 1436 did he return with Hungarian support to take the throne.
3. 1436–1442Târgoviște · WallachiaIn 1436 Vlad II entered Târgoviște with Hungarian support. After Sigismund's death in 1437, he allied with Murad II and even joined Ottoman raids on Transylvania. In 1442 he was summoned to the Ottoman court and held successively at Gallipoli and Adrianople; his eldest son Mircea remained behind, while Vlad and Radu were left as hostages.
4. 1443–1447Bălteni · WallachiaAround 1443 Vlad II was released and restored, but two sons remained as Ottoman hostages. He wavered during the Crusade of Varna, needing to manage Hunyadi while fearing the hostages' execution. In 1447 Hunyadi switched support to Vladislav of the Dănești; Vlad II fled Târgoviște, was captured and killed at Bălteni, and his eldest son Mircea was also murdered.