Neagoe Basarab and his son Theodosie
(greek icon from the Dionysiou Monastery )

Neagoe Basarab was the ruler of Wallachia between 1512 and 1521.

Born in the boyar family of the Craiovesti as the son of Basarab cel Tânăr ("the young"), Neagoe Basarab was a wise and balanced ruler.

In the 16th century, Wallachia was independent, but was required to pay an exorbitant tribute to the greater force of the Ottoman Empire. He encouraged the development of crafts and trade, while on the foreign policy, he tried to maintain good relations with the other powerful neighbour, Hungary.

He also did some diplomatic work, trying to establish relations with Venice and Rome, even trying to mediate the dispute between Orthodox Christians and Catholics with the purpose of uniting the Christianity against the Ottoman threat.

He continued the Byzantine tradition of making generous donations to the Orthodox monasteries (in Wallachia and all around the Balkans). During his reign the Curtea de Argeş Monastery was built in 1517 by the legendary craftsman Meşterul Manole.

Neagoe Basarab wrote one of the old Romanian literary masterpieces, called "Învăţăturile lui Neagoe Basarab către fiul său Teodosie" ("The Teachings of Neagoe Basarab to his son, Theodosie"), in which he touches various subjects as philosophy, diplomacy, morals and ethics, etc.