Diaconescu, Marius (szerk.): Mediaevalia Transilvanica 1998 (2. évfolyam, 1. szám)
Relaţii internaţionale
The Political Relations between Wallachia and Hungary 27 advantage of the weakening of the Bulgarian Czardom because of the division produced between the two brothers, Stracimir and Şişman, to complete his possessions. Maria Hóiban very well saw the real motivation of this action: the old claims of the Hungarian crown in the time of the Arpadians over Bulgaria136. Probably that the conquest of Vidin and its annexation to the kingdom of Hungary under the form of a Banate had also a contribution to the improvement of the Romanian voivode's position137, who was strategically almost completely surrounded by the Hungarian military forces. Vladislav remained on the throne of Wallachia, but he accepted the Hungarian king as suzerain. In October 1366, the Romanian ruler was not called a rebel any longer, but the king recognised him as his voivode (vaivode noştri Transalpini)138. The Romanian voivode may have obeyed during that year as an effect of some diplomatic pressure139. The acknowledgement of the Hungarian suzerainty was also mentioned in the official document under this title. He became a voivode "by God and his majesty's grace" (Dei et regie maiestatis gracia) and called Louis "our rightful gracious lord" (naturális dominus noster graciosus)'4°. The historiography states that this kind of denomination took its form because of the fact that the document was elaborated by the Hungarian chancery, the only thing the voivode had to do being to put his signature on it141. The text that contains the custom duty regulations for the Braşov merchants was indeed drafted in the royal chancery and sent to the voivode with a knight of the royal court, as the document it shows. But Vladislav Vlaicu released the document, recording the title and the other components, from his voivodal chancery where he used scribes for the papers written in Latin! Consequently, the title must be understood properly, as it is recognition of the Hungarian king's suzerainty. The same document in which we find the first privilege granted by a Romanian ruler to the Braşov merchants is the only one kept up to the present day. As we have said, the text itself of the document proves that the paragraphs concerning the commercial matters were sent by the king with one of his knights. It is possible that those values could have been negotiated142. For a more accurate assessment of the character of this document a comparison should be made with the custom duty taxes requested at that time in Hungary. A certain identity could B., op. cit., pp. 384-385, sustains that Wallachian voivode, Nicholas Alexander, relied on this coalition and can afford it to deny his faith as early as 1357. 136 Maria Hóiban, op. cit., pp. 157-159, with a discussion about historiography. Cf. Gy. Kristó, Az Anjou-kor, pp. 153 et passim. 137 N. Iorga, Liipta pentru stăpânirea Vidinului, p. 980, considers that the Romanian voivode consented to simulate obedience in order to keep Severin, which he had ruled for a long time. In exchange for the tribute promise and the oath, he would have received Făgăraş too. The king and the Romanian voivode presumably subjected Vidin together. 138 DRH, D., I, p. 83. 139 Maria Hóiban, op. cit., p. 170. 140 DRH. D„ I, pp. 86-87. 141 Maria Hóiban, op. cit., p. 149; Ş. Papacostea, începuturile politicii comerciale, p. 14 and the note 17. 142 Ş. Papacostea, loc. cit.
