Basarab I of Wallachia - The Battle of Posada and Its Background

The Battle of Posada and Its Background

Basarab gave his daughter in marriage to Ivan Alexander, a nephew of Tzar Michael Shishman of Bulgaria (1323–1330) who was an enemy of the Hungarian king. In a document issued on 27 March 1329, Basarab was mentioned among King Charles I’s enemies alongside the Bulgarians, the Serbs and the Tatars who constantly attacked the Hungarian confines. In 1330, Basarab took part in the military campaign Tzar Michael Sishman launched against Serbia, which ended on July 18 with the Serb victory at Velbazhd.

Immediately following the Serbian defeat of the Bulgarians and Romanians at Velbazhd, King Charles I made an expedition against Basarab. When the Banate of Severin was retaken, Basarab offered to pay yearly tribute and 7,000 silver marks in compensation, and to recognize the king’s sovereignty; but his offers were rejected, and the king advanced into Wallachia as far as Curtea de Argeş. However, the king was eventually forced to withdraw toward Transylvania without having engaged the Romanian army in battle, because difficulties rose in the provision of food supplies.

But a large contingent of Wallachian soldiers was waiting for the Hungarians at Posada, and as they were winding their way through a narrow valley, the Hungarians found themselves trapped. On November 12, after three days of fighting, the Hungarians were soundly defeated, the king managing with difficulty to escape with his life.