Basarab IV Țepeluș acceded first to the Wallachian throne in 1474, when with help from Transylvanian voivode Stefan Bathory he overthrew his first cousin
Basarab III known as the 'Old'. He was then removed from power within 2 months by
Radu III (also called Radu the Handsome), his 2nd cousin, who was brought in by a large Ottoman army who was marching to punish
Stephen III of Moldavia. Following his first rule Basarab IV Țepeluș sought refuge back in the Hungarian territories, where he most likely spent most of his life up to that point. In summer 1476 he is dispatched to Transylvania with
Vlad III Țepeș (Țepeș = the Impaler) who was preferred by king
Matthias Corvinus and Stephen III for the throne of Wallachia & subsequently moves to Moldavia where he was mentioned at the court of Stephen III. It is with the latter's help that before Jan 1478 Basarab Țepeluș again ousted his cousin Basarab Laiotă and starts his 2nd and longest reign. In 1481, the same year
Mehmed II died and conflict between his two surviving sons,
Bayezid II and
Cem erupted into open conflict,
Vlad IV, the
pious half-brother of
Vlad III and
Radu III, who until now had shown little interest the throne for himself before now was placed on the throne by
Ştefan III., who had invaded
Wallachia that June and routed Basarab IV at
Râmnicu Vâlcea. The 15th century was a very volatile time in
Wallachia, with the throne passing first from one then to another of the many Princes and family members of both Branches of the
House of Basarab that desired it, and soon enough (i.e. July 1481) Basarab IV was again
Voivode of Wallachia, with Ottoman support.
Ştefan made a last attempt to secure his influence in Wallachia the next summer. and within the year Basarab lost the throne again. Although
Vlad IV was restored, he was soon forced to accept the Sultan's suzerainty. == Death ==