Negru Vodă ("[The] Black Voivode" or "[The] Black Prince"), also known as Radu Negru ("Radu [the] Black"), is the legendary founder of Wallachia.

Name

Radu is a name derived from the Slavic word for "joy". In 2009, Radu was the 43rd most popular name among Romanian boys in the modern state of Romania^[1] and Moldova.^{[citation needed]}.

Traditions

According to Romanian traditions, Negru Vodă would have been the founder and ruler of Wallachia at a date around 1290. The legend was first mentioned in the 17th-century Cantacuzino Annals, which also state that the prince built large churches in Câmpulung and Curtea de Argeș, successive capitals of Wallachia. This is probably a confusion with Radu I of Wallachia, who reigned 1377–1383. Legends surrounding Meșterul Manole also mention Negru Vodă as the commissioner of the church and blend his image with that of Neagoe Basarab, who ruled at a much later date than Radu I.

In various folk traditions and legends, Negru Vodă's image blends with that of the following rulers:

• Thocomerius, father of Basarab I
• Basarab I (c. 1270–1351/52), Great Voivode of Wallachia
• Nicolae Alexandru, Voivode of Wallachia (c. 1352 – 1364)
• Radu I, Voivode of Wallachia (c. 1377 – c. 1383)
• Neagoe Basarab, Voivode of Wallachia (1512-1521)