File:Terratransalpina.png
Voivodeships and knezdoms in Wallachia in the 13th century

Seneslau[1][2], also Seneslav, was a Vlach (Romanian) voivode mentioned in a diploma issued by king Béla IV of Hungary (1235-1270) on 2 July 1247; the diploma granted territories to the Knights Hospitaller in the Banate of Severin and Cumania.[3] According to the diploma, the king gave the territories east of the Olt River to the knights, with the exception of the territory of voivode Seneslau.[3]

Seneslau held central and southern Muntenia[1] (i.e., the territories along the rivers Argeş and Dâmboviţa).[2] The Romanian historian Ioan Aurel Pop suggests that Seneslau was quasi independent of the king of Hungary.[2] According to the Hungarian historian István Vásáry, his title (voivode) suggests that he had a territorial unit under his jurisdiction.[3]

The diploma of Béla IV also refers to the kenazates of John, Farcaş and voivode Litovoi.[3] Although the names of Seneslau and Litovoi are of Slavic origin, they are expressly said to be Vlachs (Olati) in the king's diploma.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Georgescu, Vlad. The Romanians: A History.
  2. ^ a b c Pop, Ioan Aurel. Romanians and Romania: A Brief History.
  3. ^ a b c d e Vásáry, István. Cumans and Tatars: Oriental Military in the Pre-Ottoman Balkans, 1185-1365.

Sources