Did you know that true stories also begin with “once upon a time”? An example of sacrifice and courage, Tudor Vladimirescu is the man who changed the fate of the Romanian lands for the better, believing wholeheartedly in freedom and justice.
Tudor was born near the village of Vladimir in Gorj, which gave him his name, in a poor area where people lived in earthen homes. He was orphaned by his father, which made him a hardworking and resourceful child.
Ana, his mother, took care of all three siblings, but she was convinced that her lively, blonde little Tudor had a special destiny awaiting him.
“Do you see this mark on your chest shaped like an ear of wheat? It foretells that you will become a great man!” she would often say to him.
Tudor enjoyed listening to the old men’s tales of past times, about the brave men who fought for justice, and he was eager to learn from the village priest, who showed him how to write on wet sand and on lime tree bark.
At around 12 years old, the boy reached Craiova and learned Greek, Turkish, Russian, and German in the household of the nobleman Ioniță Glogoveanu, who had big plans for him. Glogoveanu wanted a trusted man to manage his estates and help with his cattle trade with the Transylvanians. In this way, the orphan from Vladimir amassed considerable wealth.
Resourceful, well-traveled, and accustomed to life in markets and ports, by the age of 35, Tudor already owned several estates, water mills, taverns, and businesses in grain and wax across the Balkans and Central Europe. Along with his wealth, he became a “vătaf de plai,” a kind of prefect or governor in today’s terms. In addition to his business skills, Tudor Vladimirescu was an excellent horseman and skilled with pistols.
In 1807, he left his fortune in the hands of trusted people and went to fight in the Russo-Turkish war, where he distinguished himself with bravery and was decorated with the Order of Saint Vladimir. During the same period, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and received a ring engraved with the Tsar’s initials.
By the age of 40, Tudor Vladimirescu was a prosperous and ambitious man. Historians describe him as “a man of taller-than-average stature, well-proportioned, with a blonde face, yellow moustache, and chestnut hair. He stood tall, proud, with the air of a commander. Without question, he was a man of heart.” The destiny his mother had foretold seemed ready to unfold.
At that time, Romanians were living under harsh conditions, under the total control of the Ottoman Empire and the rule of the Phanariot princes—Greeks from the Fanar district of Istanbul. These princes bought the throne from the Ottomans and then imposed heavy taxes on the Romanians, who could barely feed their families. The people were dissatisfied and increasingly struggled to endure the injustices and humiliations.
Because he had proven to be an excellent military commander and a fair patriot, several boyars, including Grigore Brâncoveanu, Grigore Ghica, and Barbu Văcărescu, signed an agreement with him, proposing that he lead an anti-Ottoman revolt disguised as a revolt against the boyars to avoid suspicion. Tudor also connected with the Eteria, a secret organization supported by Russia, whose aim was to weaken the Ottoman Empire.
“Good people!” said Tudor in a firm voice. “We Romanians are ruled by foreign princes who take from us without giving anything in return. The time has come to rise up against injustice! I will gather an army of pandurs and outlaws, people who are not afraid to fight, and we will march to Bucharest to demand justice for the people!”
No sooner said than done! In a short time, he gathered pandurs from all over Oltenia, soldiers, and outlaws who wanted to see a Romanian prince, one of their own, leading the country.
The Proclamation of Padeș, read by Tudor Vladimirescu himself, outlined the goals of his movement—redistributing land from the boyars and monasteries to the peasants, and granting more rights to the people. As if on cue, more and more people joined him, eager to see a change. The revolution had begun.
“Our chance doesn’t come from the number of people or from our weapons. Our chance comes from the justice we seek. When you fight for a good cause, for freedom, and for the people, nothing can stop you! The nation is the people, not the band of thieves!” he used to say.
When Tudor’s army reached the gates of Bucharest, the townspeople took to the streets, shouting with joy:
“Long live Lord Tudor! Long live freedom!”
Setting up camp in Cotroceni, Tudor Vladimirescu began a series of negotiations and talks without engaging in any battles. Unfortunately, bad news soon followed. Russia withdrew its support to avoid affecting its diplomatic interests. The Eteria and Tudor’s movement were abandoned, leading the Greeks to retreat to Târgoviște, and Tudor back to Oltenia.
Abandoned by the Tsar and the boyars, Tudor also lost the support of his men when he hanged one of his captains for disobedience. The leaders of the Eteria took advantage of the situation, infiltrated his camp, and arrested him for treason, without any resistance from his followers. Tudor was tried, interrogated, tortured, killed, and thrown into a well near Târgoviște.
Thus, a tragic fate was sealed for a great man. Though Tudor Vladimirescu was killed, his courage was never forgotten. The revolution of 1821 brought significant changes. Foreign rulers were removed, and the country began to be led by native princes.
Tudor Vladimirescu taught us an important lesson: courage and the desire for justice are the most powerful weapons. Even though not everything went as he had hoped, his fight laid the foundation for a better and fairer Romania, and his story remains in the hearts of all Romanians.
Proiectul este finanțat de Primăria Sectorului 6 în cadrul Programului Cultura 2024 – www.primarie6.ro/program-cultura-2024/.
Conținutul acestui material nu reprezintă în mod necesar poziția oficială a Autorității finanțatoare.
Pentru informații detaliate despre programul de finanțare CULTURA 2024 puteți accesa www.primarie6.ro/program-cultura-2024/.
