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There were 2 medieval Vlach rulers who converted to Islam directly from the throne -
Iliaș Rareș of Moldavia in 1551 (grandson of Stephen III the Great & despot Jovan Brankovic)
Mihnea Turcitul (=Turkified) in 1559 (5th gen direct descendant of Vlad III Dracula)
Iliaș Rareș of Moldavia in 1551 (grandson of Stephen III the Great & despot Jovan Brankovic)
Mihnea Turcitul (=Turkified) in 1559 (5th gen direct descendant of Vlad III Dracula)
Both took the name Mehmet & were immediately promoted to higher positions in Ottoman hierarchy - Iliaș as bey of Silistra & Mihnea as bey of Nicopolis. It seems to be no coincidence that those beys has also the mission of keeping an eye on Moldavia & rsp Wallachia
However, both of them were unable to maintain those positions for more than a few years & have been subsequently demoted & exiled.
Iliaș was poisoned in 1562 in Aleppo, Syria. Mihnea died in 1601 either in Tripoli,Libya or C-tinople.
Iliaș was poisoned in 1562 in Aleppo, Syria. Mihnea died in 1601 either in Tripoli,Libya or C-tinople.
Iliaș did not marry (was homosexual & had a Turkish lover).
Mihnea was left by his wife Neaga who went with their children to Peter the Lame (Mihnea's uncle) at Suceava & while his mistress Vișa left to Venice at one of Mihnea's maternal aunts with his son, future Radu Mihnea.
Mihnea was left by his wife Neaga who went with their children to Peter the Lame (Mihnea's uncle) at Suceava & while his mistress Vișa left to Venice at one of Mihnea's maternal aunts with his son, future Radu Mihnea.
* Mihnea's conversion was in 1591 ( Twtr still has no edit function to fix small typos!!! 
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