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'''Petru Cercel''' (''Peter Earring'' or ''Earring Peter''; d. [[1590]]), was a [[Voivode]] ([[List of Wallachian rulers|Prince]]) of [[Wallachia]] from [[1583]] to [[1585]], [[Illegitimacy|bastard]] son to [[Patrascu cel Bun|Pătraşcu cel Bun]] and alleged [[half-brother]] of [[Michael the Brave|Mihai Viteazul]]. A [[Multilingual|polyglot]] and a minor figure as a [[poet]], Petru is noted for having written his [[verses]] in [[Tuscan dialect|Tuscan]].

{{Infobox royalty

[[fr:| name = Petru II Cercel]]

| title = [[List of rulers of Wallachia|Voivode of Wallachia]]

| image = 069 - Petru Cercel.jpg

| caption = Petru Cercel at the Căluiu Monastery

| reign = 29 August 1583 – 16 April 1585

| predecessor = [[Mihnea Turcitul]]

| successor = [[Mihnea Turcitul]]

| house = [[House of Drăculești|Drăculești]]

| father = [[Pătrașcu cel Bun]]

| death_date = March 1590

|succession = [[Voivode of Wallachia]]

|}}

'''Petru II Cercel''' (''Peter Earring'' or ''Earring Peter''; dc. [[1545 – March 1590]]), was a [[Voivode]] ([[List of Wallachian rulers|Prince]]) of [[Wallachia]] from [[1583]] to [[1585]], [[Illegitimacy|bastard]]legitimate son to [[Patrascu cel Bun|PătraşcuPătrașcu cel Bun]] and alleged [[half-brother]] of [[Michael the Brave|Mihai Viteazul]]. A [[Multilingual|polyglot]] and a minor figure as a [[poet]], Petru is noted for having written his [[Poetry|verses]] in [[Tuscan dialect|Tuscan]].

== In Europe ==

Petru spent his early years constantly traveling, trying to win support in his bid for the Wallachian throne. The fact that, as of [[1579]], he received unconditional support in [[Valois Dynasty|France]], coupled with the [[jewellery]]-wearing that attracted his [[moniker]] have led to speculations that Cercel belonged to the group of [[Les Mignons|mignons]] of [[Henry III of France|Henry III]]. It is even stated that Henry's affectioninterceded is what would've determined him to pressurewith the [[Ottoman Empire|Porte]] in order to award Petru the crown because of his affection for him.

Petru traveled to [[Istanbul]] in 1581, as constant backing by the French [[ambassador]] had influenced the Porte to look into matters; he arrived there in May, after being welcomed and spending time in [[Republic of Venice|Venice]] and [[Republic of Ragusa|Ragusa]]. His stay in the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] capital was marked by a competition in [[bribery|bribing]] and intrigue, carried out against [[Ecaterina Salvaresso]], mother to the child-voivode Mihnea (who was to be known as [[Mihnea Turcitul]]). Petru was to emerge the winner, with Mihnea and Ecaterina heading for a brief [[exile]] in [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]].

Petru spent his early years constantly traveling, trying to win support in his bid for the Wallachian throne. The fact that, as of [[1579]], he received unconditional support in [[Valois Dynasty|France]], coupled with the [[jewellery]]-wearing that attracted his [[moniker]] have led to speculations that Cercel belonged to the group of [[Les Mignons|mignons]] of [[Henry III of France|Henry III]]. It is even stated that Henry's affection is what would've determined him to pressure the [[Porte]] in order to award Petru the crown.

Petru traveled to [[Istanbul]] in 1581, as constant backing by the French [[ambassador]] had influenced the Porte to look into matters; he arrived there in May, after being welcomed and spending time in [[Republic of Venice|Venice]] and [[Republic of Ragusa|Ragusa]]. His stay in the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] capital was marked by a competition in [[bribery|bribing]] and intrigue, carried out against [[Ecaterina Salvaresso]], mother to the child-voivode Mihnea (who was to be known as [[Mihnea Turcitul]]). Petru was to emerge the winner, with Mihnea and Ecaterina heading for a brief [[exile]] in [[Tripoli]].

== Reign ==

[[File:PetruCercelCoA15831585.png|thumb|left|200px|Coat of arms of Petru Cercel]]

After a short stay in [[Adrianopole]], the new Prince entered [[Bucharest]] on [[19 August 19]] 1583, accompanied by a [[retinue]] of foreigners. Apparently, he aimed to replace some of the [[boyars]] with his own protegees: he ordered the killings of several [[Sfatul boieresc|Sfat]] members. At the same time, Petru increased taxes -– this was motivated not only by his own large debt, but also by the fact that the throne was awarded to him on the condition thatnot he does notto cease payments owed by Mihnea (as Petru had waited to be awarded the throne, all debts had accumulated interest); on the side, the Prince also amassed a large personal fortune -– more than half a million [[scudi]] by 1583.

He expanded and improved the Court in [[TârgovişteTârgoviște]] (largely ruined today), notably by adding ([[1584]]) the '''Casa Domnească''' (''Princely House''), a [[Renaissance]]-inspired small [[palace]], by building a new wall and Princely church, and by introducing plumbing. Petru Cercel established a [[Târgoviște Army Arsenal#Petru Cercel's cannon foundry|bronze]] [[cannon]] [[foundry]] in the city.

After a short stay in [[Adrianopole]], the new Prince entered [[Bucharest]] on [[August 19]] 1583, accompanied by a [[retinue]] of foreigners. Apparently, he aimed to replace some of the [[boyars]] with his own protegees: he ordered the killings of several [[Sfatul boieresc|Sfat]] members. At the same time, Petru increased taxes - this was motivated not only by his own large debt, but also by the fact that the throne was awarded to him on the condition that he does not cease payments owed by Mihnea (as Petru had waited to be awarded the throne, all debts had accumulated interest); on the side, the Prince also amassed a large personal fortune - more than half a million [[scudi]] by 1583.

He expanded and improved the Court in [[Târgovişte]] (largely ruined today), notably by adding ([[1584]]) the '''Casa Domnească''' (''Princely House''), a [[Renaissance]]-inspired small [[palace]], by building a new wall and Princely church, and by introducing plumbing. Petru Cercel established a [[bronze]] [[cannon]] [[foundry]] in the city.

== Downfall ==

The maneuvers of Mihnea and the hostility of certain Turkish [[bey]]s attracted Petru Cercel's fall from grace. He managed to gather his fortune and flee the country on [[6 April 6]] 1585, avoiding being taken into custody by the Ottoman [[kapucu]],. arrivingHe arrived in [[Transylvania]], only to be arrested in [[MediaşMediaș]] on [[Sigismund Báthory]]'s orders after being deserted by his men. His belongings were confiscated and he was sent to prison in [[MaramureşMaramureș region|MaramureşMaramureș]].

In [[1587]], Petru managed to escape by sliding down a rope out the open window. He traveled to [[Warsaw]] and then to [[Vienna]], reaching [[Rome]] (where he enlisted [[Pope Gregory XIV]]'s support for his cause); Henry III reassured him of his protection, and Petru headed for Istanbul -– arriving in the city in July [[1589]]. He tried to profit from Mihnea's second fall from grace (and exile), but he proved to be a feeble opponent: as the PrinceMihnea regained the throne, Petru was imprisoned at [[Yedikule]]. Mihnea advanced large sums to have him killed by the Ottomans, in order to eliminate the threat. The Ottoman authorities began to approve of these gestures, and, inIn March 1590, Petru Cercel was embarked on a ship, under the pretext of sailing to exile in [[Rhodes]], and was decapitated on the spot.

The maneuvers of Mihnea and the hostility of certain [[bey]]s attracted Petru Cercel's fall from grace. He managed to gather his fortune and flee the country on [[April 6]] 1585, avoiding being taken into custody by the [[kapucu]], arriving in [[Transylvania]], only to be arrested in [[Mediaş]] on [[Sigismund Báthory]]'s orders after being deserted by his men. His belongings were confiscated and he was sent to prison in [[Maramureş region|Maramureş]].

In [[1587]], Petru managed to escape by sliding down a rope out the open window. He traveled to [[Warsaw]] and then to [[Vienna]], reaching [[Rome]] (where he enlisted [[Pope Gregory XIV]]'s support for his cause); Henry III reassured him of his protection, and Petru headed for Istanbul - arriving in the city in July [[1589]]. He tried to profit from Mihnea's second fall from grace (and exile), but he proved to be a feeble opponent: as the Prince regained the throne, Petru was imprisoned at [[Yedikule]]. Mihnea advanced large sums to have him killed, in order to eliminate the threat. The Ottoman authorities began to approve of these gestures, and, in March 1590, Petru Cercel was embarked on a ship, under the pretext of sailing to exile in [[Rhodes]], and was decapitated on the spot.

== Note ==

All dates are given in New Style format (see [[OldAdoption Styleof andthe NewGregorian Stylecalendar#Adoption datesin Eastern Europe]]).

All dates are given in New Style format (see [[Old Style and New Style dates]]).

==External links==

*{{itin iconlang|it}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20090829102110/http://www.geocities.com/serban_marin/luca2.html Cristian Luca, ''Influssi occidentali sull’atteggiamento politico di alcuni principi dei Paesi Romeni nei secoli XVI e XVII'']

*{{frin iconlang|fr}} [[Nicolae Iorga]], [http://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/El%C3%A9ments_de_la_civilisation_roumaine_%C3%A0_l%27%C3%A9poque_moderne ''Histoire des Roumains et de leur civilisation. Éléments de la civilisation roumaine à l'époque moderne'']

*{{roin iconlang|ro}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20051001121422/http://www.patzinakia.ro/wallachiamediaevalis/targoviste-index.htm A presentation of the Medieval Princely Court of TârgovişteTârgoviște]

{{S-start box}}

{{s-hou|[[House of Drăculești]]||||1590||}}

{{succession box|

{{s-reg}}

|-

{{successionSuccession box|

before=[[Mihnea Turcitul]]|

| title = [[List of Wallachian rulers|PrinceVoivode of Wallachia]]|

| years =1583-1585| 1583–1585

| after = [[Mihnea Turcitul]]

}}

{{S-end box}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2010}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cercel, Petru}}

[[Category:Executed royalty|Petru Cercel]]

[[Category:Medieval1540s and Early Modern Romanian authors|Petru Cercelbirths]]

[[Category:People1590 executed by decapitationdeaths]]

[[Category:Polyglots|Petru16th-century Cercelexecutions by the Ottoman Empire]]

[[Category:Rulers16th-century princes of Wallachia|Petru Cercel]]

[[Category:159016th-century deaths|Petru Cercelpoets]]

[[Category:Early modern Romanian writers]]

[[fr:Petru II Cercel]]

[[Category:Executed royalty|PetruRomanian Cercelpeople]]

[[Category:Executed monarchs]]

[[Category:House of Drăculești]]

[[Category:People executed by the Ottoman Empire by decapitation]]

[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]