Doamna Chiajna

Doamna Chiajna (1525–1588) was a Princess consort of Wallachia. She was married to Mircea the Shepherd. She was regent in Wallachia from 1559 to 1575.^[2][3]

Doamna Chiajna of Moldavia
Regent of Wallachia
Regency	1559–1564
Voivode	Peter the Younger
Princess Consort of Wallachia (1st reign)
Tenure	1545–1552
Princess Consort of Wallachia (2nd reign)
Tenure	1553–1554
Princess Consort of Wallachia (3rd reign)
Tenure	1558–1559
Born	1525 (1525) Poland
Died	1588(1588-00-00) (aged 62–63)
Spouse	Mircea the Shepherd
Issue	Peter the Younger Radu Mircea Stanca of Wallachia Anca of Wallachia Marina of Wallachia Dobra of Wallachia
House	House of Mușat (by birth) House of Drăculești (by marriage)
Father	Peter IV Rareș of Moldavia
Mother	Doamna Elena Ecaterina Rareș[1]

Life

She was born as in Poland, the daughter of prince Peter IV Rareș and Elena Ecaterina Rareș ( the daughter of Jovan Branković),^[4] and married prince Mircea the Shepherd in 1545.^[5][6] She founded the first school in Romania, at Câmpulung, in 1552.

Mircea was defeated in battle by Radu Ilie at Mănești on November 16, 1552.^[7] Chiajna, Mircea, and their children were forced to flee, seeking succour with family in Giurgiu.^[7] Mircea returned to the throne the next year.

Chiajna and Mircea had seven children, including Peter the Younger.^[8]

After the death of her spouse in 1559, she became regent in Wallachia on behalf of her son, Peter the Younger.^[9] She is described as an energetic, intelligent and gifted politician, who fiercely defended her son's throne.^[10][11][8] Legend holds that in 1575 she was abducted by the Ottomans and deported to Aleppo in Syria.^[12][6]

Last sourced report on 1588 and her resting place whereabouts remained unclear.^{[clarification needed]}