Mircea II of Wallachia

Mircea II (1428–1447) was the Voivode, or prince, of Wallachia in 1442. He was the oldest son of Vlad II Dracul and brother of Vlad Țepeș and Radu cel Frumos (Radu The Handsome). He was the grandson of his namesake Mircea the Elder.

Mircea II played an important role in the military conflicts of his time, particularly in the battles against the Ottoman Empire. He led Wallachian forces in several campaigns and was known for his bravery on the battlefield. However, his reign was very short due to political intrigue and pressure from the Ottomans and Hungary.

He assumed the throne in 1442, while his father was away at the Ottoman court. Mircea was deposed by an invasion led by John Hunyadi, yet he retained a strong army of loyalists. In 1444, he took part in the Battle of Varna and then led the defeated forces of his allies across the Danube. Following another military defeat in 1447, Mircea was captured by members of the Saxon elite of Târgoviște. He was reportedly blinded with a red-hot poker, and then buried alive.