Alexander I Aldea

Alexander I Aldea (1397–1436) was Prince of Wallachia (1431–1436).

Alexandru I was the brother of Vlad II Dracul, father to Mircea II and Vlad Tepes (inspiration for the novel Dracula). He came to rule Wallachia during an extremely turbulent time, when rule of the country changed hands by violence eighteen times during the 15th century. Alexandru I took the throne by ousting Dan II of Wallachia, father to Basarab II. Dan II was on his 5th rule of Wallachia, having gone back and forth with Radu II several times over the course of seven years during the 1420s. He was strong enough to hold the throne for what was then a considerable time, a stretch of five years. However, in the winter of 1436 he died, most probably from illness as there are no rumors to the contrary. Upon his death, his half brother Vlad Dracul assumed the throne and would hold it off and on until he was killed in 1447.