Matei Basarab și primele contacte diplomatice cu Habsburgii. O contribuție la istoria relațiilor externe ale Țării Românești în secolul al XVII-lea
Matei Basarab and the First Diplomatic Contacts with the Habsburgs. A Contribution to the History of Wallachia`S Foreign Relations in the 17th Century

Summary/Abstract: This study examines an aspect of Wallachia's diplomatic relations in the 17th century, specifically during the reign of Matei Basarab. It focuses on the voivode’s initial diplomatic contacts with the Habsburgs, which occurred between 1635 and 1637. Although Ion Sârbu studied the relations between the Wallachian ruler and the Habsburgs over a century ago, many aspects still remain unclear. Using unpublished documents, I aim to explore the dynamics of diplomatic relations between the Romanian voivode and the court in Vienna. These documents indicate that the ruler of Wallachia initiated the negotiations, seeking to garner support from the House of Austria in the event of conflicts with the Ottomans. The Habsburgs, embroiled in the Thirty Years’ War, hesitated to open a new front in the Balkans, preferring to keep the status quo so they could concentrate on the western part of the continent. Despite all of Matei Basarab’s efforts, the initial contacts with the Habsburgs did not yield the expected outcome for the Wallachian ruler. However, the diplomatic efforts of 1635-1637 offer a clearer understanding of the region’s history and Wallachia’s position within the international context of that period.

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