Seneslau

Seneslau,^[1][2] also Seneslav or Stănislau,^[3] was a Vlach voivode mentioned in the Diploma of the Joannites issued by king Béla IV of Hungary (1235–1270) on 2 July 1247. The diploma granted territories to the Knights Hospitaller in the Banate of Severin and Cumania.^[4] According to the diploma, the king gave the territories east of the Olt River to the knights, with the exception of the territory of voivode Seneslau.^[4]

The name of Seneslav is of Slavic origin. Seneslau held central and southern Muntenia^[1] (i.e., the territories along the rivers Argeş and Dâmboviţa).^[2] The Romanian historian Ioan Aurel Pop suggests that Seneslau was quasi independent of the king of Hungary.^[2] According to the Hungarian historian István Vásáry, his title (voivode) suggests that he had a territorial unit under his jurisdiction.^[4]

The diploma of Béla IV also refers to the kenazates of John, Farcaş and voivode Litovoi.^[4] Although the names of Seneslau and Litovoi are of Slavic origin, they are expressly said to be Vlachs (Olati) in the king's diploma.^[4]

• Foundation of Wallachia
• List of rulers of Wallachia

• Georgescu, Vlad (Author) – Calinescu, Matei (Editor) – Bley-Vroman, Alexandra (Translator): The Romanians – A History; Ohio State University Press, 1991, Columbus; ISBN 0-8142-0511-9
• Pop, Ioan Aurel: Romanians and Romania: A Brief History; Columbia University Press, 1999, New York; ISBN 0-88033-440-1
• Treptow, Kurt W. - Popa, Marcel: Historical Dictionary of Romania (part Historical Chronology); Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1996, Lanham & Folkestone; ISBN 0-8108-3179-1
• Vásáry, István: Cumans and Tatars: Oriental Military in the Pre-Ottoman Balkans, 1185-1365; Cambridge University Press, 2005, Cambridge; ISBN 0-521-83756-1
• Златарски, Васил. История на българската държава през средните векове. Том III. Второ българско царство. България при Асеневци (1187—1280), София 1940
• Коледаров, Петър. Политическа география на средновековната българска държава, Втора част (1186–1396), София 1989