Stephen the Great or the Saint (he has been canonized in 1992) ruled Moldavia between 1457-1504 and won European renown for his long resistance to the Ottoman Empire. Never before was Moldavia so expanded and so highly respected as it was during Stephen the Great’s rule. A remarkable army commander and politician, he sought to strengthen princely authority, to organize and bring about prosperity for Moldavia and to fight for its independence against foreign invasions.As the legend has it, he ruled for 47 years, led 47 battles, mainly against the Turks; he built, rebuilt or patronized about the same number of fortresses, churches and monasteries, which won him the acclaim of Pope Sixtus IV as the Athlete of Christ. Eventually (in 1503, when he concluded a treaty with sultan Bayezid), he managed to preserve Moldavia’s independence, but only at the cost of an annual tribute to the Turks.
Though it was marked by continual strife, Stephen’s long rule nonetheless brought considerable cultural development, and was a period of great ecclesiastical building and endowment.
Stephen expanded and modernized the capital town of Moldavia, Suceava (set up by Peter the 1st), and turned it into a stronghold with semi-circular towers.
He restored and consolidated the princely courts at Vaslui, Iasi, Piatra Neamt, Hârlau, Cotnari, Bacau, Husi.
By Stephen’s order, the fortress of New Chilia (1479), the main entrance gate of Cetatea Alba - The White Fortress (1479), and a defence moat at the Neamt Fortress (1483) were erected within a short while.
It is due to Stephen the Great* that splendid churches and monasteries richly endowed with villages, vineyards, libraries, and other treasures were raised at Neamt, Bistrita, Botosani, Tazlau, Dobrovat, Borzesti, Râmnicu-Sarat, Vad etc.
When one listens today to the fascinating sacred songs of the world famous Romanian quire Madrigal, he or she should probably relate it to its remote origins placed between 1490-1505, when the vocal singing school at Putna came to a head. Whatever they taught at Putna beside grammar, would be the official music of the Orthodox Church, preeminently vocal and Byzantine.
The year 1504 marks Stephen’s death, but also the accomplishment of the first secular piece of Romanian literature, i.e. "Chronicle Since, By God’s Will, the Country of Moldavia Was Set Up". Written at the princely court in the Slavonic language on the request and under the close surveillance of Stephen the Great, with many fragments dictated by the prince himself, this major work of medieval literature was soon translated into Polish, Russian and German.
