Stephen IV of Moldavia: an unknown page in the history of Polish-Moldavian relations in the 16th

This article focuses on the Polish-Moldavian relations during the reign of Stephen IV of Moldavia as a largely marginalized theme in Polish historiography. The majority of Polish historical studies make brief mentions of Stephen’s reign at best. Stephen’s ascension to the Moldavian throne fell during the Turkish expansion in the Balkans, with Moldavia struggling to retain the remnants of its independence. For Poland, the region played a key role as a buffer against the Tatar threat and a commercial gateway to the Black Sea basin. Thus, King Sigismund I the Old strove to maintain his influence in Moldavia, at the same time preventing it from annexation by Turkey. Sigismund’s overtures, however, faced a number of obstacles, which are recounted in this article.