The
Battle of Rovine took place on 17 May 1395. The
Wallachian army led by
Voivod Mircea cel Batrân (Mircea
the Elder) opposed the
Ottoman invasion personally led by Sultan
Bayezid I the Lightning. The Turkish force heavily outnumbered the Wallachian troops. The legend says that on the eve of the battle, dressed as a peace emissary, Mircea cel Batrân talked to Bayezid asking him to leave Wallachia and promising him safe passage back. The
Sultan proudly insisted on fighting.