The Story of Lady Ruxandra

Lady Ruxandra, the daughter of Vasile Lupu (1634-1653) the ruler of Moldavia was forced by her father to marry Timus Hmelnitchi, the son of the ruling Cossacks. The Princess came to terms with it, trying to understand that this was the only way that she could save her family from invaders, her gesture becoming practically a tribute. The wedding took place in 1652, and 2 years later Ruxandra became a widow, after her husband was killed in battle. When she was only 23 years old and a mother of two children, she retired on the banks of Nistru River, at Râșnov fortress and she flatly refused any other suitors.

After Vasile Lupu, who had been taken prisoner in Istanbul, managed to escape and return in the country, Ruxandra returned to her estate, in the village of Preutești, 15 km far from Târgu Neamț.

She was abducted by Cossack soldiers and brought to Neamț Fortress. Everything was possible after the betrayal of the boyar Crupenschi, who led a group of Moldavian mercenaries, in the service of Polish and Cossack soldiers. Here, she is held captive and tortured by Cossack soldiers to show them where her father’s fortune was hidden. In the end, the young lady gives in and reveals the place of the treasure. The Cossacks take the 19,000 coins and behead the young lady right in front of the gates of Neamț Fortress.

Ruxandra’s story inspired Mihail Sadoveanu to create the historical novel “Lady Ruxandra’s Wedding”. The novel, being a historical one, tells the story of the defeat of the ruler Vasile Lupu and the tribute that the beautiful young lady has to pay – the marriage with a Cossack barbarian, a cruel and repulsive man, mediocre and eager to become king.

The sad story of Ruxandra also raised the interest of other writers like Niculai Gane and Gavril Luca.