In 1475 when Stephen the Great, ruler of Moldavia is facing an invading Ottoman army of 120 000 men, the fate of Christian Europe largely depends on the battle's outcome.
Production
40,000 extras and actual cavalry charges—no CGI, just sheer chaos.
Acting
Cozorici's Stephen moves like he's carrying centuries of national trauma.
Director
Mircea Drăgan
Gheorghe Cozorici
Stephen the Great
Gheorghe Dinică
Sultan Mahomed II
Violeta Andrei
Maria of Mangop, Stephen's wife
Toma Dimitriu
Stanciu, Stephen's advisor
Sandina Stan
Lady Ilisafta
Geo Barton
Nobleman Manole Jder
Anna Széles
Marusca, Daughter of Iatco Hudici
Iurie Darie
Nobleman Simion Jder
Sebastian Papaiani
Nobleman Ionut Jder
Emanoil Petruţ
Orthodox Patriarch Nicodim
Ioana Drăgan
Candachia
Florin Piersic
Nobleman Cristea Jder
Draga Olteanu Matei
Midwife Irina
Dina Cocea
Sultana Mara
Colea Răutu
Pasha Soliman
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Made during Ceaușescu's nationalist turn, the film was explicitly designed to boost Romanian pride and position Stephen as Europe's savior against Ottoman expansion.
The Battle of Vaslui remains one of medieval Europe's most lopsided victories—40,000 Moldavians defeated 120,000 Ottomans, yet almost no Western textbooks mention it.
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