Udrea Băleanu

Udrea Băleanu, also known as Băleanul, Banul Udrea, or Udrea of Băleni (? – ca. May 1601), was a Wallachian and Moldavian statesman and military commander. He was especially noted as a key supporter, and alleged uncle, of the unifying Prince Michael the Brave, serving under his command in the Long Turkish War. In the early stages of Michael's revolt against the Ottoman Empire, Băleanu drove the Wallachian military forces into Rumelia, relieving Nikopol. He served as Ban of Oltenia, then commanded supporting contingents in the 1599 campaign to annex Transylvania. The following year, Michael employed him as one of his four regents in Moldavia, and also made him commander of the Moldavian army, with the title of Hetman. This assignment made Băleanu a direct enemy of the Movilă dynasty, which claimed the Moldavian throne, and of the Movilăs' backers in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Returning to Transylvania in order to help Michael restore his regime in that country, Băleanu was called back to Wallachia, which had been invaded by the Poles. His forces held Curtea de Argeș and absorbed the Polish attack, allowing Michael to escape from the field. Băleanu was taken prisoner and handed over to the Polish-backed Prince, Simion Movilă. Various accounts suggest that he abjured Michael during his captivity, though this remains disputed. He was then beheaded without trial, causing tensions between Movilă and the Poles, who had vouched for the Ban's safety.

Băleanu was buried in Gorgota, at Panaghia Monastery, which he had built himself. He had no direct heirs, but was survived by brother-in-law Leca of Cătun and nephew Ivașco I Băleanu. Through the latter's descendants, the Băleanus remained important actors in the political intrigues of the 17th century. The Ban himself endured as a topic of historiographic controversy in the 19th century, as well as a literary hero—in works by Dimitrie Bolintineanu, Octav Dessila, and Mihnea Gheorghiu.