In the medieval history of the Romanian Lands, the names of women who wore armor and led men into battle are rare, but all the more precious. Among these exceptional figures is Alexandrina from Cozia, known in popular tradition as “The Girl from Cozia,” a courageous young woman from the village of Jiblea, in the Olt area. 

The origin of a forgotten heroine

Her story, although less known to the general public, rivals in strength and drama that of Joan of Arc, and her bravery remained imprinted in popular memory as a symbol of sacrifice and patriotism.

Alexandrina was born in an age marked by internal conflicts and external threats. The rivalry between Vlad Țepeș and Basarab Laiotă turned part of Wallachia into a continuous battlefield. In this troubled atmosphere, her childhood and adolescence are abruptly broken by a tragedy that changes her destiny. 

At only 16 years old, she becomes an orphan, and Călimănești, the town near her native village, is burned and devastated by the troops of Laiotă’s supporters, helped by the Ottomans. While many residents are killed or taken prisoner, Alexandrina manages to escape and takes refuge in the Cozia monastery.

The transformation of a victim into a warrior

The refuge at Cozia does not bring her only the peace needed to heal from the shock of loss, but awakens in her an inner strength she did not expect. Instead of remaining protected behind the sacred walls, she decides to take her life into her own hands. 

With an unusual determination for someone her age, she makes a gesture hard to imagine in the 15th century: she cuts her hair, dresses in armor, and pretends to be a man to join the army of Vlad Țepeș.

Her courage does not go unnoticed during the military campaigns. Alexandrina, under the male identity that no one suspected, distinguishes herself through tenacity, skill, and loyalty. The battles fought side by side with her comrades bring her the respect of those around her, and her military abilities gradually transform her into a notable captain, even though no one knew that under the chainmail there was a young woman.

This assumed duplicity, although risky, allows her to enter a world in which women had no chance of asserting themselves. Alexandrina manages not only to integrate into Țepeș’s army but also to become indispensable in battles, showing maturity and strength of character beyond her years.

The heroic moment that changed the fate of a reign

In one of the decisive battles of Vlad Țepeș against his internal and external enemies, the ruler finds himself surrounded by Ottoman soldiers. His life is in danger, and everything seems lost. In that critical moment, Alexandrina intervenes swiftly. With a courage that borders on madness, she enters the heart of the fight and saves the voivode from certain death.

Her action completely changes the course of the battle. She manages to pull Țepeș out of the encirclement, and her presence at the front of the troops raises the morale of the Wallachians, contributing to victory. In the turmoil of that battle, no one yet suspects that the savior of the ruler is a young woman barely beyond childhood.

The revelation of her identity and Vlad Țepeș’s astonishing reaction

At the end of the battle, Vlad Țepeș summons his savior to reward him. The ruler asks him to choose an estate as a reward, a traditional gesture for heroes proven on the battlefield. In that moment, Alexandrina removes her helmet, and her long hair falls on her shoulders. 

The entire court falls silent. A woman? A renowned captain, a respected fighter, revealed to be a young woman who defied all the norms of the time.

Instead of punishing her for daring to wear armor and fight like a man, Vlad Țepeș honors her. Amazed by her courage and loyalty, he officially names her captain of the army, a unique fact in the medieval history of Wallachia. 

Furthermore, he proposes that she marry his son, a gesture with great political and symbolic significance, which would have raised Alexandrina almost to the rank of a member of the ruling family.

The military career of a legendary woman

After the public recognition of her bravery, Alexandrina continues to fight in Vlad Țepeș’s campaigns. She leads troops, takes part in dangerous missions, and becomes a name spoken with fear by the enemies of the Wallachians. Both the Ottomans and the supporters of Basarab Laiotă come to see in her a symbol of defeat, a presence on the battlefield that foretold victory for Țepeș’s forces.

At a time when women were rarely mentioned in chronicles and were most often invisible to history, Alexandrina succeeded in changing the perception of the role of women in society. She was not only a soldier but also a feared leader, a strategist, and an example of equality tacitly recognized by the Wallachian army.

Betrayal, death, and the legend that survived

With the assassination of Vlad Țepeș, her protection disappears. The enemies of the ruler do not delay in taking revenge on the one who had become a symbol of Wallachian resistance. Alexandrina is captured, and her end is one of the most tragic in Romanian medieval legends. 

It is said that she was tied to two donkeys driven in opposite directions, tearing her body apart in unimaginable agony. This brutal execution, passed down mostly orally, remained imprinted in the memory of the people of the Vâlcea and Olt regions.

Although the official history almost completely ignored her, the people kept alive the memory of the girl who fought alongside Vlad Țepeș and who died like a martyr.

Alexandrina and the unsettling resemblance to Joan of Arc

The parallel with Joan of Arc is not just a literary device but reflects real similarities: two courageous young women, both driven by faith, patriotism, and the desire to save their country; both wore armor and led troops; both were betrayed and killed with cruelty, and history rehabilitated them only after death.

Alexandrina represents for Wallachia what Joan of Arc represents for France: the voice of a generation that needed heroes, the symbol of faith and supreme sacrifice.

A heroine who deserves to be rediscovered

Today, Alexandrina’s name does not appear in history textbooks and is only rarely mentioned in public speeches. Yet her story deserves to be brought back to light. She embodies not only feminine courage but also the fight for justice in an age dominated by violence and betrayal.

“The Girl from Cozia” is not just a legend but a model of moral integrity, dedication, and authentic patriotism. When we look at her destiny, we realize that such forgotten figures should be reintroduced into collective memory, perhaps even represented through monuments, films, or pages dedicated in history textbooks.

Alexandrina, the heroine who saved Vlad Țepeș, remains a symbol of pure courage and absolute devotion to her country — a true Joan of Arc of Wallachia.

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