Mihail Moxa is one of the important figures of Romanian culture from the 17th century, a scholar whose role in the development of Romanian historical literature is essential. Although his name is not as visible today in school textbooks or public discussions, his contribution to shaping a Romanian chronographic tradition is major. His main work, The Chronicle of Wallachia, represents the first universal history written in the Romanian language, a scholarly endeavor that significantly influenced later generations of historians and writers. Today, his name can be found even in the heart of the Romanian capital, on a street located near Calea Victoriei—an homage to his legacy and to the role he played in Romanian culture.

The origins and intellectual formation of Mihail Moxa

Mihail Moxa—also known as Mihail Moxalie—was born around 1585–1590, during a time when Romanian culture was deeply connected to monastic life and religious institutions. Most likely originating from a family in the region of Oltenia, Moxa embraced monastic life and became a monk at Bistrița Monastery in Vâlcea County, one of the most important cultural centers of that era.

There he received theological, historical and philological training, in an environment where manuscripts circulated intensively and where copying, translating and interpreting sacred texts were highly valued scholarly activities. His extensive knowledge seems to have resulted from deep study and access to rare documents, which allowed him to approach historical themes on a scale uncommon for a Romanian scholar of that time.

The Chronicle of Wallachia – the first universal history in the Romanian language

The work that established Moxa’s reputation is The Chronicle of Wallachia, written at the suggestion of Bishop Teofil of Râmnic, who would later become metropolitan. Unlike other writings of the time, which focused either on local events or exclusively on Christian history, Moxa’s work aimed to offer a broad overview of universal history.

Structured into 99 chapters, the chronicle begins with “The First Beginning of the World,” discussing Creation, biblical patriarchs, and the earliest civilizations. It then presents ancient peoples, the Hebrews, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, and Romans, followed by a synthesis of medieval history, including the Bulgarians, Serbs, and Turks. A significant portion is dedicated to the Byzantine Empire, showing Moxa’s great interest in a civilization that profoundly influenced Romanian culture.

The chronicle ends with the year 1489, tracing major European and Asian events within a Christian understanding of world history. In the final part, Moxa includes valuable information about the Romanian Principalities and the formation of Wallachia and Moldavia. One of the most detailed passages describes the Battle of Rovine between Mircea the Elder and the Ottoman Turks—a text that centuries later inspired Mihai Eminescu in Epistle III.

The sources used by the chronicler and his working method

To compile his chronicle, Mihail Moxa drew upon some of the most important historical works of his era. Among his sources were The Chronicle of Constantine Manasses (12th century), The Short Chronography of Patriarch Nicephorus of Constantinople, The Universal Chronicle of Symeon the Magister and Logothete, as well as The Chronicle of John Zonaras, one of the most influential historical syntheses of the medieval period.

He also used the Chronicle of the Years 1296–1413, attributed to John Chortasmenos, along with the so-called “New Serbian Chronicles.” For Romanian history, he consulted the Putna Chronicle, and he also borrowed several passages directly from the Bible.

These sources demonstrate his extensive access to monastic libraries and rare manuscripts, painting the picture of a highly informed scholar concerned with accuracy and with producing a coherent representation of the past. Moxa does not merely translate or compile—he organizes information, removes redundancies, adapts it to the Romanian language, and develops a clear and accessible narrative.

The later fate of Moxa’s manuscript

The Chronicle was completed in 1620 but remained unknown to the public for more than two centuries. In 1845, the Russian philologist Vasili Grigorovici discovered the manuscript at Bistrița Monastery during his research on Romanian culture. Impressed by its value, he published it in Kazan in 1851.

Later, the manuscript was transferred to Moscow, to the Rumyantsev Museum, where Romanian scholar Grigore Tocilescu copied it in 1877 and sent the copy to Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu. Hasdeu included it in his monumental collection Words of the Ancients, published in 1878, thus granting the chronicle wide visibility in Romanian culture.

Publishing The Chronicle in the 19th century was crucial, as it confirmed the existence of a Romanian chronographic tradition dating back to the 17th century and demonstrated that Romanian historiography has older and deeper roots than previously believed.

Other works and translations by Mihail Moxa

Beyond his main chronicle, Moxa is also known for translating the Govora Law Code into Romanian between 1640–1641. This ecclesiastical and civil legal text appeared in two printings: one for Wallachia and another for Transylvania. His translation helped solidify Romanian as a language used for legal and administrative purposes, making legal norms accessible to clergy and laypeople alike.

Another significant legacy is a 137-page Romanian manuscript attributed to him, originally from Bistrița Monastery and today preserved in the British Museum in London. It contains The Teaching of Saint Basil the Great to Priests, The Interpretation of the Holy Liturgy by Saint Gregory the Theologian, and several other important religious texts—further proof of Moxa’s contribution to theological translation.

Cultural impact and the importance of Mihail Moxa in Romanian history

The significance of Mihail Moxa’s work lies not only in its age, but in the broad historical vision it proposes. In an era when Romanian history was often viewed in isolation, without clear ties to world history, Moxa offered an integrative perspective that placed the Romanian lands within a global historical framework.

He was among the first scholars to understand that the Romanian people needed to relate themselves to the great civilizations of the world, to know their origins, and to build their identity through dialogue and comparison with other cultures. Through his chronicle, Moxa opened a narrative tradition that would be continued by later chroniclers such as Grigore Ureche, Miron Costin, and Radu Popescu.

His writing is also important linguistically: the Romanian language he uses is surprisingly clear and vivid for the early 17th century, contributing to the evolution of the literary language.

Why a street in Bucharest bears the name Mihail Moxa

In central Bucharest, near Calea Victoriei, there is a street named after the chronicler. This choice is far from accidental—it represents recognition of his contribution to national culture.

By naming a street in the heart of the capital after a medieval chronicler, cultural authorities wished to honor his memory and remind passers-by that Romanian identity has deep and solid roots. Mihail Moxa Street is situated in a historically rich area, close to important cultural and administrative institutions, symbolizing the link between the country’s intellectual past and its modern urban landscape.

The legacy of a visionary scholar

Today, Mihail Moxa is regarded as one of the founders of Romanian historiography. Even if his name is not as frequently mentioned as that of other chroniclers, his work remains a cornerstone for understanding the development of written Romanian culture.

The Chronicle of Wallachia is not only a historical document but also a testimony to the cultural evolution of the Romanian language and worldview—a starting point for how Romanians later interpreted world history and their place within it. His translations, preserved manuscripts, and influence on later literature make him a major cultural figure.

Through the street that bears his name in central Bucharest, the city offers him a discreet but enduring gesture of gratitude for centuries of cultural legacy.

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