Mrs. Neaga-“Queen of Buzău”

On these lands had her gardens and orchards Doamna Neaga, daughter of Vlaicu Tatrul, Clucerul of Cislău, and wife of Mihnea Turcitul, ruler of the Romanian Country between 1577-1583, 1585-1591.
Mrs. Neaga was mistress of the communes of Rușovăț, Cislău, Lapoș, Tisău, Grăjdana, Sărate, Valea Scheilor. The fact that the people of Lapoș gave her name to many places (Doamna Neaga’s Church, Doamna Neaga’s well, Doamna Neaga’s glade, Doamna Neaga’s wall) shows that they respected her and wanted to keep her memory and legend alive. In 1591, her husband, Mihnea, went over to the Turks (“se turcește”). Mrs. Neaga did not want to follow him on this path, knowing how to value her possibilities and her position, dedicating herself to “doing good” (having a character totally opposed to her husband), she retired to the parts of Lapoș (N.R.: Bradu-Cheia-Buda), here feeling safe.
Local legends also claim that Mrs. Neaga built a fortress here where she retreated in case of danger (N.R.: three fortresses; Bradu – in the locality of Haleș, Cheia – on the valley of the Tisău stream and Buda – near Lapoș). When the threat arose in these places too, it is said that she would have shod a horse by placing its horseshoes upside down to confuse the pursuers, and thus she would have lost the trail, having had time to find help. Mrs. Neaga’s two daughters, Ileana and Cristina, in order to save their honour and purity, in moments of desperation, after having fled together with Mrs. Neaga from Bucharest because of the Turks, on their way to the Buda monastery (their family foundation) took refuge at their manor house in Lapoș, and here, having been chased by the pursuers, they threw themselves into a well, under their mother’s eyes. This well is located near some ruins that bear the name of “Mrs Neaga’s Wall”.
A representative figure for the history of Romania, a legendary personality for the people of Lapos (N.R. the entire Tisău-Lapoș area), Doamna Neaga died in 1623, full of grief and loneliness, after suffering the great loss of her two daughters (Wikipedia Lapoș commune page). With the passing of the years, in the 19th century, with the advent of industry in Romania, Strezeni remained a secluded place, far from civilisation. An important commercial road used to pass through here, linking Brasov to Buzău and further to Galati. Thieves began to settle here, in the surrounding forests, organizing themselves in groups, which had their meeting place at the “Thieves’ Fountain”, north of Strezeni village. The inhabitants of Strezeni village refer to them in their stories as “haiduci”.

Source: wikipedia

Mrs. Neaga was the mistress of Rusovat, Cislau, Lapos, Tisau, Grajdana, Sarate, Valea Scheilor.
The fact that the people of Lapos gave her name to many places (Doamna Neaga’s Church, Doamna Neaga’s well, Doamna Neaga’s glade, Doamna Neaga’s wall) shows that they respected her and wanted to keep her memory and legend alive.
In 1591, her husband, Mihnea, joined the Turks (“se turceste”). Mrs. Neaga, not wanting to follow him on this path, knowing how to value her possibilities and her position, dedicating herself to doing good (having a character totally opposed to her husband), she retires to the Lapos region, feeling safe here.
And local legends say that Mrs. Neaga would have built a fortress here where she would retreat in case of danger. When the threat arose in these parts, she is said to have shod a horse by placing its shoes backwards to confuse the pursuers, and thus lost her trail, having time to find help.
Mrs. Neaga’s two daughters, Ileana and Cristina, in order to save their honour and purity, in moments of desperation, after having fled with Mrs. Neaga from Bucharest because of the Turks, on their way to the Buda monastery (their family foundation) they took shelter at their mansion in Lapos, and here, having been caught by the pursuers, they threw themselves into a fountain, under their mother’s eyes. This well is located near some ruins that bear the name of “Mrs. Neaga’s Wall”.
A representative figure for the history of Romania, a legendary personality for the people of Lapos, Doamna Neaga died in 1623 in great pain and loneliness, after suffering the great loss of her two daughters.
As the years passed, in the 19th century, with the advent of industry in Romania, Lapos remained a secluded, wild place, far from civilization.

Source: www.obiective-turistice.romania-tourist.info

The fortress on Cucuiata hill from Grajdana-Tisau, Buzau county is the foundation of Mrs. Neaga, wife of Mihnea Turcitul, being nicknamed “Queen of Buzaului”. The fortress was used as an observation tower, from which you could see a large part of the Niscov Valley to the Buzau River. It is placed in a difficult accessible place, hence the expression “as if you were at Cucuiata”. From here, in case of danger, the relay went on hidden paths to the Izvoranu Hermitage-Ciolanu Monastery-Cetatuia doamna Neaga’s statue on the Cetatuia peak, located above Magura in a place from where you could watch the whole Buzaului Valley, represented today by the Cetatuia-Viperesti-Cislau-Buda Craciunesti Hermitage, Mrs. Neaga’s residence.
The news could also circulate on another route Cetatuia de la Cucuiata-Manastirea Bradu-Lapos-Buda Craciunesti, so the famous lady was aware of all the movements of the enemy troops. The Izvoranu Monastery is older than the one built by Luca of Cyprus, the first constructions in this area are also made by Mrs. Neaga. Mrs. Neaga’s monasteries are also at Ciolanu Monastery, St. George’s Church and Ciolanu Citadel.
Mrs. Neaga made donations to the monastery of Alunis, as well as for the construction of the Church of Saintii Ingeri in Buzau. That’s why her name was given by the locals to the street near the church, even if it was changed with the name of Ostrovului, all Buzoians still call her Doamna Neaga.
People say that Mrs. Neaga being retired in Cetatuie happened that one of her children died and having nowhere to bury him, she buried him in the valley at the hermit parents who were at that time. In memory of the child he built the hermit parents a church with a very solid wall, surrounded by another wall like a fortress, the ruins of which were found until the 18th century.

Source: www.dinbuzau.ro