Diicul Buicescul | |
|---|---|
 Buicescul and daughter Ancuța, as ktitors of Clocociov Monastery | |
| Clucer of Wallachia | |
| In office June 30, 1656 – August 18, 1657 | |
| In office December 9, 1658 – June 12, 1659 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | unknown date Buicești, Olt County? |
| Died | ca. July 1659 |
| Spouse(s) | Dumitra of Arcești Bălașa? |
| Relations | Matei Basarab (cousin or uncle; adoptive father) Elena Năsturel (adoptive mother) Staico Bucșanu (son-in-law) Drăghici Cantacuzino (son-in-law) István Szalánczy (in-law) |
| Children | Papa Buicescul Preda Buicescul Păuna Cantacuzino Ancuța Calița Ghinea Marica Bucșanca Ilinca? Toma Buicescul (adopted) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Wallachia |
| Years of service | 1639–1654 |
| Rank | Spatharios |
| Commands | Wallachian military forces |
Diicul or Dicul Buicescul, also known as Diicu Buicescu and Diicu din Epotești[1] (? – ca. July 1659), was a Wallachian statesman, noted as the designated heir of Prince Matei Basarab. A commoner on his father's side, he belonged to the boyardom of Oltenia through his mother's family. His political rise began when Matei, his maternal relative, seized the throne. Diicul alternated civilian offices and command postings in the Wallachian military forces, culminating with his appointment as Spatharios in January 1645. His main military involvement came during the wars opposing Wallachia and the Principality of Transylvania to Vasile Lupu's Moldavia. He saw action during the 1650 invasion of Moldavia, resulting in Gheorghe Ștefan's appointment as the puppet Moldavian Prince. In 1653 Buicescul was soundly defeated by Lupu and his Cossack allies, whose invasion of Wallachia was only overturned by Prince Matei's stand at Finta.
Unpersuaded by claims that Buicescul was arrogant and militarily incompetent, the childless Matei designated Buicescul as his successor. The boyardom rallied around a rival pretender, Constantin Șerban. Sidelined by the Prince and the Spatharios, Șerban orchestrated in 1654 a revolt of the Seimeni mercenaries, which contributed to the weakening of Matei's regime. When the Prince died after illness in early 1655, Șerban managed to outbid Buicescul for the throne, arriving in Târgoviște while his rival was still stranded in Oltenia. A short truce between them was curbed by Buicescul's alleged participation in conspiratorial intrigues; the Spatharios was deposed, then mutilated, to prevent his candidacy for the throne.
In 1655, another Seimeni rebellion drove the Buicesculs into Transylvania. Diicul returned with the Transylvanian troops of George II Rákóczi. Reconciling with Prince Constantin under Rákóczi's tutelage, he served as Wallachia's Clucer, and was reconfirmed as such by Constantin's replacement, Mihnea III. The conflict between Mihnea and his boyars also signaled Diicul's downfall and beheading, which happened in 1659. His son Papa returned to Wallachia and held important office; his grandson Diicul II served as Spatharios under Constantin Brâncoveanu. Diicul's sons-in-law included Drăghici Cantacuzino and Staico Bucșanu, both of whom were important players in late-17th-century Wallachian politics.
- ^ Stoicescu, p. 130