Dragoș Vodă

Dragoș, called Vodă or the Founder, is traditionally regarded as the first voivode of Moldavia. Moldavian chronicles relate that he came from Maramureș chasing an aurochs across the Carpathians and dismounted by the Moldova River; this dismounting became the legendary symbol of the principality's foundation. Most chronicles date his arrival to 1359.

He headed a Hungarian border march after Hungary's 1345 victory over the Golden Horde. Early sources credit him with founding Baia and Siret and inviting Saxon settlers, who introduced viticulture. He was succeeded by his son Sas. His grandson Balc was later expelled by Bogdan of Cuhea.