He was mentioned by Rashid al-Din Hamadani in Jami' al-tawarikh (1241), described as the ruler of Ilaut (Oltenia) and defeated by the Mongols alongside Mișelav.

It granted territories to the Knights Hospitaller in Severin and Cumania, “with the exception of the land of the kenazate of Voivode Litovoi,” which the king left to the Vlachs “as they had held it”.

[7] The same letter of grant mentions that Litovoi's brother and successor, Bărbat was taken prisoner and sent to the royal court where he was forced not only to pay ransom but also to recognise Hungarian rule.

[6][11] In 1330, Michael Shishman of Bulgaria attacked Serbia, being accompanied by Vlachs, who, according to a letter written by Stefan Dušan in 1331, were led by Basarab.

[6][12] The war was lost by the Bulgarians at the Battle of Velbazhd[13], and Charles I, taking advantage of Basarab's weakened allies, decided to restore his suzerainty over Wallachia.

According to the Illuminated Chronicle, Basarab offered 7.000 marks of silver as compensation, along with a yearly tribute to the king, and sending one his sons to the royal court in Visegrád.

Charles I refused, and continued his campaign, with him and his soldiers facing hunger, as they were travelling through a sparsely populated region towards Curtea de Argeș.