Iancu also benefited from the influence that his half-sister, Doamna Chiajna (the widow of Wallachian Prince Mircea Ciobanul and mother of Petru cel Tânăr), exercised on Ottoman authorities.
The Prince's reign was marked by excessive and highly inventive taxing, motivated by the increasing debt and his ambition to accumulate a sizable personal fortune on the side.
Iancu was to go down in history as the mind behind the much-hated văcărit tax, whereby every tenth head of cattle was confiscated by the state (vacă is Romanian for "cow").
What added to Iancu's isolation were his privileged contacts with the Holy Roman Empire, presumably entertained in order to offer a safe haven in case of need.
When he received news of the Porte's intent to depose him, Iancu fled the country, carrying an immense fortune that was said to fit in 100 carts (of which 40 would have been filled with currency alone).