He was the second son of Costea and Margareta Muşata (= "the beautiful" in Old Romanian) the daughter of the first ruler of Moldavia, Bogdan I and the founder Muşatin family.

"[2] The important fortress of Cetatea Albă also came under Moldavian rule during that period.

Like the previous Moldavian rulers, he paid homage to the Polish king Władysław II Jagiełło.

However, in 1393 he supported Fyodor Koriatovych, the prince of Podolia, in the war against Władysław II and Lithuanian grand duke Vytautas.

After their defeat at Braclaw, Roman was forced to give up the throne in favour of his son Stephen I.