Both his brothers Mircea II and Vlad III were able military commanders in the field, and both saw success in battle against the Ottomans.

His brother Radu gained the throne because he was the second in the line of succession, losing it several times to Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân.

Radu died in January 1475, as the result of a long bout with syphilis,[2] at which time Basarab naturally took the throne yet again, only to be forced off shortly thereafter in 1476 by Vlad III.

Vlad was now placed on the throne[4] by Ștefan III of Moldavia,[5][6][7] who had invaded Wallachia that June[8] and routed Basarab IV at Râmnicu Vâlcea.

Ștefan made a last attempt to secure his influence in Wallachia,[6] and within the year Basarab lost the throne again, after which he would reign until 1495.