Mehmed invades Moldavia in 1476 with an army of one hundred and fifty thousand, which is joined by ten thousand Wallachians under Laiotă and thirty thousand Tatars under Meñli I Giray.

The Tatars, who call for a Holy War, attack with their cavalry from the north and start to pillage the country.

The Moldavians give chase after them, routing and killing most of them.

Giray writes to Mehmed that he cannot wage more war against Stephen, as he has lost his son and two brothers, and has returned with only one horse.

In July 1476, after killing thirty thousand Ottomans troops, Stephen is defeated at the Battle of Valea Albă.

However, the Ottomans are unsuccessful in their siege of the Suceava citadel and …

…the Neamţ fortress, while …

…Laiotă is forced to retreat back to Wallachia when Vlad and Stefan Báthory, Voivode of Transylvania, gives chase with an army of thirty thousand.

Stephen assembles his army and invades Wallachia from the north, while Vlad and Báthory invade from the west.

Laiotă flees, and in November, Vlad Țepeș is installed on the Wallachian throne.

He receives two hundred loyal knights from Stephen to serve as his loyal bodyguards, but his army remains small.

When Laiotă returns, Vlad Tepes goes to battle and is killed by the Janissaries near Bucharest in December 1476.

Laiotă again occupies the Wallachian throne, which prompts Stephen to make another return to Wallachia and dethrone Laiotă for the fifth and last time, while a Dăneşti, Ţepeluş, is established as ruler of the country.