Irina Ionuț
Irina Ionuț | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 November 1504 |
| Died | 22 August 1546 (aged 41) |
| Occupation | Courier |
| Era | Early Foundation Era |
| Known for | Loyalist communications during the 1521 Ionuț succession crisis |
| Parents |
|
| Family | Ionuț family |
Irina Ionuț (11 November 1504 – 22 August 1546) carried messages for the House of Ionuț between family households and members of the Butchers. She was seventeen when Grozav Ionuț killed her father in 1521. During the resulting 1521 Ionuț succession crisis, Irina travelled between households that Grozav's supporters were watching and returned their answers to her brothers.[1]
Irina usually memorized each message. When wording had to be exact, Elena Ionuț sealed a narrow strip of paper that Irina hid inside the lining of her clothing. Irina repeated the recipient's response on returning and asked Elena to write it into the family record.
Messages during Grozav's takeover
[edit | edit source]Irina was born in Bucharest on 11 November 1504, the youngest child of Dragos Ionuț and Maria Ionuț. Before 1521, she accompanied relatives visiting households connected to Dragos's network. She learned which homes had rear entrances and which market carts travelled regularly between Bucharest and villages to its east.
After Grozav seized the Butchers on 23 November, Mihai Ionuț used Irina to contact relatives without gathering them in one place. She carried the time and location of the 2 December meeting separately to each household. She then took their decisions to Stefan Ionuț, who needed to know which crews would support the family rejection of Grozav.
Irina changed routes when she saw the same person twice and avoided sleeping in the household that had received her most recent message. She sometimes returned after midnight to keep Grozav's men from identifying her destination.
Courier for the restored House
[edit | edit source]Grozav lost control on 18 December 1521. Irina continued carrying messages while Mihai prepared the restoration of the House on 12 April 1522.[2]
After the restoration, Irina travelled to Butchers crews outside Bucharest with decisions that affected protected households. She had no permanent office in the House. Elena prepared the sealed instructions, and Irina returned with the names of the crew members who had accepted them.
When Stefan was killed east of Bucharest on 14 January 1537, Irina carried notice of his death to the households he had protected. She refused to send the news through ordinary traders because she wanted the families to hear the circumstances from someone who knew Stefan.
Illness and death
[edit | edit source]Irina became ill with a fever in August 1546 after returning to Bucharest. She remained at Maria's former household while Elena recorded messages brought to her bedside. Irina died there on 22 August, aged 41.
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "1521 Ionuț succession crisis". 1521 Ionuț succession crisis. Vrienden Universe Wiki.
- ↑ "Restoration". House of Ionuț. Vrienden Universe Wiki.