Dan II was a voivode (prince) who was born at an unknown date and died June 1, 1432; ruled the principality of Wallachia in the 15th century, ruling five times for the principality, he succeeded four times Radu II Chelul who was a rival to him for the throne of Wallachia. During Dan's five periods of ruling the throne of Wallachia, four were within a period of only several years.
Dan II took the throne for the first time in 1420, he then lost it in 1421 but regained it the same year. He was able to regain the throne for himself being an able military commander upon the battlefield. During the time of 1423, Dan II led an army against the invading Ottoman Turks, defeating them in battle. The Ottomans invaded to get Radu II back on the Wallachian throne. In 1425, the Turks were defeated again by Dan II which won an important victory in a battle that was one of the first recorded battles mentioned in Wallachian history of them using mercenaries in their armies. The battle that Dan II faced wwas where a large number of Bulgarian soldiers were deployed on the battlefield. During the spring of 1427, Dan II removed Radu II from the throne for the last time where once more, the Ottomans were defeated in battle, which Dan took the back the fortress at Giurgiu. Dan II most likely killed Radu II either during or after the battle that took place but it is unknown as the latter disappeared without a trace of historical records. On June 3, 1428, Dan II led another army against the Ottomans at Golubac Fortress and ended the war with a treaty that allowed Dan II a semi-peaceful rule until 1432.
In 1432, the country was invaded by more Ottomans where Dan was defeated and died in battle. He was succeeded by Alexandru I Aldea, a son of Mircea cel Batran, where he would eventually resign until his death from illness in 1436, and that is when Vlad II Dracul, father of Vlad Tepes would replace him. Dan II's son, Basarab II would replace Vlad II Dracul's son Mircea II in 1443. His son lacked military ability of his father and lost the throne within a year to Vlad Dracul.
Infante Pedro, Duke of Coimbra, an indefatigable traveler, possibly the most well-traveled prince of his time, and brother of Henry the Navigator, met with Dan II of Wallachia during Pedro's service to Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor.