Ioan Potcoavă

Ioan al IV - lea Potcoava († January 1, 1578 in Poland), Ioan Sarpega, Ivan Pidkowa ( Ukr ) or horseshoe called, was from November to December 1577 prince of Moldavia.

Maternal Potcoava was the half-brother of Ioan Voda cel Viteaz ( Prince John the Brave ) and led the Cossacks of Praguri. Even then, he enjoyed a high reputation for his courage in neighboring states. On the power he passed through the disempowerment of the Moldovan ruler Petru Schiopul ( " the Lame "). Although Potcoava could be based on the local boyars, but the Porte refused to recognize him. As the rulers of Poland and Wallachia were incited by the Turks against Potcoava, they rushed him in December 1577. On January 1, 1578, he was beheaded in Poland.

• Prince ( Moldova )
• Born in the 15th or 16th century
• Died in 1578
• Man