Banul Mărăcine or Mărăcină (Romanian for "The Ban Bramble"), common rendition of Barbu III Craiovescu, Barbu Mărăcine or Barbu Basarab (Latin: Barbulus Bassaraba, Turkish: Koca Barbul Ban; died August 1?, 1565), was a historical figure in Wallachia, who claimed the title of Prince. He was one of several Craiovești pretenders to the throne, a category which also included his father, . Mărăcine himself entered historical record in 1532, when, as an opponent of Prince Vlad VI, he had his estate confiscated. He returned to favor later that year, with the crowning of Vlad Vintilă de la Slatina. Like Preda before him, Mărăcine served as Ban of Oltenia, becoming the last of his family to hold that title. According to various accounts, he turned against his new lord, from organizing armed resistan