The legend says that Dragoș Vodă, the Voivode of Maramureș, crossed the Carpathian Mountains at the valley of the Siret River to defend the population in the East, which was being raided by the Tartars. An aurochs, a huge bison with sharp horns and a thick, powerful neck, crossed Dragoș' path. Disregarding the ferocity of the aurochs, Dragoș did not back down, but thrust his sharp spear deep into him. The wounded beast ran to a deep river, pursued by Molda, Dragoș' brave dog, who jumped into the river after him, but drowned in the rough water. As a sign of his triumph, Dragoș cut off the aurochs’ head, and named the river and the surrounding country - Moldova, in tribute to his brave dog.
