It is one of the old settlements on the Arges River, first documented in the year 1456 under the name “Corbii de Arges.” Later, the commune was known as “Cheiani” and became “Corbeni” in 1864.

The history of the community in Corbeni is linked to both Vlad the Impaler (Vlad Tepes) and Marshal Ion Antonescu during World War II.

One of the villages belonging to the Corbeni commune is Poenari, situated at the intersection of the Arges River and the Limpedea Stream. This village, documented since 1452, is said to house the castle/palace of Vlad the Impaler, with part of it supposedly located beneath the church in Poenari.

Without archaeological excavations, it cannot be said with certainty whether this is true or not, but one thing is certain. The inhabitants of this village were the ones responsible for guarding Vlad the Impaler’s Citadel, located 2 km north along the Arges River. The citadel is sometimes referred to as “Cetatea lui Vlad Tepes,” but over its 700 years of existence, it has retained the name of this small village, Poenari, after its inhabitants who served as its defenders for an extended period.