Principality of Moldavia: Difference between revisions

and the article be renamed to Moldavia.

For other uses see Moldova (disambiguation).

Principality of Moldova, 1793-1812, highlighted in orange

Principality of Moldova, before the union with Wallachia, highlighted in orange

The Principality of Moldova was a medieval Romanian state which existed between 1350 and 1859.

The tradition says that the state was originally founded by Romanian princes of Maramureş in mid-14th century as a defence line for Hungary against the Tatars. However, the first prince of the independent principality of Moldova was Bogdan I.

The principality traditionally streched from the Carpathians in the west to the Nistru River in the east, but had its nucleus in the norhwestern part, the "Ţara de Sus" (Upper Land), which later became known as Bukovina. In this area was located Suceava, which was the capital of the principality between 1359 and 1565.

The greatest Moldavian prince was Ştefan cel Mare, or Ştefan the Great (ruled 1457-1504). With his army of boyars and retainers, Stefan fought off invasions from the Ottoman Empire, the Kingdom of Poland, and the Crimean Tatars. Ştefan fought 36 major battles, but suffered only two defeats. By the end of his reign, Moldavia had kept its independence, although an annual tribute was made to the Ottomans.

After him, weak princes let incompetent boyars rule the state; because the boyars did not pay taxes, the state became bankrupt. Moldavia succumbed to Ottoman power, in 1512 becoming a vassal of the empire for the next 300 years. In addition to paying tribute to the Ottoman Empire and later acceding to the selection of local rulers by Ottoman authorities, Moldavia suffered repeated invasions by Ottomans, Crimean Tatars, and Russians.

In the beginning of the 17th century, magnates of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth intervened in the affairs of Moldavia, clashing with the Ottomans for dominance over the territory, fights which were called Magnate wars in Moldavia. Eventually, Poland renouced any claims to Moldavia in the 1610s.

Bessarabia, the southeastern part of Moldova was annexed by, and incorporated into, the Russian Empire following the Russo-Turkish War, 1806-1812 according to the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest of 1812. After Russia's defeat in the Crimean War (1853-1856), the Treaty of Paris stipulated that Moldavia and Wallachia were to be placed under the collective guarantee of the seven powers that signed the treaty, as well as the retrocession to Moldova of Southern Bessarabia (Ismail, Bolgrad, Kahul counties).

In 1859 the Principality of Moldavia united with the Wallachian Principality by the election of Alexander John Cuza as prince of both Wallachia and Moldavia, laying the foundations for modern Romania.