- Romanian:
- Moldova
- Turkish:
- Bogdan
Moldavia
-
What is Moldavia?
Moldavia, a principality along the lower Danube River, united with Walachia in 1859 to establish Romania. It was founded in the 14th century by Vlachs led by Dragoș, gaining independence around 1349 under Prince Bogdan.
At its peak, Moldavia included Bessarabia, bordered by the Dniester River to the north and east, the Black Sea, Dobruja, and Walachia to the south, and Transylvania to the west.
Resisting pressures from Hungary and Poland, Prince Stephen IV the Great (1457–1504) defended against Turkish encroachments. By the mid-16th century, however, Moldavia became an autonomous vassal-state of the Ottoman Empire. The culture of Moldavia, located in eastern Romania, reflects its proximity to Ukraine and Russia.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Where is Moldavia located in Europe?
Moldavia is a historical principality situated on the lower Danube River. It joined with Walachia in 1859 to establish the nation of Romania. The region of Moldavia is in eastern Romania, near Ukraine and Russia. At its greatest extent, Moldavia included Bessarabia and was bounded to the north and northeast by the Dniester River, to the south by the Black Sea and Dobruja and Walachia, and to the west by Transylvania.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
When did Moldavia first become a recognized region?
Moldavia was founded in the first half of the 14th century by Vlachs, led by Dragoș, who migrated eastward from Maramureș controlled by Hungary. By 1349, Moldavia gained independence under Prince Bogdan. The principality successfully resisted pressures from Hungary and Poland. Under Stephen IV the Great, Moldavia defended itself against Turkish encroachments. However, after Stephen’s death, Bogdan III the One-Eyed paid tribute to the sultan, and by the mid-16th century, Moldavia became an autonomous vassal-state of the Ottoman Empire.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What countries does Moldavia cover or border today?
The historical region of Moldavia is now split between multiple countries. The modern-day country of Moldova is bordered by Ukraine to the north, east, and south, and by Romania to the west. The region was formed in the 14th century and at its greatest extent included Bessarabia, bounded by the Dniester River, the Black Sea, and Transylvania. In 1859, Moldavia united with Walachia to form Romania.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Why was Moldavia important in European history?
Moldavia's importance in European history stems from its strategic location and its role as a buffer between major powers. Founded in the 14th century, the principality successfully resisted pressures from Hungary and Poland. Under Stephen IV the Great, Moldavia defended its independence against Turkish encroachments.
For 300 years, Moldavia was subject to the Ottoman Empire, but it experienced brief periods of rebellion and autonomy. Throughout the 18th century, Russian influence grew, leading to contention between the Turks and Russians. In 1859, Moldavia united with Walachia to form Romania, marking a key moment in the formation of the modern Romanian state.
4 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How has Moldavia influenced the culture of the surrounding areas?
Moldavia's culture, located in eastern Romania, has influenced the surrounding areas through its history and geography. Its culture reflects its proximity to Ukraine and Russia, with Tatar and Central Asian influences evident in its folk art.
The historical ties between Bessarabia and Romania and the ethnic kinship of Moldovans and Romanians are still reflected in the culture of Moldova. After World War II, the development of Moldovan culture followed the pattern of the Soviet Union, where the state controlled cultural and intellectual life.
The Moldovan language, also called Romanian, is the country's official language. The Moldovan state acknowledges the right to preserve and develop Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian, and other languages spoken within its borders.
4 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Moldavia, principality on the lower Danube River that joined Walachia to form the nation of Romania in 1859. Its name was taken from the Moldova River (now in Romania).
It was founded in the first half of the 14th century by a group of Vlachs, led by Dragoș, who emigrated eastward from Maramureș in the Hungarian-controlled Carpathian Mountains. About 1349 Moldavia achieved its independence under its prince, Bogdan. At its greatest extent, Moldavia included Bessarabia and was bounded on the north and northeast by the Dniester River, on the south by the Black Sea and Dobruja and Walachia, and on the west by Transylvania.
The new principality successfully resisted pressures from Hungary and Poland, and, under Prince Stephen IV the Great (reigned 1457–1504), it also tried to defend its independence against Turkish encroachments. After Stephen’s death, however, his son and successor, Bogdan III the One-Eyed (reigned 1504–17), was compelled to pay tribute to the sultan. By the middle of the 16th century Moldavia had become an autonomous, tribute-paying vassal-state of the Ottoman Empire.
For the next 300 years the principality remained subject to the Turks, except for a few brief periods when Moldavia rejected Turkish domination—e.g., when John the Terrible (reigned 1572–74) rebelled against a demand for higher tribute payments; when Michael the Brave, prince of Walachia, united his principality with Moldavia and Transylvania in 1600; and when Moldavia recognized Polish suzerainty (1601–18). The Turks dominated Moldavia’s markets and often had a decisive voice in selecting its princes; initially the princes came from among the native dynasty but after 1711 from the Phanariotes—i.e., Greeks who had acquired great economic and political power in the Ottoman Empire.
During the 18th century, although Moldavia remained nominally subject to the Ottoman Empire, Russian influence in the principality increased, and the region became a source of contention between the Turks and the Russians, then embroiled in the Russo-Turkish wars. In 1774 Moldavia lost its northwestern territory of Bukovina to Austria; in 1812 it gave up its eastern portion, Bessarabia, to Russia in the Treaty of Bucharest.
Moldavia was relieved of the unpopular Phanariote regime after a revolt in 1821. Under Russia’s guidance, a series of political and economic reforms was initiated, and a constitution, the Règlement Organique, was adopted (1832). Following Russian defeat in the Crimean War (1853–56), Moldavia was reorganized as an autonomous state under Ottoman suzerainty. In 1859, influenced by Romanian nationalism, the ruling assembly of Moldavia voted to unite with Walachia under Prince Alexandru Ion Cuza to form the single state of Romania (formal unity was delayed until 1861).
In 1918 those portions of historic Moldavia east of the Prut River threw off Russian rule and joined Romania. In 1924 the Soviet Union created a Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic on territory east of the Dniester River, within the Ukrainian S.S.R. In 1940 Romania was compelled to cede its territories between the Prut and Dniester rivers back to the Soviet Union, and the former Romanian and Ukrainian regions together became the Moldavian S.S.R. This Soviet republic became the independent nation of Moldova in 1991.
The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.
SUBSCRIBE
