- Also spelled:
- Wallachia
- Romanian:
- Țara Românească
- Turkish:
- Eflak
- Date:
- 1290 - 1859
- Related Topics:
- Phanariote
- Related Places:
- Romania
Walachia
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What is Walachia?
Walachia is a principality on the lower Danube River that joined Moldavia in 1859 to form Romania. The name Walachia comes from the Vlachs, who made up most of its population. It was founded in 1290 by Radu Negru, who was a military governor in southern Transylvania. Walachia prospered due to its rich agriculture and trade between northern Europe and the Black Sea, but faced threats from Hungary and the Ottoman Turks.
Walachia was compelled to pay tribute and grant trade concessions to the Ottoman Empire, becoming a major supplier of agricultural goods to the Turks. Each region in Romania has its own culture that reflects its regional history. Walachia traditionally absorbed influences from the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Middle East.
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Where is Walachia located?
Walachia is a historical principality situated on the lower Danube River. In 1859, it united with Moldavia to establish the state of Romania.
Walachia's borders were defined by the Transylvanian Alps to the north and northeast, the Danube River to the west, south, and east, and the Seret River to the northeast. The name "Walachia" comes from the Vlachs, who formed the majority of its population. Each region in Romania has its own distinct culture that reflects its regional history. Walachia traditionally absorbed influences from the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Middle East.
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When was Walachia an important region in history?
Walachia's importance in history stems from its founding in 1290 by Radu Negru, its subsequent prosperity through agriculture and trade, and its resistance against Hungarian and Ottoman domination. Prince Mircea the Old was obliged to pay tribute to the Turks in 1391, and in 1417, he acknowledged Turkish suzerainty.
Figures like Vlad III and Michael the Brave resisted Turkish rule, with Michael briefly uniting Walachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania. After 1716, Turkish appointed Greek administrators known as Phanariotes to rule Walachia.
In 1859, Walachia united with Moldavia to form Romania, which gained independence from the Turks in 1878.
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Who were some famous rulers of Walachia?
Several princes played important roles in the history of Walachia. Radu Negru, also known as "Radu the Black," traditionally founded Walachia in 1290. Basarab I secured Walachian independence around 1330–52. Prince Mircea the Old, who reigned from 1386 to 1418, faced increasing pressure from the Ottoman Turks and was compelled to pay tribute to them from 1391 and acknowledge Turkish suzerainty in 1417.
Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler, was a voivode of Walachia noted for his cruel methods. He reigned in 1448, 1456–1462, and 1476–1477 and resisted the Turks. Michael the Brave reigned from 1593–1601 and briefly united Walachia with Moldavia and Transylvania.
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How did Walachia interact with neighboring countries?
Walachia, located on the lower Danube River, was founded in 1290 and prospered due to agriculture and trade between northern Europe and the Black Sea. However, it faced threats from Hungary and the Ottoman Turks, who steadily gained control over the Balkan Peninsula during the 14th century.
By 1391, Walachia was obliged to pay tribute to the Turks, and by 1417, it acknowledged Turkish suzerainty. While Walachia was allowed to retain its own dynasty, territory, and religion, it had to pay tribute, grant trade concessions to the Ottoman Empire, become a major supplier of agricultural goods, align its foreign policy with Turkish policies, and submit to the Sultan's choice of ruler. Each geographic region in Romania has its own culture, which reflects and is the product of regional history.
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What role did Walachia play in the formation of modern Romania?
Walachia played a crucial role in the formation of modern Romania. In 1859, it united with Moldavia to form the single state of Romania. This unification was driven by a growing movement of Romanian nationalism. Walachia's ruling assembly voted in favor of uniting with Moldavia under Prince Alexandru Ion Cuza, which led to the establishment of Romania. The new principality of Walachia prospered due to its agricultural development and trade between northern Europe and the Black Sea. This union marked a significant step towards the independent state of Romania, which gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878.
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Walachia, principality on the lower Danube River, which in 1859 joined Moldavia to form the state of Romania. Its name is derived from that of the Vlachs, who constituted the bulk of its population. Walachia was bounded on the north and northeast by the Transylvanian Alps, on the west, south, and east by the Danube River, and on the northeast by the Seret River. Traditionally it is considered to have been founded in 1290 by Radu Negru (“Radu the Black”), a voivode (or military governor) of Făgăraş in southern Transylvania (then part of Hungary), who crossed the Transylvanian Alps and settled at Câmpulung. The new principality was initially dominated by Hungary, from whose feudal domination and proselytism the Orthodox Vlachs had fled. Basarab I (reigned c. 1330–52) defeated the Hungarian king Charles Robert in 1330 and secured Walachian independence.
The new principality prospered from its rich agricultural development and from the flow of trade passing through it between northern Europe and the Black Sea. It faced dangers from Hungary, which tried to restore its domination, as well as from the Ottoman Turks, who steadily extended their control over the Balkan Peninsula during the 14th century. By 1391 Prince Mircea the Old (reigned 1386–1418) was obliged to pay tribute to the Turks, and in 1417 he acknowledged Turkish suzerainty.
Subsequently, Walachia was allowed to retain its own dynasty, territory, and religion. It was, however, compelled to pay tribute and grant trade concessions to the Ottoman Empire, to become a major supplier of agricultural goods to the Turks, to plan its foreign policy in accordance with Turkish policies, and to submit to the sultan’s choice of ruler (chosen from within the dynasty).
Numerous princes continued Walachia’s resistance to the Turks; e.g., Vlad III (the Impaler; reigned 1448, 1456–62, and 1476–77) and Michael the Brave (reigned 1593–1601), who briefly united Walachia with Moldavia and Transylvania. But, increasingly, Walachia submitted to Turkish domination. After 1716 the Turks ceased to select Walachia’s prince from among the native dynasty and instead appointed an influential Phanariote, i.e., a Greek administrator in Ottoman service. Russian influence in Walachia increased during the 18th century, and in 1774 Russia asserted the right to intervene in its affairs, though it continued to recognize Turkish suzerainty.
During the 19th century an uprising in Walachia (1821) caused the Turks to end the unpopular Phanariote regime. Under Russian guidance a variety of political reforms were undertaken, including the adoption in 1831 of a constitution, the Règlement Organique (q.v.). The Turks’ trade monopoly was abandoned, providing lucrative opportunities for large landowners to deal with western Europe while increasing the labour burden on Walachia’s peasants, who did not receive their full freedom until 1864.
The European powers ended Russia’s protectorate after the Crimean War (1856). Walachia’s ruling assembly, which was influenced by a growing movement of Romanian nationalism, then voted (1859) to unite with Walachia’s northeastern neighbour Moldavia under Prince Alexandru Ion Cuza and to form the single state of Romania, which achieved its independence from the Turks in 1878.