Turkish Domination

The principalities of Walachia and Moldavia arose in the 14th century. About 1417 Walachia came under the domination of the Turkish sultans, but the native princes continued to rule. Stephen the Great, Prince of Moldavia, led a rebellion and defeated the Turks in 1475. However, after his death in 1504 Moldavia was once again dominated by the Turks. In 1595 Michael the Brave, Prince of Walachia, defeated the Turks and united Walachia and Moldavia. After his murder in 1601, however, the union was destroyed and the Turks regained control.

Early in the 18th century the sultan replaced the native princes with his own appointed governors in Walachia and Moldavia. As a result of various wars between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, control over the provinces changed several times during the 18th and 19th centuries. During the war of 1768–74, Russia occupied the two provinces. After the war, Russia restored them to Turkish control in return for the right to intervene in provincial affairs to protect Christian interests.

After a Romanian revolt in 1821, Turkey restored the system of native princes. As Turkish power weakened and Romanian nationalism grew, Russia used its right of intervention to extend a protectorate over the region. The Treaty of Adrianople, which settled the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–29, established the provinces' independence from Turkish control; however, Russian influence was dominant until the Crimean War (1853–56).

In the Treaty of Paris (1856), which ended the Crimean War, Moldavia and Walachia were established as principalities and returned to Turkish control. In 1859 Alexander Ioan Cuza became prince. In 1861 the name Romania was adopted. Cuza was deposed in 1866, and a plebiscite confirmed Prince Carol of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen as Cuza's replacement.