Principality of Wallachia

Last modified: 2004-07-03 by rob raeside
Keywords: wallachia | moldavia | romania |
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• Principality of Wallachia
• Princely standards, XIV-XVIII c.
• War flag, 1834-1859
• War ensign, 1834-1859
• Civil ensign, 1834-1861
• Merchant flag, 1834-1861
• National flag, 1848
• References for the Moldavian and Wallachian flags

See also:

• About the Principality of Moldavia
• Wallachia and Moldavia, 1859-61
• Romania
• Romania: Index of all pages
• Moldova

Located on the lower Danube River, the principality of Wallachia was founded in 1290 by Radu Negru (Ralph the Black). Initially dominated by Hungary, Charles I Robert was defeated in 1330 by Basarab in 1330, securing the independence of Wallachia.

In 1391, the kingdom was forced to pay tribute to the Ottoman Empire and later Turkish suzerainty was acknowledged by Prince Mircea the Old in 1417. This allowed Wallachia to keep its own dynasty, territory and religion, even though domestic and foreign policy was handled by the Ottomans.

Resistance continued over time, resulting in an unstable political structure that caused the Turks to select Greek administrators (Phanariote) to govern. Increasing influence by Russia resulted in the principality to be placed under Russian protection in 1774, despite the Turkish suzerainty.

In 1821, an uprising caused the end of the Turkish Phanariote. The area was under Russian protectorate until 1856 and in 1859, Wallachia voted to unite with Moldavia to form the state of Romania.

There are few documents which describe the