Moldavia
The name Moldavia emerged from the Moldova River, yet its linguistic roots remain a subject of historical debate. A legend recorded in Descriptio Moldaviae between 1714 and 1716 by Dimitrie Cantemir links the name to an aurochs hunting trip of Voivode Dragoș. Dragoș was accompanied by his female hound named Molda when they reached the shores of an unfamiliar river. The dog caught up with the animal but was killed by it. The dog's name combined with the Romanian word for water gave rise to the river's name and eventually the country itself. Another theory suggests the Gothic word meaning dust or dirt refers to the river. A Slavic etymology marks the end of one Slavic genitive form denoting ownership chiefly of feminine nouns. A landowner named Alexa Moldaowicz appears in a 1334 document as a local boyar serving Yuriy II of Halych. This attests to the use of the name before the foundation of the Moldavian state.
Bogdan of Cuhea crossed the Carpathians in 1359 to take control of Moldavia after falling out with the Hungarian king. He succeeded in wrenching Moldavia from Hungarian control while his realm extended north to the Cheremosh River. The southern part remained occupied by Tatar Mongols until later conflicts resolved the situation. After first residing in Baia, Bogdan moved Moldavia's seat to Siret where it stayed until Petru II Mușat moved it to Suceava. The area around Suceava constituted one administrative division called țara de Sus or Upper Land. The rest on both sides of the Prut river formed țara de Jos or Lower Land. Disfavored by the brief union of Angevin Poland and Hungary, Bogdan's successor Lațcu accepted conversion to Latin Catholicism around 1370. Despite founding the Latin diocese of Siret, this move had no lasting consequences. The principality covered the entire geographic region of Moldavia including Pokuttya for a period of time.
Under Stephen the Great who took the throne in 1457, the state reached its most glorious period. Stephen blocked Hungarian interventions in the Battle of Baia and invaded Wallachia in 1471. He dealt with Ottoman reprisals in a major victory at the 1475 Battle of Vaslui. Following Polish ambitions he attacked Galicia and resisted a Polish invasion in the Battle of the Cosmin Forest in 1497. However he surrendered Chilia and Cetatea Albă to the Ottomans in 1484. In 1498 he accepted Ottoman suzerainty when forced to agree to continue paying tribute to Sultan Bayezid II. Stephen's rule brought a brief extension of Moldavian rule into Transylvania where Cetatea de Baltă and Ciceu became his fiefs in 1489. Under his reign all farmers and villagers had to bear arms according to Polish chronicler Jan Długosz. If someone was found without carrying a weapon they were sentenced to death. Stephen reformed the army by promoting men from landed free peasantry răzeși to infantry voinici and light cavalry hânsari.
During the late 17th century Moldavia became the target of the Russian Empire's southwards expansion inaugurated by Peter the Great with the Russo-Turkish War of 1710-1711. Prince Dimitrie Cantemir sided with Peter in open rebellion against the Ottomans but was defeated at Stănilești. Sultan Ahmed III officially discarded recognition of local choices for princes imposing instead a system relying solely on Ottoman approval known as the Phanariote epoch. This era began with the reign of Nicholas Mavrocordatos. Phanariote rule was marked by political corruption intrigue and high taxation alongside sporadic incursions of Habsburg and Russian armies deep into Moldavian territory. In 1775 Moldavia lost its northwestern part which became known as Bukovina to the Habsburg Empire. The Treaty of Jassy in 1792 forced the Ottoman Empire to cede Yedisan to the Russian Empire making Russian presence much more notable. The first effect was the cession of the eastern half of Moldavia renamed Bessarabia to the Russian Empire in 1812.
Slavery existed as part of the social order from before the founding of the Principality until it was abolished in stages during the 1840s and 1850s. Most slaves were of Roma ethnicity while others were Tatars probably captured from wars with Nogai and Crimean Tatars. The institution was first attested in a 1470 document where Prince Stephen the Great freed Oană a Tatar slave who fled to Jagiellon Poland. Traditionally Roma slaves divided into three categories: țigani domnești belonging to the lord, țigani mănăstirești belonging to monasteries, and țigani boierești enslaved by landowners. The abolition followed a campaign by young revolutionaries embracing liberal ideas of the Enlightenment. In 1844 Moldavian Prince Mihail Sturdza proposed a law on freeing slaves owned by church and state. By the 1850s the movement gained support from almost all Romanian society. In December 1855 following a proposal by Prince Grigore Alexandru Ghica a bill drafted by Mihail Kogălniceanu and Petre Mavrogheni emancipated all slaves to taxpayer status.
In 1856 under terms of the Treaty of Paris the Russian Empire returned significant territory in southern Bessarabia including Budjak organized as Bolgrad Cahul and Ismail counties. The western half of Moldavia is now part of Romania while the eastern side belongs to the Republic of Moldova. Northern and southeastern parts are territories of Ukraine. Of late 15th century Moldavia with an area of roughly 139,000 square kilometers the biggest part located in Romania accounts for 45.6 percent. The Republic of Moldova contains 31.7 percent and Ukraine holds 22.7 percent representing 88.2 percent of its surface. Contemporary historians estimate population in the 15th century between 250,000 and 600,000 people though extensive census first conducted 1769-1774 recorded different figures. As of 2011 population was 8.63 million split across Western Moldavia Bessarabia and Bukovina regions.
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Common questions
How did the name Moldavia originate from the Moldova River?
The name Moldavia emerged from the Moldova River based on a legend recorded in Descriptio Moldaviae between 1714 and 1716 by Dimitrie Cantemir. Voivode Dragoș named the river after his female hound Molda who was killed while hunting an aurochs near its shores.
When did Bogdan of Cuhea establish control over Moldavia?
Bogdan of Cuhea crossed the Carpathians in 1359 to take control of Moldavia after falling out with the Hungarian king. He moved the seat of power from Baia to Siret before Petru II Mușat relocated it to Suceava.
What were the major military victories achieved under Stephen the Great?
Stephen the Great took the throne in 1457 and won the Battle of Vaslui against Ottoman reprisals in 1475. He also blocked Hungarian interventions at the Battle of Baia and resisted a Polish invasion in the Battle of the Cosmin Forest in 1497.
Which territories did Moldavia lose to foreign empires during the 18th century?
In 1775 Moldavia lost its northwestern part which became known as Bukovina to the Habsburg Empire. The Treaty of Jassy in 1792 forced the Ottoman Empire to cede Yedisan to the Russian Empire, followed by the cession of Bessarabia in 1812.
When was slavery abolished in the Principality of Moldavia?
Slavery existed until it was abolished in stages during the 1840s and 1850s through a campaign by young revolutionaries. A bill drafted by Mihail Kogălniceanu and Petre Mavrogheni emancipated all slaves to taxpayer status in December 1855 following a proposal by Prince Grigore Alexandru Ghica.