Romania ( Romanian: România) is a country located in Balkans, with a population of approximately 19.5 million people. It is bordered by Ukraine to the north, Moldova to the northeast, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, and Bulgaria to the south.
History
Meddieval Era
Romanian history in this era began with the establishment of the Principality of Wallachia, located in the southern part of Transylvanian Alps and extending to the Danube, and the Principality of Moldavia, located from the Outer Eastern Carpathians to the Dniester river, both in the 14th century.
The Wallachian ruler, Basarab I, founded the Principality of Wallachia in 1310. Over time, Wallachia became a crucial buffer zone between the Ottoman Empire to the south and the Hungarian Kingdom to the north. The Wallachian princes struggled to maintain their independence, often forming alliances with other regional powers, such as Poland and Hungary. The most famous Wallachian prince, Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler, achieved notoriety for his brutal tactics in defending Wallachia against the Ottomans.
The Principality of Moldavia, was founded by Dragos in 1359. Moldavia had a rocky relationship with the Ottoman Empire, which threatened the principality with invasion multiple times. The most significant Moldavian ruler, Stephen the Great ( after his canonization by the Romanian Orthodox Church, Stephen the Great and Saint), was known for his military prowess and diplomacy, which allowed Moldavia to maintain a degree of autonomy despite repeated Ottoman invasions.
Unification of Principalities of Wallachia and Moldovia
In 1859, the two principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia were united under the name "Unirea Moldovei și Țării Românești", which translates to the unification of Moldavia and Wallachia. This historic event is also referred to as the unification of the Romanian Principalities or the Little Union. The unification was made possible by the election of Alexandru Ioan Cuza as the prince of both regions, leading to the creation of a larger, more cohesive Romanian state.