Moldavia

This article is about the historical principality. For the modern state, see Moldova. For other uses, see Moldova (disambiguation).

Moldavia (Romanian: Moldova, pronounced [molˈdova] (listen) or Țara Moldovei, literally "The Country of Moldavia"; in Romanian Cyrillic: Молдова or Цара Мѡлдовєй; Church Slavonic: Землѧ Молдавскаѧ; Greek: Ἡγεμονία τῆς Μολδαβίας) is a historical region and old principality in Central and Eastern Europe.^[8][9][10] It is the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the river Dniester. It used to be an independent state. It existed from the 14th century to 1859, when it united with Wallachia (Țara Românească) as the beginning of modern Romania. Sometimes the regions of Bessarabia (with Budjak), all of Bukovina and Hertsa were part of Moldavia. The region of Pokuttya was also part of it for some time.

Principality of Moldavia Țara Moldovei  (Romanian) Землѧ Молдавскаѧ  (Church Slavonic) Ἡγεμονία τῆς Μολδαβίας  (Greek)
1346–1859
Flag (14th–15th cent.) Coat of arms (14th–15th cent.)
Location of the Principality of Moldavia, 1789
Moldavia under Stephen the Great, 1483
Status	Ottoman vassal[1] (1514–1572; 1574–1600; 1618–1859) Polish fiefdom[1] (1601–1618) Russian protectorate[2] (1829–1856) International protectorate[2] (1856–1859)
Capital	Baia/Siret (1343–1388) Suceava (1388–1564) Iași (1564–1859)
Common languages	Romanian[3][4] Church Slavonic[5][6][nb 1] Greek[7][nb 2]
Religion	Eastern Orthodox Minority Roman Catholic Armenian Judaism Old Believers
Demonym(s)	Moldavian
Government	Principality: elective absolute monarchy with hereditary lines
Princes of Moldavia (Voivodes, Hospodars)
• 1346–1353 (first)	Dragoș
• 1859–1862 (last)	Alexandru Ioan Cuza
History
• Foundation of the Moldavian mark	1346
• Union with Wallachia	5 February [O.S. 24 January] 1859
Currency	Moldavian gros [ro] Taler
ISO 3166 code	MD
Preceded by Succeeded by Kingdom of Hungary Golden Horde United Principalities Bukovina District Bessarabia Governorate
Today part of	Moldova Romania Ukraine

The western half of Moldavia is now part of Romania, the eastern part is in the Republic of Moldova, and the northern and southeastern parts are in Ukraine.

Notes

1. As written chancellery language until it was replaced by Romanian starting with the 16th century. Used for liturgical purposes until the end of the 18th century.
2. As chancellery and cultural language, especially during the Phanariot period of time.