{{Short description|Aspect of Romanian history}} {{good article}} {{history of Romania}} The '''founding of Wallachia''' ({{langx|ro|descălecatul Țării Românești}}), that is the establishment of the first independent [[Romanians|Romanian]] principality, was achieved at the beginning of the 14th century, through the unification of smaller political units that had existed between the [[Carpathian Mountains]], and the Rivers [[Danube]], [[Siret River|Siret]] and [[Milcov River (Siret)|Milcov]].<ref name='Pop 45'>Pop 1999, p. 45.</ref><ref name='Georgescu 17'>Georgescu 1991, p. 17.</ref><ref>Treptow, Popa 1996, p. 218.</ref>
Prior to the consolidation of [[Wallachia]], waves of [[nomadic people]]s – the last of them being the [[Cumans]] and the [[Mongols]] – rode across the territory.<ref>Pop 1999, p. 30.</ref><ref name="Sedlar 24"/> The territory became a frontier area between the [[Golden Horde]] (the westernmost part of the [[Mongol Empire]]) and the [[Kingdom of Hungary]] after 1242.<ref>Vásáry 2005, pp. 144, 148.</ref> The Romanians in [[Muntenia]], east of the [[Olt River]], had to pay tribute to the Mongols; and west of the river, in [[Oltenia]], they were oppressed by the [[Banate of Severin|Bans of Severin]], appointed by the [[King of Hungary|Kings of Hungary]].<ref name='Vásáry 148'>Vásáry 2005, p. 148.</ref> The Golden Horde's domination decreased in the region at the end of the 13th century, and at that time the Kingdom of Hungary also underwent a strong political crisis.<ref name='Sălăgean 193'>Sălăgean 2006, p. 193.</ref> These events enabled the incipient states of the territory to consolidate their autonomy.<ref name='Sălăgean 193'/>
One Romanian tradition records that Wallachia was founded when a certain [[Radu Negru]] (‘Radu the Black’) arrived from the [[Făgăraș]] region in the 1290s after crossing the [[Transylvanian Alps]] with "a great many following him".<ref name='Sedlar 24'>Sedlar 1994, p. 24.</ref><ref name='Rădvan 48'>Rădvan 2009, p. 48.</ref> Jean W. Sedlar wrote that "more credible" is the report that some Romanian lords in the Olt and [[Argeș River|Argeș]] valleys chose as leader one of their number, a certain [[Basarab I of Wallachia|Basarab]].<ref name='Sedlar 24'/>
It was ''Voivode'' Basarab I (c. 1310–1352) who broke off with the Kingdom of Hungary and refused to accept the king's suzerainty.<ref name='Pop 45'/> Basarab I received international support and the recognition of the autonomy of Wallachia due to [[Battle of Posada|his great military victory]] over King [[Charles I of Hungary]] (1301–1342) at Posada on November 12, 1330.<ref name='Pop 45'/><ref>Engel 2001, p. 434.</ref> The Metropolitan See of Wallachia, directly subordinated to the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]], was set up during the reign of Basarab I's son, [[Nicolae Alexandru of Wallachia|Nicolae Alexandru]] (1352–1364).<ref name='Pop 46'>Pop 1999, p. 46.</ref><ref>Georgescu 1991, p. 33.</ref> The first silver and bronze coins were minted in Wallachia in 1365.<ref>Georgescu 1991, p. 27.</ref>
==Last centuries of the Early Middle Ages== {{Main article|Romania in the Early Middle Ages}} Among the oldest attestations of the countries of the [[Vlachs]] (early Romanians) on the left side of the Danube, there is a quotation of a passage from an [[Armenians|Armenian]] book of geography.<ref>Spinei 2009, p. 50.</ref> The passage represents an [[Interpolation (manuscripts)|interpolation]], probably from the first centuries of the second millennium, which refers to an "unknown country called ''Balak''", situated in the neighborhood of the "[[Sarmatians]]’ country" and of ''"Zagura"'' ([[Bulgaria]]).<ref>Spinei 2009, pp. 50–51.</ref> Another 11th-century reference to the Vlachs’ country appears to be the section of the ancient [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] chronicle ''[[Oghuzname]]'' ('Oghuz Khan's Tale'), preserved in a 17th-century text, which narrates the battles of the Cumans against several peoples, including the Vlachs ''(Ulak)''.<ref>Spinei 2009, p. 81.</ref><ref>Curta 2006, p. 306.</ref>
The [[Cumans]], a [[Turkic peoples|Turkic tribe]] approached the [[Danube Delta]] shortly after 1064–1065, and from 1068 the entire territory between the [[Aral Sea]] and the [[Danube#Geography#Sectioning|lower Danube]] were controlled by them.<ref>Spinei 2009, pp. 114., 116–117.</ref> But this vast territory was never politically united by a strong central power.<ref name='Vásáry 7'>Vásáry 2005, p. 7.</ref> The different Cuman groups were under independent rulers or ''[[Khan (title)|khan]]s'' who meddled in the political life of the surrounding areas, such as the [[Kievan Rus’|Rus’ principalities]] and the [[Byzantine Empire]].<ref name='Vásáry 7'/> In attacking the Byzantine Empire, the Cumans were also assisted by the Vlachs living in the [[Balkan Mountains]] (now in Bulgaria) who showed them the mountain paths where no imperial guard was set up.<ref>Vásáry 2005, p. 21.</ref>
In 1185, the Balkan Vlachs, together with the [[Bulgarians]], rose up in arms against the Byzantine Empire.<ref name='Pop 40'>Pop 1999, p. 40.</ref> They created, with the help of the Cumans and the Vlachs living on the left bank of the Danube, a new state, the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]] between the Balkan Mountains and the Danube (to the south of the future Wallachia).<ref name='Pop 40'/> The new state was called "Bulgaria and Vlachia" in Western sources.<ref>Vásáry 2005, pp. 29–30.</ref> For example, in 1204 the pope elevated the head of the Bulgarian church to the rank of "''primas''" ([[primate (bishop)|primate]]) "of all Bulgaria and ''Vlachia''".<ref>Dimitrov 2007, p. 52.</ref> ''Vlachia'' as an exonym for northern Bulgaria only disappeared from the sources after the middle of the 13th century.<ref>Vásáry 2005, p. 31.</ref>
In 1211, King [[Andrew II of Hungary]] (1205–1235) settled the [[Teutonic Knights]] in the region of [[Brașov]] in order to put an end to the frequent incursions of the Cumans into [[Transylvania]].<ref>Engel 2001, pp. 90., 431.</ref><ref>Spinei 2009, p. 146.</ref> The knights were given all the territory they could conquer beyond the Carpathian Mountains as a [[fief]] to be held from the king of Hungary.<ref name='Engel 90'>Engel 2001, p. 90.</ref> According to a royal charter of 1222, the knights’ military power stretched across the Carpathians all the way to the Danube.<ref name='Spinei 2005 417'>Spinei 2005, p. 417.</ref> That the Teutonic Knights won several victories "beyond the snowy mountains" ''(ultra montes nivium)'', that is to the south and to the east of the Carpathians, is also confirmed by [[pope|papal]] letters.<ref name='Spinei 2005 417'/> However, the Teutonic Knights were forced out of the territory in 1225 by King Andrew II, who claimed that they had ignored his authority.<ref>Spinei 2005, p. 418.</ref>
The Mongols entered Europe in 1223 when [[Battle of the Kalka River|they defeated a joint Rus’-Cuman army at the river Kalka]] (now in [[Ukraine]]).<ref>Korobeinikov 2005, p. 388.</ref> Some Cuman groups, after their defeat of the Mongols, became willing to adopt Christianity.<ref name='Engel 95'>Engel 2001, p. 95.</ref><ref>Spinei 2005, p. 427.</ref> As early as 1227, one of the Cuman chieftains, [[Bortz (chieftain)|Boricius]] subjected himself and his people to the future King [[Béla IV of Hungary]], converted to Christianity and agreed to pay an annual tax and the [[tithe]].<ref name='Engel 95'/><ref>Spinei 2005, p. 423.</ref> The [[Roman Catholic]] [[Diocese of Cumania]], located in northeastern Wallachia and southwestern [[Moldavia]], was established in 1228.<ref>Spinei 2005, pp. 426., 436</ref> A significant presence of the Vlachs within the newly established bishopric is documented in the correspondence between the [[Hungarians|Hungarian]] [[crown prince]] and [[Pope Gregory IX]] (1227–1241), as the pope complained about [[Greek Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] [[prelate]]s active among the local Vlachs.<ref>Curta 2006, p. 352.</ref>
[[File:Mongol warrior of Genghis Khan.jpg|thumb|left|Mongol warrior on horseback, preparing a mounted archery shot]]
The Diocese of Cumania was ''[[de jure]]'' a part of the Kingdom of Hungary, and King Andrew II adopted the title of "king of Cumania" in 1233.<ref name='Engel 90'/><ref name='Spinei 2005 432'>Spinei 2005, p. 432.</ref> There can be no doubt that the king also placed garrisons at key points on the southern slopes of the Carpathian Mountains in northeastern Wallachia.<ref name='Spinei 2005 432'/><ref>Vásáry 2005, p. 138.</ref> But the military outposts in the region of the bishopric are only first mentioned in relation to the [[Mongol invasion of Europe|Mongol invasion of 1241]] by [[Roger of Torre Maggiore]].<ref name='Spinei 2005 432'/>
In parallel with the emergence of the Second Bulgarian Empire, the Kingdom of Hungary also persuaded an active expansionist policy in the [[Balkan Peninsula]] from the end of the 12th century.<ref>Vásáry 2005, p. 136.</ref> To that end, [[Oltenia]] was put under the control of a Hungarian governor, who received the title of [[Ban (title)|ban]].<ref name='Engel 95'/><ref>Spinei 2005, p. 421.</ref><ref name='Vásáry 146'>Vásáry 2005, p. 146.</ref> The centre of the new province (the [[Banate of Severin]]) was the [[Severin Fortress|Severin Fortress]] (now [[Drobeta-Turnu Severin]], [[Romania]]), on the Danube, in the vicinity of the [[Iron Gates]].<ref name='Vásáry 148'/> Its first ban, Luke, was mentioned in 1233.<ref name='Vásáry 146'/>
In 1236 a large Mongol army was collected under the supreme leadership of [[Batu Khan]] and set forth to the west, in one of the greatest invasions in world's history.<ref name=' Korobeinikov 390'>Korobeinikov 2005, p. 390.</ref><ref>Spinei 2009, p. 166.</ref> The Mongols’ most devastating attacks against the western territories of the ''Desht-i Quipchaq'' (‘the [[steppe]] of the Cumans’) took place in 1237–1238.<ref name=' Korobeinikov 390'/><ref>Spinei 2009, p. 38.</ref> The development of the battles was not recorded in the sources, but the Cuman's subsequent migration to Hungary, Bulgaria and other neighboring territories is eloquent enough.<ref name='Spinei 2009 167'>Spinei 2009, p. 167.</ref> Although some Cuman groups survived the Mongol invasion, the Cuman aristocracy was slain.<ref>Korobeinikov 2005, p. 406.</ref> The steppes of eastern Europe were conquered by Batu Khan's army and became parts of the Golden Horde.<ref name='Spinei 2009 167'/>
But the Mongols left no garrisons or military detachments in the lower Danube region and did not take direct political control of it.<ref name='Curta 413'>Curta 2006, p. 413.</ref> Although theoretically part of the Golden Horde, the steppe corridor between the [[Dnieper River]] and the lower Danube was only a "region of hegemony", not of direct control.<ref name='Curta 413'/>
==Earliest ''voivodate''s in medieval documents== {{Main article|Litovoi|Seneslau|Bărbat}} [[File:Early Wallachia.png|thumb|Probable political situation in the first half of the 13th century, as described in the [[Diploma of the Joannites]]]] After the Mongol invasion, a great many (if not most) of the Cuman population left the [[Wallachian Plain]], but the Vlach (Romanian) population remained there under the leadership of their local chiefs, called ''[[Knez (Vlach leader)|knez]]es'' and ''[[voivode]]s''.<ref>Vásáry 2005, p. 144.</ref> In 1247, King Béla IV tried to bring the [[Knights Hospitallers]] to the region and granted to them a number of territories in the "land of Severin".<ref name='Pop 44'>Pop 1999, p. 44.</ref><ref name='Curta 407'>Curta 2006, p. 407.</ref> The knights’ mission, however, proved to be a total failure (there is even no report whether they occupied their posts), but the royal charter for the knights, dated June 2, 1247, lists four autonomous territorial-administrative units (''kenezate''s) in Oltenia and western Muntenia.<ref name='Vásáry 147'>Vásáry 2005, p. 147.</ref>
Two of them, the ''kenezate''s of [[John (knez)|Johannes]] and [[Farcaș]] were given to the Knights Hospitallers.<ref name='Curta 407'/><ref name='Vásáry 147'/> But the ''[[voivodate]]s'' under [[Litovoi]] and [[Seneslau]] were exempted from the grant, and the royal charter expressly stipulated that they were to be left "to the Vlachs as they had owned it until now".<ref name='Curta 407'/> On the other hand, the royal charter also describes that ''Voivode'' Litovoi's rule had extended on the northern side of the Transylvanian Alps into the [[Hunedoara county|Hunedoara]] region, but the king removed this territory from Litovoi's authority in 1247; thenceforward Litovoi's ''kenezate'' was restricted to the Oltenian part of the [[Jiu River|Jiu]] valley.<ref name='Pop 44'/><ref>Curta 2006, pp. 407–408.</ref> ''Voivode'' Seneslau held the territories of central and southern Muntenia on the banks of the rivers Argeș and [[Dâmbovița River|Dâmbovița]].<ref name='Pop 44'/><ref>Georgescu 1991, p. 16.</ref>
After the failure and disappearance of the Hospitallers, the history of the region is shrouded in obscurity for decades.<ref name='Vásáry 147'/> But the trend toward the unification of the Romanian polities seems to begin with ''Voivode'' Litovoi.<ref name='Georgescu 17'/> He (or his namesake son) was at war with the Hungarians and killed in battle sometime between 1270 and 1280.<ref name='Georgescu 17'/><ref name='Pop 44'/> In the battle, his brother, [[Bărbat]] was captured.<ref name='Georgescu 17'/> Bărbat was forced not only to pay ransom but also to recognize Hungarian rule.<ref name='Georgescu 17'/>
=='Dismounting' by Radu Negru== {{Main article|Radu Negru}} Romanian chronicles written in the 17th century narrate that a ''herțeg'' or [[duke]] of Făgăraș and [[Almaș]], named Radu Negru (‘Radu the Black’) or Negru Vodă (‘The Black Voivode’) was the first ''voivode'' of Wallachia.<ref name='Pop 45'/><ref name='Rădvan 48'/><ref name=' Brătianu 87'>Brătianu 1980, p. 87.</ref> These texts state that Radu Negru, together with some colonists ("Romanians, Catholics and [[Transylvanian Saxons|Saxons]]") arrived from the region of Făgăraş in Transylvania.<ref name="Brătianu 1980, pp. 93., 102">Brătianu 1980, pp. 93., 102.</ref> The first documentary evidence for a ''terra Blacorum'' (‘land of the Vlachs’) on the territory later called Făgăraș is an early 13th-century property register which mentions the order of King Andrew II of Hungary that estates previously in Vlach hands be transferred to the [[Cistercians|Cistercian]] abbey at [[Cârța, Sibiu|Cârța]].<ref>Curta 2006, p. 354.</ref><ref>Engel 2001, p. 119.</ref> Radu Negru and his followers crossed the Carpathians to Muntenia and founded Wallachia with its capitals in [[Câmpulung]] and [[Curtea de Argeș]].<ref name='Rădvan 48'/><ref name="Brătianu 1980, pp. 93., 102"/> The chronicles narrate these events under the year 1290 or 1292.<ref name='Rădvan 48'/>
The Romanian term for the "founding" (''descălecat'', literally ‘dismounting’) refers to this alleged settling in Wallachia.<ref name=' Brătianu 93'>Brătianu 1980, p. 93.</ref> But the word's exact meaning is debated, since there had been Romanians living in Wallachia before Radu Negru's arrival; thus the term likely refers simply to the unification of the lands under one ruler.<ref name=' Brătianu 93'/> Moreover, this account of Radu Negru's ‘dismounting’ may merely be a legend subsequently invented to parallel the circumstances by which [[Moldavia]], the other Romanian principality [[Founding of Moldavia|was founded]] according to the earliest chronicles.<ref name='Sedlar 24'/><ref>Treptow, Popa 1996, p. 135.</ref>
The origin of Oltenia is given by some of the chronicles differently: according to these chronicles Oltenia was colonized by Romanians from Turnu Severin, who founded two other capitals, at [[Strehaia]] and [[Craiova]].<ref name=' Brătianu 102-3'>Brătianu 1980, pp. 102–103.</ref> After the arrival of Radu Negru and his ''descălecat'', these Romanians swore allegiance to him.<ref name=' Brătianu 102-3'/>
Radu Negru's personality is surrounded by legend; no details about him can be proved by other historical sources.<ref name='Pop 45'/><ref name=' Brătianu 90'>Brătianu 1980, p. 90.</ref> Some chronicles identify him with the founder of various churches, such as the monastery at Curtea de Argeș, but they mistake him for later ''voivode''s of Wallachia, such as [[Radu I of Wallachia|Radu I]] (c. 1377–c. 1383) and [[Neagoe Basarab]] (1512–1521).<ref name=' Brătianu 87'/><ref>Treptow, Popa 1996, pp. xvii–xviii.</ref>
Due to lack of any actual contemporary evidence, the Roman historian [[Nicolae Iorga]] doubted the existence of such a ''voivode'', considering that 'Negru Vodă' is simply a nickname that could have been given to Basarab I, the real founder of Wallachia.<ref name=' Brătianu 90'/> Other view is represented by [[Neagu Djuvara]] who identifies Negru Vodă with [[Thocomerius]], Basarab's father, explaining his nickname by his alleged Cuman descent: he appeared to have a dark skin color for the Romanians.<ref>Djuvara 2007</ref> In an interview, historian Ioan-Aurel Pop stated, Djuvara "is not a specialist in the field of medieval history" and his "Cumanian theory" is questionable.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pop |first=Florina |title=Ioan Aurel Pop despre "Prințul Negru" de la Curtea de Argeș: "Numele nu garantează etnia nimănui" [Ioan Aurel Pop on the "Black Prince" of Curtea de Argeș: "The name does not guarantee someone's ethnicity"] |website=www.historia.ro |date=29 August 2015 |language=ro |url=http://www.historia.ro/exclusiv_web/general/articol/ioan-aurel-pop-printul-negru-curtea-arges-numele-nu-garanteaza-etnia |access-date=29 August 2015 |archive-date=15 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315040836/http://www.historia.ro/exclusiv_web/general/articol/ioan-aurel-pop-printul-negru-curtea-arges-numele-nu-garanteaza-etnia |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The legendary traditions may also be in connection with the establishment of a trans-Carpathian frontier [[March (territory)|mark]] by the Hungarian monarchy, with its capital at Câmpulung, probably in the last decade of the 13th century.<ref name='Sălăgean 193'/> A [[tomb stone]] belonging to one of the leaders of this formation, Count Lawrence of Câmpulung ''(comes Laurentius de Longo Campo)'', dating from the year 1300, may provide a solid chronological reference point.<ref name='Sălăgean 193'/> On the other hand, ''comes Laurentius'' may have been a one-time leader of the Saxon community in Câmpulung.<ref>Rădvan 2009, p. 50.</ref>
[[File:Cetatea Fagaras by night.JPG|right|thumb|[[Făgăraș|Făgăraș Castle]] ({{langx|hu|Fogaras}}, {{langx|de|Fogarasch}})]] [[Image:The Princely Church.JPG|right|thumb|The Princely Church in Curtea de Argeş]] {{Quote|''History of Wallachia from the time when the Orthodox Christians dismounted there''
''But earlier the Romanians arrived who had separated from the Romans and wandered to the north. With their chiefs Trajan and with his son-in-law Siverie. Having crossed the waters of the Danube, they dismounted at Turnu Severin, others in Hungary, by the waters of the Olt, by the waters of the [[Mureș River|Mureș]] and by the waters of the [[Tisza|Tisa]], reaching as far as [[Maramureș]]. Those who had dismounted at Turnu Severin spread all along the foot of the mountains towards the waters of the Olt; others went downward all along the Danube. Having this way all the places been filled with them, they arrived as far as the outskirts of [[Nikopol, Bulgaria|Nicopolis]]. Then the [[Boyar#Boyars in Wallachia and Moldavia|boyars]], who are of noble families, gathered. In order to have their own leaders (that is great bans), a family, named Basarab, was appointed to the banship. The first seat was decided to be at Turnu Severin, the second seat to be set up farther, at Strehaia, and the third seat to be set up even farther, at Craiova; and it happened like that. Much time went by and they were governing that region.''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grecesu |first1=C. |last2=Simionescu |first2=D. |title=(PDF) Istoria Tarii Romanesti 1290 1690 Letopisetul Cantacuzinesc |url=https://dokumen.tips/documents/istoria-tarii-romanesti-1290-1690-letopisetul-cantacuzinesc.html?page=60 |website=dokumen.tips |publisher=Editura Academiei RSR |access-date=25 November 2023 |page=4 |language=ro |archive-date=25 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125021112/https://dokumen.tips/documents/istoria-tarii-romanesti-1290-1690-letopisetul-cantacuzinesc.html?page=60 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
''In 6798 [[Anno Mundi|AM]], there was a voievode in Hungary, called Voievod Radu the Black, great duke of Almaș and Făgăraș. He set out from there, together with his whole household and with many other people, Romanians, papists, Saxons, and all kind of men. They descended towards the waters of Dâmbovița, starting this way to establish a new country. First they founded the town called Câmpulung where a large, beautiful and lofty church was built. Afterwards, they settled at Argeş where another large town was founded. By building stone castles, princely houses and a large and beautiful church, the prince's seat was also established there. Some of the people, who had come down together with him, went farther along the foothills as far as the waters of the Siret and towards [[Brăila]]. Others went downward establishing towns and villages, and they reached all the places as far as the banks of the Danube and all along the Olt.''|Cantacuzino Chronicle<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmb-on-line.ro/biblioteca/135/149/normala/P5.html|publisher=www.bmb-on-line.ro|title=Istoria Țării Rumînești de cînd au descălecat pravoslavnicii creștini (History of Wallachia from the time when the Orthodox Christians dismounted there)|work=Letopisețul Cantacuzinesc|author=Stoica Ludescu (?)|access-date=2010-04-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727025121/http://www.bmb-on-line.ro/biblioteca/135/149/normala/P5.html|archive-date=2011-07-27|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
{{Quote| ''In 6798 [[Anno Mundi|AM]], there was a voievode called Voievod Radu the Black, who had his seat at [[Făgăraș]] from the fathers and forefathers of the Romanians who had come from Rome, in the days of Emperor Trajan decided to move his seat on the other side [of the Carpathians]'' – Chronicle of Radu Popescu (Cronica Balenilor)<ref>Popescu 1975, p. 13</ref>}}
==Basarab I the Founder== {{Main article|Basarab I of Wallachia|Battle of Posada}} [[Image:Viennese Illuminated Chronicle Posada.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Battle of Posada]] in the ''[[Chronicon Pictum]]'']] Basarab was the son of Thocomerius whose status cannot be specified.<ref name='Sălăgean 193'/> There is no direct clue in the sources to the date when Basarab took the office of ''voivode''.<ref name='Vásáry 149'>Vásáry 2005, p. 149.</ref> But [[John VI Kantakouzenos|Ioannes Kantakouzenos]] in his ''History'' narrates that in 1323 Basarab's armies joined in the fighting between Bulgaria and Byzantium and supported Tzar [[Michael Shishman of Bulgaria|Michael Šišman of Bulgaria]] (1323–1330) against the Byzantines.<ref name='Georgescu 17'/><ref name='Vásáry 150'>Vásáry 2005, p. 150.</ref> In a diploma, dated July 26, 1324, King Charles I of Hungary refers to Basarab as "our ''voivode'' of Wallachia" ''(woiuodam nostrum Transalpinum)'' which indicates that at that time Basarab was a [[vassal]] of the king of Hungary.<ref name='Vásáry 149'/>
In short time, however, Basarab refused to accept the suzerainty of the king, for neither Basarab's growing power nor the active foreign policy he was conducting on his own account to the south could be acceptable in Hungary.<ref name='Pop 45'/><ref name='Georgescu 17'/> In a new diploma, dated June 18, 1325, King Charles I mentions him as "Basarab of Wallachia, unfaithful to the king's [[Holy Crown of Hungary|Holy Crown]]" ''(Bazarab Transalpinum regie corone infidelem)''.<ref name='Vásáry 150'/>
Hoping to punish Basarab, King Charles I mounted a military campaign against him in 1330.<ref name='Pop 45'/> The king marched to Severin and took it from Basarab.<ref name='Vásáry 154'>Vásáry 2005, p. 154.</ref> The ''voivode'' asked for a truce, offering to refund 7,000 silver [[Mark (money)|marks]] for the costs of the army, and showed himself ready to continue paying tribute to the king and send his son as a hostage to the royal court.<ref name='Pop 45'/><ref name='Vásáry 154'/> But the king refused and advanced with his host into Wallachia where everything seemed to have been laid waste.<ref name='Pop 46'/>
Unable to subdue Basarab, the king ordered the retreat through the mountains.<ref name='Pop 46'/> But in a long and narrow valley, the Hungarian army was attacked by the Romanians, who had taken up positions on the heights.<ref name='Pop 46'/> The battle, called the [[Battle of Posada]], lasted for four days (November 9–12, 1330) and was a disaster for the Hungarians whose defeat was devastating.<ref name='Pop 46'/> The king was only able to escape with his life by exchanging his royal coat of arms with one of his retainers.<ref name='Vásáry 154'/>
The Battle of Posada was a turning point in Hungarian-Wallachian relations: though in the course of the 14th century, the kings of Hungary still tried to regulate the ''voivode''s of Wallachia more than one time, but they could only succeed temporarily.<ref name='Vásáry 154'/> Thus Basarab's victory irretrievably opened the way to independence for the Principality of Wallachia.<ref name='Vásáry 154'/>
==Aftermath of the Battle of Posada== {{Main article|Romania in the Middle Ages}}
The international prestige of Wallachia increased considerably after Basarab's victory over King Charles I.<ref name='Pop 46'/> Only a few months after his great victory, in February 1331, Basarab contributed to the establishment of his son-in-law, [[Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria|Ivan Alexander]] (1331–1371) on the throne of the tzars of [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]] in [[Veliko Tarnovo|Tarnovo]].<ref>Sălăgean 2006, p. 195.</ref> [[File:Armoiries Wallaquie XIV.png|left|thumb|14th century coat of arms of Wallachia, used during the rule of the [[House of Basarab|Basarab royal dynasty]]]]
As a way of solemnizing his secession from the Kingdom of Hungary, Basarab's son, Nicolae Alexandru also sought Byzantine approval for the creation of an Orthodox see for his territories.<ref name='Angold 26'>Angold 2006, p. 26.</ref> In 1359 Byzantium acceded to his request that the displaced metropolitan of [[Vicina (town)|Vicina]], Hyakinthos – whom Nicolae Alexander had been hosting at his court for some time – should become the "legitimate pastor of all ''Oungrovlachia'' for the blessing and spiritual direction of himself, his children and all his lordship".<ref name='Angold 26'/> At the same time, Byzantium also agreed to the creation of a metropolitan see, after Hyakinthos’ death, for "all ''Oungrovlachia''".<ref name='Angold 26'/>
The new state was denoted as ''Oungrovlachia'' ({{lang|grc|Οὐγγροβλαχία}}) in Byzantine sources which reflects that it bordered on the Kingdom of Hungary.<ref name='Vásáry 142'>Vásáry 2005, p. 142.</ref> This name is first encountered in a [[Medieval Greek|Greek]] diploma issued by the [[Synod#Uses in different Communions#Orthodox usage|synod]] of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1370.<ref name='Angold 26'/><ref name='Vásáry 142'/> In the diploma, the ruler of Wallachia, Nicolae Alexandru is styled "great ''voivode'' and master of all ''Oungrovlachia''".<ref name='Angold 26'/><ref name='Vásáry 142'/>
[[Latin]] documents used the term ''Wallachia'' or ''Wallachia maior'' (‘Greater Wallachia’) for Muntenia (which first appeared in 1373), and ''Wallachia minor'' (‘Lesser Wallachia’) for Oltenia (first recorded in 1377).<ref name='Vásáry 142'/> The new country was identified as ''terra transalpina'' (‘land beyond the mountains’) or ''partes transalpinae'' (‘parts beyond the mountains’) in documents issued by the [[Chancery (medieval office)|Royal Chancellery]] of Hungary in the entire 14th century.<ref>Rădvan 2009, p. 47.</ref><ref name='Vásáry 143'>Vásáry 2005, p. 143.</ref> The terminology of the Hungarian chancellery was also used in the Latin documents of the Wallachian ''voivode''s.<ref name='Vásáry 143'/>
The Romanian rulers chose the Byzantine model of government, and Wallachia was from the start an [[absolute monarchy]].<ref>Georgescu 1991, pp. 33–34.</ref> The princes' absolute power was held to be [[Divine right of kings|divinely ordained]].<ref name='Georgescu 34'>Georgescu 1991, p. 34.</ref> Their correspondence and records used the expression "[[By the Grace of God]]" from the 14th century.<ref name='Georgescu 34'/> Wallachian sovereigns were host commanders and supreme judges, they patronized the church and made decisions that became laws.<ref name='Pop 51'>Pop 1999, p. 51.</ref> In theory, the ''voivode''s were considered proprietors of all the lands in the country, but in fact they were devoid of extensive personal land holdings.<ref name='Pop 51'/><ref>Sedlar 1994, p. 260.</ref>
The monarchy was also dynastic: the princes were to be elected by boyars from among the members of the ruling family, the [[Basarab]]s.<ref name='Georgescu 34'/> The boyars were the members of the privileged landed aristocracy.<ref>Treptow, Popa 1996, p. 46.</ref> However, the origin of the Romanian boyar class is problematic: it may have evolved naturally from the heads of the Vlach villages and communities, but it is also possible that the princes created it by granting privileges to certain favored persons.<ref>Sedlar 1994, p. 59.</ref>
Multiple vassalage became an important aspect of Romanian diplomacy after the Christian Balkan states (Bulgaria, [[Serbia]]) one by one fell to the [[Ottoman Empire]] in the course the second half of the 14th century.<ref>Georgescu 1991, p. 47.</ref> For example, [[Mircea the Elder]] (1386–1418) accepted the suzerainty of Poland in 1387 and that of Hungary in 1395, and Wallachia was paying tribute to the Ottoman Empire from 1417.<ref>Georgescu 1991, p. 48.</ref><ref name='Treptow, Popa xvii'/> When accepting Hungarian suzerainty, the princes of Wallachia usually also received the district of Făgăraş in Transylvania from the Hungarian monarchs, for example in 1366 King [[Louis I of Hungary]] (1342–1382) granted the region to Prince [[Vladislav I of Wallachia]] (1364–1377), with the title of duke, and Prince Mircea the Elder received it from King [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor|Sigismund]] (1387–1437).<ref name='Treptow, Popa xvii'/><ref>Treptow, Popa 1996, p. xvii.</ref><ref>Engel 2001, pp. 165, 232., 442.</ref>
During the reign of Mircea the Elder, [[Dobruja]] also became part of Wallachia before it was annexed to the Ottoman Empire.<ref name='Treptow, Popa xvii'>Treptow, Popa 1996, p. 89.</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Romania}} *[[Founding of Moldavia]] *[[Balkan–Danubian culture]] *[[Bulgarian lands across the Danube]]
==Footnotes== {{Reflist|3}}
==References== {{Refbegin}} *Angold, Michael (2006). ''Eastern Christianity (The Cambridge History of Christianity, Volume 5.)''. Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-521-81113-2}}. *Brătianu, Gheorghe I. (1980). ''Tradiția istorică despre întemeierea statelor românești'' (The Historical Tradition of the Founding of the Romanian States). Editura Eminescu. *Curta, Florin (2006). ''Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500–1250''. Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-521-89452-4}}. *Dimitrov, Ivan Zhelev (2007). ''Bulgarian Christianity''. ''In:'' Parry, Ken (2007); ''The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity''; Blackwell Publishing; {{ISBN|978-0-631-23423-4}}. *Djuvara, Neagu (2007). ''Thocomerius – Negru Vodă. Un voivod de origine cumană la începuturile Țării Românești'' (Thocomerius – Negru Vodă: A Voivode of Cuman Origin at the Origins of Wallachia). Humanitas. *Engel, Pál (2001). ''The Realm of St Stephen: A History of Medieval Hungary, 895–1526''. I.B. Tauris Publishers. {{ISBN|1-86064-061-3}}. *Georgescu, Vlad (1991). ''The Romanians: A History''. Ohio State University Press. {{ISBN|0-8142-0511-9}}. *Gjuzelev, Vassil (1981). ''Fontes Latini Historiae Bulgaricae, IV. In aedibus Academiae litterarum Bulgaricae, Serdicae'' (Latin Sources for the History of Bulgaria, IV, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia). *Korobeinikov, Dimitri (2005). ''A Broken Mirror: The Kipçak World in the Thirteenth Century''. ''In:'' Curta, Florin (2005); ''East Central and Eastern Europe in the Early Middle Ages''; The University of Michigan Press. {{ISBN|978-0-472-11498-6}}. *Pop, Ioan Aurel (1999). ''Romanians and Romania: A Brief History''. Columbia University Press. {{ISBN|0-88033-440-1}}. * Popescu, Petru Demetru. ''Basarab I'', Ed. Militară, București, 1975. * Примов, Боян (1965). ''Създаването на Втората българска държава и участието на власите''. ''In:'' ''Българо-румънски връзки и отношения през вековете''. ''Изследвания, т. І (ХІІ-ХІХ в.)'' [=Primov, Boyan (1965). The creation of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom and the participation of Vlachs. In: Bulgarian-Romanian relations and dealings over the centuries, vol. I (13th-19th centuries)] *Rădvan, Laurenţiu (2009). ''Considerations Regarding the Urbanization Process in Wallachia (13th–15th Centuries)''. ''In:'' Medieval and Early Modern Studies for Central and Eastern Europe I. (2009), No. 1-4; "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University Press. *Sălăgean, Tudor (2006): ''Romanian Society in the Early Middle Ages (9th–14th Centuries)''. ''In:'' Pop, Ioan-Aurel; Bolovan, Ioan (2005); ''History of Romania: Compendium''; Romanian Cultural Institute (Center for Transylvanian Studies). {{ISBN|978-973-7784-12-4}}. *Sedlar, Jean W. (1994). ''East Central Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000–1500''. University of Washington Press. {{ISBN|0-295-97290-4}}. *Spinei, Victor (2005). ''The Cuman Bishopric: Genesis and Evolution''. ''In:'' Curta, Florin (2005); ''East Central and Eastern Europe in the Early Middle Ages''; The University of Michigan Press. {{ISBN|978-0-472-11498-6}}. *Spinei, Victor (2009). ''The Romanians and the Turkic Nomads North of the Danube Delta from the Tenth to the Mid-Thirteenth Century''. Koninklijke Brill NV. {{ISBN|978-90-04-17536-5}}. *Treptow, Kurt W.; Popa, Marcel (1996). ''Historical Dictionary of Romania''. The Scarecrow Press, Inc. {{ISBN|0-8108-3179-1}}. *Vásáry, István (2005). ''Cumans and Tatars: Oriental Military in the Pre-Ottoman Balkans, 1185–1365''. Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|0-521-83756-1}}. {{Refend}}
==Further reading== *Castellan, Georges (1989). ''A History of the Romanians''. East European Monographs. {{ISBN|0-88033-154-2}} *Durandin, Catherine (1995). ''Historie des Roumains'' (The History of the Romanians). Librairie Artheme Fayard. {{ISBN|978-2-213-59425-5}}. *Klepper, Nicolae (2005). ''Romania: An Illustrated History''. Hippocrene Books, Inc. {{ISBN|0-7818-0935-5}}. *Коледаров, Петър (1989). ''Политическа география на средновековната българска държава, Втора част (1186–1396)'' [=Koledarov, Petar. Political Geography of the Medieval Bulgarian State, Part II: 1186–1396]. БАН *Петров, Петър (1985). ''Възстановяване на българската държава, 1185–1197'' [=Petrov, Petar. Restoration of the Bulgarian State: 1185–1197]. *Treptow, Kurt W.; Bolovan, Ioan (1996). ''A History of Romania''. East European Monographs. {{ISBN|0-88033-345-6}}.
==External links== *Lambru, Steliu (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716063606/http://www.rri.ro/arh-art.shtml?lang=1&sec=9&art=5241%2F "The Cumans in Romania’s History (10.09.2007)"] *Samuelson, James (1882). [http://biblior.net/roumania-past-and-present/foundation-principalities-between-middle-thirteenth-and-fourteenth-centuri/ "From the Foundation of the Principalities, between the Middle of the Thirteenth and of the Fourteenth Centuries to the Accession of Michael the Brave, A.D. 1593."]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Founding Of Wallachia}} [[Category:Medieval Wallachia| ]] [[Category:History of Wallachia]] [[Category:Romanian principalities]]