United Principalities
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In 1859, election of Alexander John Cuza as prince of both Principality of Moldavia and Principality of Wallachia created the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia. On February 5, 1862 (January 24 Old Style) the two principalities were formally united to form United Pricipalities (of Romania). Starting 1866, when a new Constitution came into effect, the official name used was Romania.
Alongside Transylvania, the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia became the basis for the Romanian nation-state[1].
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[edit] History
The aftermath of Russian defeat in 1856 (the Treaty of Paris) brought forth a period of common tutelage of the Ottomans and a Congress of Great Powers (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Second French Empire, the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, the Austrian Empire, Prussia, and, albeit never again fully, Russia). While the Moldavia-Wallachia unionist cause, which had come to dominate political demands, was viewed with sympathy by the French, Russians, Prussians, and Sardinians, it was rejected by the Austrian Empire, and viewed with suspicion by Great Britain and the Ottomans[2]. Negotiations amounted to an agreement over a minimal and formal union - however, elections for the ad-hoc divans of 1859 profited from an ambiguity in the text of the final agreement (specifying two thrones, but not preventing the same person from occupying both) and made possible the rule of Alexander John Cuza as Domnitor of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (of Romania from 1861).
Although internationally recognized only for the period of Cuza's rule[2], the union was cemented by Cuza's unsanctioned interventions in the text of previous organic laws, as well as by the circumstances of his deposition in 1866, when the rapid election of Carol of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, who had the backing of an increasingly important Prussia, and the Austro-Prussian War made measures taken against the union impossible.
In 1878, after the Romanian War of Independence, Romania shook off formal Ottoman rule, but clashed with its Russian ally over the Russian request for the Bujak (southern Bessarabia) - ultimately, Romania was awarded Northern Dobruja in exchange for southern Bessarabia. A Kingdom of Romania emerged in 1881.
[edit] Timeline (1859 - 1881)
| 1859 | Alexander John Cuza unites Moldavia and Wallachia under his personal rule. |
| 1862 | Formal union of Moldavia and Wallachia to form principality of Romania. |
| 1866 | Cuza forced to abdicate and a foreign dynasty is established. Carol I signed the first modern Constitution. |
| 1877 | April 16. Treaty by which the Russian troops are allowed to pass through Romanian territory
April 24. Russia declares war to the Ottoman Empire and its troops enter Romania |
| 1878 | Under Treaty of Berlin, Ottoman Empire recognizes Romanian independence. Romania ceded southern Bessarabia to Russia. |
| 1881 | Carol I was proclaimed King of Romania on March 26. |
