Moldavia

Lore & Background

Moldavia is a historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, situated between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester River. Its name derives from the Moldova River, though the etymology remains uncertain; one legend recounted by Dimitrie Cantemir tells of a hunting dog named Molda that died chasing an aurochs, giving its name to the river and then the land. The region was briefly known as Bogdania, after its founding figure, Bogdan I. Moldavia existed from the 14th century until 1859, initially as an independent state and later as an autonomous entity under Ottoman overlordship, when it united with Wallachia to form the basis of the modern Romanian state. At various times, it included the regions of Bessarabia (with the Budjak), all of Bukovina, Hertsa, and for a period, Pokuttya. The western half of Moldavia is now part of Romania, the eastern side belongs to the Republic of Moldova, and the northern and southeastern parts are territories of Ukraine. Inhabitants historically referred to themselves as "Moldavians," though some travelers recorded the shared use of the endonym "Romanian" among the peoples of Wallachia, Transylvania, and Moldavia. The region was inhabited by Christians, with archaeological evidence of a 5th-century Christian necropolis at Mihălășeni featuring a rectangular place of worship. The Bolohoveni, a people of uncertain ethnic identity, were documented in the 13th century, and the Brodniks, a possible Slavic-Vlach vassal state, were also present. In the 11th century, a Viking named Rodfos was killed by Vlachs in the area, and in 1164, the future Byzantine emperor Andronikos I Komnenos was taken prisoner by Vlach shepherds there.

Reader's Guide

The principality of Moldavia emerged in the 14th century, initially independent before becoming an autonomous state under Ottoman suzerainty. Its territory stretched between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester River, and at various times included Bessarabia, Bukovina, Hertsa, and even Pokuttya. The region’s name likely derives from the Moldova River, with several proposed etymologies: a legend recorded by Dimitrie Cantemir ties it to a hunting dog named Molda killed by an aurochs; a Gothic root meaning “dust” or “dirt”; a Slavic possessive suffix; or a local boyar named Alexa Moldaowicz mentioned in a 1334 document. Early coins minted by Saxon masters bore the name in German forms. Inhabitants of Moldavia sometimes called themselves “Moldavians,” but travelers in the 16th century noted the shared use of the endonym “Romanian” across Wallachia, Transylvania, and Moldavia. The region was Christian from early times, with 5th-century necropolises and rectangular churches found at sites like Mihălășeni and Iași. The Bolohoveni, a people of uncertain ethnicity—possibly Slavic or Vlach—appear in 13th-century chronicles, and the Brodniks, a possible Slavic-Vlach vassal state, were also present. A Viking named Rodfos was killed by Vlachs in the area in the 11th century, and the future Byzantine emperor Andronikos I was captured by Vlach shepherds there in 1164. Moldavia united with Wallachia in 1859 to form the basis of the modern Romanian state.

Did You Know?

• The original short-lived reference to the region was Bogdania, after Bogdan I.
• Ottoman Turkish references to Moldavia included Boğdan Iflak, meaning 'Bogdan's Wallachia'.
• The Franciscan friar William of Rubruck listed Vlachs among peoples paying tribute to the Mongols in the 1250s.