Wallachia and Moldavia between the Ottoman Empire and the Great European Powers

Wallachia and Moldavia were tributary states of the Ottoman Empire from the 16th century until the 19th century, which meant that they paid an annual tribute, had to align their external politics with the Ottoman one and to direct most of their exports to the Porte, especially cereals, cattle and sheep. However, they maintained their internal organisation, as well as their political and religious institutions.

In the 19th century, the political changes that occurred in Europe to the disadvantage of the Ottoman Empire resulted in its having to share the control over Moldavia and Wallachia first with Russia, and then also with other European powers, such as the UK, France, Piedmont and Prussia, until eventually losing its sovereignty over the two Romanian countries.