From: Rex H. McTyeire
Message: 3553
Date: 2000-09-04
From: Moldova: Early HistoryMoldova's Latin origins can be traced to the period of Roman occupation of nearby Dacia (in present-day Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia), ca. A.D. 105-270, when a culture was formed from the intermingling of Roman colonists and the local population. After the Roman Empire and its influence waned and its troops left the region in A.D. 271, a number of groups passed through the area, often violently: Huns, Ostrogoths, and Antes (who were Slavs). The Bulgarian Empire, the Magyars, the Pechenegs, and the Golden Horde (Mongols) also held sway temporarily. In the thirteenth century, Hungary expanded into the area and established a line of fortifications in Moldova near the Siretul River (in present-day Romania) and beyond. The region came under Hungarian suzerainty until an independent Moldovan principality was established by Prince Bogdan in 1349. Originally called Bogdania, the principality stretched from the Carpathian Mountains to the Nistru River and was later renamed Moldova, after the Moldova River in present-day Romania. PiotrNo contest on the origin of this specific political entity in the region. (Bogdan was from Maramures, BTW) The issue is the local claim that the regional name Moldova was (much) older than this post 1349 renaming of a specific political entity that grew to the Principality of the same name. (And whether it could even predate the River name) It would seem that any use of Moldova/Moldavia prior to 1349 (14th century) would defeat the above reference....but still leave open the River/Place first issue. One step at a time:From: A History of Romania - The Political and Religious Situation East of the Carpathians (12th to 13th centuries)1) multiple literary sources dated 12th and 13th century: "Volohoveni" is defined as a Romanian state in the "north of Moldavia", some with reference to the capitol city named Bolohovo.2) Papal letter to Prince of Hungary, 1234: requested intervention against "Romanians in Moldavia" on behalf of the bishopric of the Cuman, because they (Moldoveni) had their own 'pseudo bishops' (ie Orthodox hierarchs) and ignored the directives of the Catholic bishop.3) German Franciscan Monk, Thomas Tuscus, writes in 1276: "the Romanians in northern Moldavia were at war with their Ruthenian neighbors."Same book:"In subsequent years ..(..referring to a series of leaders expanding from Bogdan's holding).. and Roman I(c.1391-1394), the territorial unification of Moldavia, within its historical borders ,was complete."(Obviously , this chronicler sees Moldova as something older that was "re-attained" ca 1394, and we are outside Roman province borders so that is not his intent.)I think Moldova is older than Bogdania as a place/region name, Piotr.