By ANNA MARIE MATEESCU GRAND ADVENTURE WALLACHIA or WALACHIA is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Lower Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians. Wallachia is traditionally divided into two sections, Muntenia and Oltenia. In 1859, Wallachia united with Moldavia to form the United Principalities, which adopted the name Romania in 1866 and officially became the Kingdom of Romania in 1881. Vlad the Impaler is perhaps the most famous ruler of Wallachia, as he is widely known for being the inspiration behind Dracula, the ruthless ruler of Wallachia. Vlad was born in Sighisoara in 1431, but he spent most of his childhood in the Ottoman Empire, which he sought to destroy his whole life. The name Wallachia is an exonym – generally not used by Romanians themselves – who used the denomination “Țara Rumânească”, meaning Romanian Country or Romanian Land. The term “Wallachia” (however present in some Romanian texts as Valahia or Vlahia) is derived from the term walhaz used by Germanic peoples to describe Celts, and later romanized Celts and all Romance-speaking people. In Northwestern Europe this gave rise to Wales, Cornwall and Wallonia, among others, while in Southeast Europe it was used to designate Romance-speakers, and subsequently shepherds generally. The late 15th century saw the ascension of the powerful Craiovesti family, virtually independent rulers of the Oltenian banat, who sought Ottoman support in their rivalry with Mihnea Cel Rau (1508–1510) and replaced him with Vladut. After the latter proved to be hostile to the bans, the House of Basarab formally ended with the rise of Neagoe Basarab, a Craioveşti. Neagoe’s peaceful rule (1512–1521) was noted for its cultural aspects (the building of the Curtea De Arges Cathedral and Renaissance influences). It was also a period of...... Read more on Full Issue!