Editing Oltenia (section)

=== Middle Ages ===
{{Main|Origin of the Romanians|Romania in the Early Middle Ages|Romania in the Middle Ages|Foundation of Wallachia}}
[[File:Horezu bis man NE.jpg|thumb|left|[[Horezu Monastery]] - UNESCO World Heritage]]
From 681, with some interruptions, it was part of the [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian Empire]] (see [[Bulgarian lands across the Danube]]).{{cn|date=December 2021}}
[[File:Banate of severin.png|thumb|left|Banate of Severin]]
In 1233, the [[Kingdom of Hungary]] formed the [[Banate of Severin]] in the western part of the region that would persist until the 1526 [[Battle of Mohács]].

Around 1247, a polity emerged in Oltenia under the rule of [[Litovoi]]. The rise of the medieval state of [[Wallachia]] followed in the 14th century, and the [[voivode]] ([[List of rulers of Wallachia|Prince of Wallachia]]) was represented in Oltenia by a [[Ban (title)|ban]] - "the [[Great Ban of Craiova]]" (with seat in [[Craiova]] after it was moved from [[Strehaia]]). This came to be considered the greatest office in Wallachian hierarchy, and one that was held most by members of the [[Craiovești]] family, from the late 15th century to about 1550. The title would continue to exist up until 1831.

During the 15th century, Wallachia had to accept the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[suzerainty]] and to pay an annual [[tribute]] to keep its autonomy as a vassal. From the Craiovești family, many bans cooperated with the Turks. However, many rulers, including the Oltenian-born [[Michael the Brave]], fought against the Ottomans, giving Wallachia brief periods of independence.