Editing Oltenia

{{For|the place of the same name in Greece|Little Wallachia (disambiguation){{!}}Little Wallachia}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                = Oltenia
| native_name         = 
| other_name          = Lesser Wallachia
| settlement_type     = [[Historical regions of Romania|Historical region of Romania]]
| image_skyline       = Valea Oltului-Judetul Valcea.JPG
| image_alt =
| image_caption       = [[Olt Defile]], [[Vâlcea County]]
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| seal_alt =
| image_shield        = Banatul Craiovei (Oltenia) - Stemă.png
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| image_map           = Oltenia.svg
| map_alt =
| map_caption         = Oltenia within the Regions of Romania
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| coordinates            = {{coord|44|30|N|23|30|E|type:adm1st_dim:200000|display=inline,title}}
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| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = {{flag|Romania}}
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| seat_type =Largest city
| seat =[[Craiova]]
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| unit_pref              = Metric
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| population_demonym     = Oltenian
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| timezone1              = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset1            = +2
| timezone1_DST          = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST        = +3
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}}
'''Oltenia''' ({{IPA|ro|olˈtenia}}), also called '''Lesser Wallachia''' in antiquated versions – with the alternative [[Latin]] names {{lang|la|Wallachia Minor}}, {{lang|la|Wallachia Alutana}}, and {{lang|la|Wallachia Caesarea}} between 1718 and 1739 – is a historical province and geographical region of [[Romania]] in western [[Wallachia]]. It is situated between the [[Danube]], the [[Southern Carpathians]] and the [[Olt River|Olt river]].

== History ==
{{History of Romania}}

=== Ancient times ===
{{Main|Getae|Dacians|Dacia|Domitian's Dacian War|Trajan's Dacian Wars|Roman Dacia}}
[[File:Sucidava Corabia.jpg|thumb|left|[[Sucidava]] - ancient Roman citadel at [[Corabia]]]]
Initially inhabited by [[Dacians]], Oltenia was incorporated in the [[Roman Empire]] (106, at the end of the [[Trajan's Dacian Wars|Dacian Wars]]; ''see [[Roman Dacia]]''). In 129, during [[Hadrian]]'s rule, it formed '''Dacia Inferior''', one of the two divisions of the province (together with '''Dacia Superior''', in today's [[Transylvania]]); [[Marcus Aurelius]]' administrative reform made Oltenia one of the three new divisions (''tres Daciae'') as '''Dacia Malvensis''', its capital and chief city being named [[Romula]]. It was colonized with [[veteran]]s of the [[Roman legion]]s. The Romans withdrew their administration south of the Danube at the end of the 3rd century and Oltenia was ruled by the ''foederati'' [[Germanic tribes|Germanic]] [[Goths]]. In the late 4th century Oltenia came under the rule of the [[Taifals]] before invasion by the [[Huns]].

=== 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.

=== Modern times ===
{{Main|Early Modern Romania|History of the Russo-Turkish wars|Phanariotes|National awakening of Romania}}
After 1716, the Ottomans decided to cease choosing the voivodes from among the Wallachian boyars, and to appoint foreign governors. As the governors were Orthodox Greeks living in [[Phanar]], Constantinople, this period is known as the [[Phanariote]] regime.
[[File:Empire Autricien au XVIII. siecle.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Oltenia under the [[Austrian Empire]] as the [[Banat of Craiova]] in the 18th century]]

Two years later, in 1718 under the terms of the [[Treaty of Passarowitz]],{{sfn|Ingrao|Samardžić|Pešalj|2011}} Oltenia was split from Wallachia and annexed by the [[Habsburg monarchy]] as the [[Banat of Craiova]] (''de facto'', it was under Austrian occupation by 1716); in 1737, it was returned to Wallachia under Prince [[Constantine Mavrocordatos]] (''see [[Austro-Turkish War of 1716–1718]] and [[Austro-Russian–Turkish War (1735–1739)]]''). Under the occupation, Oltenia was the only part of the [[Danubian Principalities]] (with the later exception of [[Bukovina]]) to experience [[Enlightened absolutism]] and Austrian administration, although these were met by considerable and mounting opposition from [[Conservatism|conservative]] [[boyar]]s. While welcomed at first as liberators, the Austrians quickly disenchanted the inhabitants by imposing rigid administrative, fiscal, judicial and political reforms which were meant to centralize and integrate the territory (antagonizing both ends of the social spectrum: withdrawing [[Privilege (legal ethics)|privilege]]s from the nobility and enforcing taxes for peasants).

In 1761, the residence of Bans was moved to [[Bucharest]], in a move towards [[Centralized government|centralism]] (a ''[[kaymakam]]'' represented the boyars in Craiova). It remained there until the death of the last Ban, [[Barbu Văcărescu]], in 1832.

In 1821, Oltenia and [[Gorj County]] were at the center of [[Tudor Vladimirescu]]'s uprising (''see [[Wallachian uprising of 1821]]''). Vladimirescu initially gathered his [[Pandur]]s in [[Padeș]] and relied on a grid of fortified monasteries such as [[Tismana]] and Strehaia.

== Symbols ==
[[File:RO GJ Tg Jiu park featuring Endless Column.jpg|thumb|200px|Brancusi - The Endless Column in [[Târgu Jiu]]]]
The traditional heraldic symbol of Oltenia, also understood to represent [[Banat]], is part of the [[coat of arms of Romania]] (lower ''dexter''): on ''[[gules]]'' field, an ''[[Or (heraldry)|or]]'' [[Lion (heraldry)|lion]] rampant, facing ''dexter'', holding a sword, and standing over an ''or'' bridge (Apollodorus of Damascus Bridge at Drobeta Turnu Severin) and stylised waves.

Since its promulgation on 13 April 2017, [[Oltenia Day]] is officially celebrated on 21 March.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.agerpres.ro/documentare/2020/03/21/ziua-olteniei--470704|title=Ziua Olteniei|newspaper=[[Agerpres]]|date=21 March 2020|language=ro|access-date=20 March 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420055256/https://www.agerpres.ro/documentare/2020/03/21/ziua-olteniei--470704|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Lesser Wallachia.svg|thumb|left|The counties which comprise Oltenia]]
[[File:Alt-olt.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Olt River]] separates Oltenia from Muntenia]]
[[File:The suspended bridge, in Nicolae Romanescu Park, Craiova, Romania.jpg|thumb|right|Suspension bridge in [[Craiova]]'s [[Nicolae Romanescu Park]]]]
Oltenia is part of the [[Sud-Vest (development region)|Sud - Vest development region]]. It entirely includes the [[Counties of Romania|counties]] of [[Gorj County|Gorj]] and [[Dolj County|Dolj]] and parts of the counties of [[Mehedinți County|Mehedinți]] (mainly in Oltenia, but the western part belongs to [[Banat]]), [[Vâlcea]] (part east of the Olt river is in [[Muntenia]], a small part in the north-west lies in [[Transylvania]]), [[Olt County|Olt]] (the western half, the former [[Romanați County|Romanați county]]) and [[Teleorman County|Teleorman]] (only the commune [[Islaz]]).

Oltenia's main city and seat for a majority of the late [[Middle Ages]] is [[Craiova]]. The first medieval seat of Oltenia was [[Turnu Severin]], anciently called Drobeta, in the [[Banate of Severin]]. That city is located near the site of [[Trajan's Bridge]], built by [[Apollodorus of Damascus]] for [[Emperor Trajan]] in his conquest of the region.

=== Towns ===
{| cellpadding="0" style="width:431px;" class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|
City

! style="text-align:left;"|
County

! style="text-align:right;"|
Population
|-
| '''[[Craiova]]'''
| [[Dolj County|Dolj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 302,601
|-
| '''[[Râmnicu Vâlcea]]'''
| [[Vâlcea County|Vâlcea]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 107,656
|-
| '''[[Drobeta-Turnu Severin]]'''
| [[Mehedinți County|Mehedinți]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 92,617
|-
| '''[[Târgu Jiu]]'''
| [[Gorj County|Gorj]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 82,504
|-
| '''[[Slatina, Romania|Slatina]]'''
| [[Olt County|Olt]]
| style="text-align:right;" | 63,487
|-
| [[Caracal, Romania|Caracal]]
| [[Olt County|Olt]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 34,603
|-
| [[Motru]]
| [[Gorj County|Gorj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 25,860
|-
| [[Balș]]
| [[Olt County|Olt]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 23,147
|-
| [[Drăgășani]]
| [[Vâlcea]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 22,499
|-
| [[Băilești]]
| [[Dolj County|Dolj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 22,231
|-
| [[Corabia]]
| [[Olt County|Olt]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 21,932
|-
| [[Calafat]]
| [[Dolj County|Dolj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 21,227
|-
| [[Filiași]]
| [[Dolj County|Dolj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 20,159
|-
| [[Dăbuleni]]
| [[Dolj County|Dolj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 13,888
|-
| [[Rovinari]]
| [[Gorj County|Gorj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 12,603
|-
| [[Strehaia]]
| [[Mehedinți County|Mehedinți]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 12,564
|-
| [[Bumbești-Jiu]]
| [[Gorj County|Gorj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 11,882
|-
| [[Băbeni]]
| [[Vâlcea County|Vâlcea]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,475
|-
| [[Târgu Cărbunești]]
| [[Gorj County|Gorj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 9,338
|-
| [[Călimănești]]
| [[Vâlcea County|Vâlcea]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,923
|-
| [[Segarcea]]
| [[Dolj County|Dolj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,704
|-
| [[Turceni]]
| [[Gorj County|Gorj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 8,550
|-
| [[Brezoi]]
| [[Vâlcea County|Vâlcea]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 7,589
|-
| [[Tismana]]
| [[Gorj County|Gorj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 7,578
|-
| [[Horezu]]
| [[Vâlcea County|Vâlcea]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 7,446
|-
| [[Vânju Mare]]
| [[Mehedinți County|Mehedinți]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 7,074
|-
| [[Piatra Olt]]
| [[Olt County|Olt]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 6,583
|-
| [[Novaci, Romania|Novaci]]
| [[Gorj County|Gorj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 6,151
|-
| [[Bălcești]]
| [[Vâlcea County|Vâlcea]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 5,780
|-
| [[Baia de Aramă]]
| [[Mehedinți County|Mehedinți]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 5,724
|-
| [[Berbești]]
| [[Vâlcea County|Vâlcea]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 5,704
|-
| [[Țicleni]]
| [[Gorj County|Gorj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 5,205
|-
| [[Băile Olăneşti]]
| [[Vâlcea County|Vâlcea]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 4,814
|-
| [[Bechet]]
| [[Dolj County|Dolj]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 3,864
|-
| [[Ocnele Mari]]
| [[Vâlcea County|Vâlcea]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 3,591
|-
| [[Băile Govora]]
| [[Vâlcea County|Vâlcea]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 3,147
|-
|[[Ploiești]]
|[[Prahova County|Prahova]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 5,779
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
* Vlad Georgescu, ''Istoria ideilor politice românești (1369–1878)'', Munich, 1987
* [[Neagu Djuvara]], ''Între Orient și Occident. Țările române la începutul epocii moderne'', Humanitas, Bucharest, 1995
* [[Constantin C. Giurescu]], ''Istoria Bucureștilor. Din cele mai vechi timpuri pînă în zilele noastre'', Ed. Pentru Literatură, Bucharest, 1966, p.&nbsp;93
* [[Șerban Papacostea]], ''Oltenia sub stăpânirea austriacă (1718–1739)'', Bucharest, 1971, p.&nbsp;59
* {{Cite book|year=2011|editor-last1=Ingrao|editor-first1=Charles|editor-last2=Samardžić|editor-first2=Nikola|editor-last3=Pešalj|editor-first3=Jovan|title=The Peace of Passarowitz, 1718|location=West Lafayette|publisher=Purdue University Press|isbn=9781557535948|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T3Sg_1wR4poC}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Oltenia|position=left}}


{{Romanian historical regions}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Oltenia| ]]
[[Category:Historical regions in Romania]]
[[Category:Wallachia]]
[[Category:Historical regions]]