Domnitor

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Domnitor (pl. domnitori) was the official title of the ruler of the United Pricipalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (Romania) between 1859 and 1881.

It was used officially only after Wallachia and Moldavia chose the same ruler in 1859. Before that moment, Wallachian and Moldavian rulers had the titles of voivode and hospodar, especially after they began being officially nominated by the Ottoman Empire Sultans, although unofficially they were known as domnitori. The word itself is derived from the Romanian "domn" (lord), in turn originating in the Latin "Dominus".

There were only two domnitors of Romania:

• Alexandru Ioan Cuza (1859 - 1866, deposed)
• Carol I of Romania (elected 1866 - 1881), of the new -and last- dynasty of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen

In 1881, Carol was crowned as King of Romania, which had been recognized an independent principality rather than an Ottoman vassal in 1877/78.