Turkish exactions after Michael's fall--Transition from native to Greek Voivodes--Matthew Bassarab (Wallachia) and Basilius Lupus (Moldavia)--Their severe criminal codes--Serban II. (Cantacuzene)--His good deeds--Betrays the Turks before Vienna--Growing power of Russia--Treaty of Carlowitz--Brancovano (Wallachia) and Cantemir (Moldavia) negotiate with Peter the Great--First Russian invasion of the Principalities--Repelled by the Turks--Flight of Cantemir--(Note: Anecdote of Russian cupidity)--Arrest and execution of Brancovano and his family--His great treasures--The Phanariotes--Their origin and rise--Massacred in Wallachia--Second appearance--Extortions and expulsion--Panaiotaki, Dragoman of the Porte--The Mavrocordatos--Nicholas, first Phanariote Hospodar--Suppresses the boyards' retainers--Constantine modifies slavery--Mode of appointing hospodars--The Caimakam--Homage and servility of boyards--Conduct of Phanariote rulers at home--Court customs--Reputed effeminacy--Rapacity and exactions--Extortions of officials--Extravagance of princesses--Treatment of peasantry--Princes encourage brigandage--Usually deposed and executed--Corruption of clergy--Other baneful effects of Phanariote rule--(Note: Divorces in Roumania to-day)--Another view of Phanariote princes--Their good works--Ypsilanti, Gregory Ghika--Nicholas Mavrojeni and his cowardly boyards--Ennobles his horses--Russo-Turkish wars--Treaty of Belgrade--Russian successes and Austrian interference--Treaty of Kainardji--Russian protectorate--Cession of Bucovine to Austria--Treaty of Jassy--Amelioration of state of the Principalities, 1802--French and English consuls appointed--Russo-Turkish war and occupation--Treaty of Bucarest--Hetairia or Greek rising--Rebellion in the Principalities--Career and fate of the patriots Vladimiresco and Ypsilanti--End of Phanariote rule--Russian intervention and occupation--Treaty of Adrianople and restoration of native rulers--Patriotic efforts of Heliade and others--Rise of Roumanian learning and art--The year of revolutions, 1848--Partial success of the rising in Roumania--Suppression by Russia and Turkey--Escape of the patriots--Review of the benefits of Russian interference in the Principalities--Renewed Russian aggression--Brief history of the war of 1854-1856 between Russia and the Western Powers and Turkey--Treaty of Paris--Return of the patriots--Union of the Principalities under Prince Couza--Incidents of his reign--His deposition--How planned and effected--The provisional government--Evil influence of Couza's conduct. I.