AbstractsHistory

The Roumanian princes were despots, and because there was considerable Byzantine influence in the two sister principalities, the rulers copied the absolutism and the form of government of this Empire. The absolute power of the rulers was limited by the fact that the two original Roumanian dynasties ruled for three centures but did not produce many capable leaders. Since there were no established laws of succession (any member of the princely families could be elected ruler by the assemblies of nobles and clergymen), many struggles for power took place which weakened the authority of the Roumanian princes.