Ad hoc Divans facts for kids
The two Ad hoc Divans were special meetings held in the lands of Moldavia and Wallachia. These two areas were known as the Danubian Principalities. At the time, they were under the control of the Ottoman Empire. These meetings were set up by powerful European countries after the Crimean War ended in 1856. This was part of the Treaty of Paris.
Before this, Russia had a lot of influence over Moldavia and Wallachia. But the Crimean War changed that. The old rules, called Regulamentul Organic, were no longer in effect. The Ad hoc Divans were temporary replacements for the traditional local assemblies. The word "divan" comes from the Ottoman Empire. It was the name for an important government group in many Islamic countries.
The elections for these two Divans were a big deal. Two main groups were competing. One was the National Party. They wanted Moldavia and Wallachia to join together and form a new country called "Romania". The other group wanted things to stay the same. In the end, the National Party won in 1859. Their chosen leader, Alexandru Ioan Cuza, became the ruler, or Domnitor, of both countries. This joining of Moldavia and Wallachia created the United Principalities. This was the first step towards modern Romania.
