The Union of the Romanian Principalities, between solving the Eastern Question and the ideals of the Spring of Nations

The Eastern Question posed by the decaying Ottoman Empire re-emerged after the Sultan defeated Russia with the aid of his Western allies, along with the notion that a buffer state between Austria, Russia and Turkey could serve as a solution to this. The Great Powers subsequently agreed upon a loose union between Moldavia and Wallachia in the event that both countries would agree to this. Nevertheless, as both eagerly backed this idea, elections were held for their princes. The principalities took advantage of the ambiguous provisions set forth by the Great Powers, which mentioned two distinct thrones, but did not prohibit the election of the same individual. Thus, Alexandru Ioan Cuza was elected prince in both countries.