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| 1849, May 1 |
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| Russia and the Ottoman Empire signed the Convention of Balta Liman: the hospodars were to be appointed for only seven years; assemblies of boyars were abolished and replaced by divans, appointed by the hospodars. Russia and the Ottomans were to occupy the country jointly. The Russians stayed until 1851. | 1 |
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| 1853, July 2 |
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| Russia occupied the Principalities following the dispute with the Ottomans, which led to the Crimean War. | 2 |
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| 1854, Aug. 8 |
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| The Russians evacuated and were replaced by the Austrians (until March 1857) in agreement with the Ottoman Empire. | 3 |
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| 1856, Feb.–March |
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| CONGRESS OF PARIS (See 1853–56). Napoleon III favored the union of the Principalities (influence of Mme. Cornu and of Ion Bratianu). This was opposed by the Ottomans and Austria, but gradually supported by Britain. Russia sided with France. It was finally decided that the sultan should summon popularly elected divans to ascertain the wishes of the population. At the same time an international commission was to investigate and suggest an organization. | 4 |
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| 1857, March |
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| Austria evacuated the Principalities. In the election every kind of pressure and corruption was employed to debar the unionists, who were consequently defeated. France at once demanded annulment, which the sultan refused. | 5 |
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| Aug |
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| France, Russia, Prussia, and Sardinia broke off relations with the Ottomans. An acute danger of war arose between France and Britain, the latter supporting the Ottoman Empire. | 6 |
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| Aug. 9 |
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| The visit of Napoleon III to Osborne resulted in the Osborne Pact between France and Britain: Britain agreed to the annulment of the elections and approved of a system of common institutions under separate princes (broad administrative union). | 7 |
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| Sept |
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| New elections resulted in a great victory for the unionists. | 8 |
| Oil production began. By 1913 Romania ranked fourth in the world. | 9 |
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