Peter's ill-fated attempt to seize Moldavia early…

Peter's ill-fated attempt to seize Moldavia early in 1711 had had the support of both Romanian princes.

After the Turks expel the Russian forces, the sultan moves to strengthen his hold on the principalities by appointing Greeks from Constantinople's Phanar, or "Lighthouse," district as princes.

These "Phanariot" princes, or Phanariotes, who purchase their positions and usually hold them briefly until a higher bidder usurps them, are entirely dependent upon their Ottoman overlords.

Within the principalities, however, their rule is absolute and the Porte expects them to leech out as much wealth from their territories as possible in the least time.