On the Origin of the Name ‘Basarab’
On the Origin of the Name ‘Basarab’

Summary/Abstract: The kingdom of Wallachia was established in the fourteenth century under the rule of the Basarabs, who subsequently ruled the Romanian Principality for several centuries. Both the origin of this dynasty and the etymology of their name are unknown. I argue that ‘Basarab’ is an honorary title that derives from the Greek word for ‘king’, basileus, acquired via Latin. The Romanian word ‘Basarab’ represents the only trace of the existence of this Greek loanword in Latin.

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