The relationships between the Moldavian princes and the citizens of Cetatea Albă

The main subject of this article is focused on the evolution of the relations between the rulers of the Principality of Moldova and the citizens of Cetatea Albă from the end of the 14th century until the conquest of the city in 1484 by the Ottoman Empire. After a general presentation of the opinions expressed in historiography regarding the status of Cetatea Albă within the Romanian East-Carpathian voivodeship, the main attention will be given to the analysis of the main episodes in favor of the idea of a special position held by the community of the city on the Dniester bank in its interactions with the princely power. The results of this study suggest the existence of a dynamic relationship with the Moldavian voivodes, which changed in the mid-15th century because of the shifting international situation and led to the weakening of the Greek and Genoese influence in Cetatea Albă during the reign of Stephen the Great (1457-1504).