13th century–16th century → → Disestablished 16th century | Established 13th century Today part of Romania | |
 | ||
The Banate of Severin (Hungarian: Szörényi bánság; Romanian: Banatul Severinului; Latin: Banatus Zewrinensis; Bulgarian: Severinsko banstvo / Северинско банство); Serbian: Severinska banovina / Северинска бановина) was a political, military and administrative unit with a special role in initially anti-Bulgarian, laterly anti-Ottoman defensive system of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. It was founded by Prince Béla in 1228.
History
The Banate of Severin included areas of eastern Banat and western Oltenia. It was led by a ban, and the capital was at Turnu Severin (Hungarian: Szörényvár). The Banate of Severin was disputed initially between Bulgaria and Hungary, laterly between Wallachia and the Kingdom of Hungary.
After the 1526 Battle of Mohács, the Banate of Severin was divided. South-eastern part (eastwards from Varcsaró - Vârciorova, today part of Bolvașnița) came under the jurisdiction of Wallachian princes and in the north-western parta (westwards from Orsova - present-day Orșova - inclusive) was gradually reorganized into the Banate of Lugoj and Caransebeș.