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Starting with the 10th century, various historical sources mention that on the entire territory of Romania, in the old areas colonized by Romans from Banat, Oltenia, Transylvania and Dobrogea, there are state formations with the name of principalities and voivodeships. These state organizations kept elements from the Daco-Roman traditions, but they also borrowed a series of characteristics from the migrant populations that passed through these territories.
The development of these formations and their state unification were hindered by the last wave of migrant populations: Pechenegs, Udi, Cumans, Tatars, but also by the expansion of the Hungarian kingdom in Transylvania.
The beginning of the 14th century, with the outbreak of crises in the Mongol Empire and in the Kingdom of Hungary, allowed Romanian political leaders in the north of the Danube to move to the unification of Romanian state formations. Thus, around the voivode from the Argeș areas, Basarab (1324-1352), the Romanian communities between the Southern Carpathians and the Danube gather. Basarab thus became the Founder of the first Romanian state, called Wallachia or, by some historical sources, Wallachia.
Following the model of Basarab, the second Romanian state to be born, east of the Carpathians, is Moldova, borrowing its name from the river that flows through the territory, as a symbol of the origin of the new state. Historical sources call this new state the Romanian Country of Moldova or Wallachia Minor, to distinguish it from the other Romanian state, Wallachia. The very idea of naming this new state Wallachia Minor emphasizes the reality of socio-political ties and the existence of a certain power relationship between the two provinces. The second Romanian state brought together the Romanian political organizations between the Eastern Carpathians, the Danube, the Dniester and the Black Sea and was under the leadership of the unifying voivode, Bogdan (1359-1365).
The external climate in the XV-XVI centuries was extremely complicated and was not at all favorable to natural developments, which would ensure the socio-political and economic development of the provinces. These evolutions would have been necessary to reach a consensus in a possible wider union of Romanians inside and outside the Carpathian arc. From all four cardinal points various dangers lurked in the Danube states, and the voivodes were forced to adopt a complicated game of external alliances, sometimes with one force, sometimes with another.
Through many and long battles, the voivodes of Wallachia, Mircea cel Bătrân (1386-1418) and Vlad Țepeș (1456-1462), together with those of Transylvania and Moldavia, Iancu de Hunedoara (1441-1456), respectively Ștefan cel Mare (1456 -1504), managed to impose on external powers the existence and continuity of the Romanian provinces and a certain respect for their borders. For political and military reasons, Transylvania had to accept the suzerainty of the Hungarian crown, and Wallachia and Moldova the Ottoman one, this being the price paid for maintaining the autonomy of government. In order to ensure and defend their independence, the Romanian voivodes entered over the years in alliances with different powers of the time: the kings of Hungary and Poland, with Venice or with the papal state. After the battle of Mohacs (1526),
A turning point in the history of the Romanians was the reign of Mihai Viteazu (1593-1601), a period in which the union of the three Romanian provinces took place, Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldavia. Once again, the temporary union made by Mihai Viteazul confirms the economic and political ties between the provinces, located on a substratum of unity of nation, language, culture, customs and beliefs. The success of Prince Mihai demonstrates that there were concerns in the region for the unification of all Romanians under a single ruler and in a single state unit. According to the documents issued in Alba Iulia, Mihai Viteazul was entitled: Io, Mihail Voievod, by the grace of God, lord of Wallachia and Transylvania and of the whole country of Moldova!
The union during the reign of Mihai Viteazul, although it was short-lived, managed to awaken in the Romanian consciousness the idea of unity, and the echoes of this achievement were felt in the following generations. The figure of the great ruler was glorified, becoming a symbol of national unity and influenced subsequent movements for the creation of a unitary and independent nation-state within the borders of ancient Dacia.
Separated from the point of view of the state, the inhabitants of the Romanian provinces continued to develop socially and culturally throughout the territory inhabited by Romanians. Princely residences were built in Câmpulung, Curtea de Argeș, Târgoviște, Bucharest, Suceava, Iași and Alba Iulia and a series of fortresses for defense, such as: Poenari, Cetatea, Neamțului, Suceava, Chilia, Cetatea Albă. Along with these administrative and military centers, monasteries were also built: Tismana, Cozia, Putna, Dealul, Argeș, Voroneț, Sucevița. Spiritual centers with a religious role were also real foci of culture and education.
The beginning of the 16th century brings important cultural changes in the Romanian Lands. The introduction of printing (1508) in Wallachia brought a cultural flourishing in the Romanian space and a connection to the space of ideas in Europe and the Orient. A series of books were printed, mainly religious, in Romanian, but also in others of local or even oriental circulation: Slavonic, Greek, Arabic, Georgian.
The eighteenth century was under the sign of the empires that disputed their influence in Eastern Europe. The Ottoman Empire weakened in strength and influence, with two other powers in constant bloom and expansion, Russia and Austria. After the Peace of Karlowitz (1699), Transylvania came under Austrian rule. In Wallachia and Moldova, the Ottoman Empire introduces the Phanariot rulers, in an attempt to strengthen their position of suzerainty. Although the Romanian Lands were not the possession of the Empire, parts of these provinces were alienated. In 1718 after the Peace of Passarovitz, Oltenia was ceded to the Habsburg Empire until 1739 (Peace of Belgrade). In 1775 it was Bukovina's turn to be alienated from the Habsburg Empire.
Under a Phanariot administration, Wallachia and Moldova are experiencing a decline in political rights, but at the same time there is a modernization of society, so necessary to adapt to new European realities. Although elements of Neo-Hellenic culture were favored, there was no lack of local cultural movements.
Important changes also occur in the destiny of Moldavia, starting with 1812, the year in which the Russian Empire annexed Bessarabia.
Starting with the 18th century, the national consciousness crystallized, followed later by the formation of the modern Romanian nation.
In Transylvania, an important voice in the national renaissance was played by the Greek Catholic bishop Ioan Inochentie Micu, a tireless fighter for the rights of Romanians and for their emancipation, regardless of their confession.
During all this time, intellectuals from all three Romanian provinces kept alive the consciousness of the Romanians and promoted through written works the common origins of the inhabitants of the Romanian provinces. Now appear the History of Wallachia, by Constantin Cantacuzino, in Wallachia and the Chronicle of the antiquity of the Romanian-Moldovan-Vlachs (1719-1722) by Dimitrie Cantemir, in Moldova. Both works address sensitive issues such as the Romanianness of the Romanian provinces, the community of origin and the continuity of the Romanian population in Dacia. In Transylvania, in the context of the European Enlightenment, the intellectuals of the Transylvanian School rewrote historical, philological and philosophical works through which they awakened the Romanian consciousness and militated for the rights of the Romanian people. At the same time, through their works, they cultivated the Romanian language and the history of the Romanian people.
The national movement knows new heights through the three leaders of the uprising of 1784: Horea, Cloșca and Crișan. Their revolt found an important European echo and received support from publicists and political leaders in Europe.
In Wallachia, in 1821, Tudor Vladimirescu carried forward the ideas of asserting the national rights of the Romanian people. The revolution of 1821 was synchronized with similar movements in Italy, Spain, Portugal as well as other liberation actions of the peoples of the Balkans. All these movements led to a strengthening of the autonomy of the Romanian Lands towards the Ottoman Gate.
The year 1848, through the revolution that covered the entire Romanian space, added new horizons in strengthening the national consciousness and highlighted the desire of Romanians to assert their national unity. Even though it was repressed by Ottoman and Russian forces and could not materialize into a modern and independent state, it added another brick to the future construction of state unity.
The Crimean War (1853-1856) and its consequences brought to the forefront in Europe the Romanian problem and the demands of the Romanian Principalities. The national and political liberation movement has grown.
After the Treaty of Paris (1856), the Russian protectorate was replaced by the collective guarantee of European states, and the autonomy of the Romanian Principalities was proclaimed, which opened the way to modern Romania.
In the autumn of 1857, ad-hoc sofas were convened and national wishes were presented. The main issue complained of was the unification of the two countries into a single state: Wallachia and Moldova. On January 5, 1859, elections took place in Moldavia, and on January 24, 1859 in Wallachia, Alexandru Ioan Cuza (1859-1866) was elected ruler in both principalities.
The election of the new lord in the two provinces did not go unnoticed in the other provinces still under foreign rule, including Transylvania. Al. Papiu Ilarian noted: "When Cuza was elected lord, the enthusiasm of the Romanians in Transylvania was, perhaps, greater than in the Principality."
Al. Ioan Cuza undertook a series of reforms expected in order to modernize the country, the most important being the secularization of the monastic fortunes and the agrarian reform. Through Cuza's efforts, history reserved for him the title of creator of the modern Romanian state, and the formation of the new state was the starting point in the completion of national and state unity.
In February 1866, Cuza abdicated, and Prince Carol of Hohenzollern Sigmaringen received the Crown of Romania and became the founder of the Romanian royal dynasty.
Europe in 1875 is dominated by the crisis called the Eastern Question. Romania sees in this complicated international context an opportunity to gain state independence. The Assembly of Deputies proclaimed independence in 1877. Mihai Kogălniceanu declared at this event: "I have not the slightest doubt and fear to declare before the National Representation that we are a free and independent nation." De facto, independence was enshrined in the military actions of the Romanian army along with Russia and other Balkan peoples, against the Ottoman Empire. The unity of the Romanians was demonstrated once again. Residents from Transylvania, Bucovina, Banat also took part in the battles of Pleven, Rahova, Smârdan, along with the Romanian army.
In 1878, the European powers recognized Romania's independence, by signing the treaties of San Stefano and Berlin and obtained its fourth province, North Dobrogea, with Tulcea and Constanța counties. In the following decades, Romania consolidated its state administration. placing it on modern grounds. A major change in the history of Romania and the Romanian state took place on March 14/26, 1881. Starting with this day, after the country's parliament voted, Romania became a Kingdom (for 66 years), Prince Carol being crowned King of Romania on May 10/22, 1881.
The following years brought measures of economic and cultural development from the state, which aimed at national prosperity. Scientific development has also led to the assertion of scientific personalities at European level.
At a symbolic level, gaining independence and transforming the state into a kingdom made Bucharest a polarizing center of the entire Romanian nation. Relevant in this context are the words of Ioan Slavici from 1884, who states that: "the sun of Romanianism in Bucharest rises".
The movement for the liberation of the Romanians from Transylvania intensified after the installation of the Austro-Hungarian dualism, and in 1892 through the Memorandum addressed to Emperor Franz Joseph I, the demands of the Romanians and the intolerant policy of the Hungarian government were presented.
The Romanian press together with personalities of Romanian culture and science carried out a sustained activity in support of the union.
The beginning of the 20th century finds the Romanian people in a permanent struggle for union. The development of Romania and the progress of the Romanian society allowed the Romanians to hope for the liberation of the last occupied territories and for the restoration of the union of all Romanians from the Carpathian-Danubian-Pontic area.
The completion of the formation of the Romanian national state found the right moment at the end of the First World War. After the death of King Carol I, at the head of Romania comes to the throne Ferdinand I, the one who remained in the Romanian consciousness as "the Loyal" and as King Ferdinand the Integrator.
Although in 1916 Romania went to war with France, England and Russia, there were moments when it was left alone in front of the Central Powers, consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey. In 1917 she had to defend her Moldovan interests in battles such as those in Marasesti and Oituz. However, in 1918 he managed to put into practice the realization of the historical ideal, the union of all Romanians in a unitary national state, based on the principle of the right of peoples to self-determination and their establishment as nation states.
On March 27, 1918, the Country Council, reunited in Chisinau, decided to unite Bessarabia with its mother Romania, "forever and ever." On November 28, 1918, Bucovina voted unanimously for the unconditional and eternal union with the Kingdom of Romania. On December 1, 1918, the Great National Assembly in Alba Iulia decided to unite all Romanians in Transylvania, Banat and Hungary with Romania "for all ages."
The union of the Romanians was consecrated by signing the peace treaties after the First World War and was confirmed by the coronation in Alba Iulia in 1922 of King Ferdinand I and Queen Maria.
After 1918, Romania consolidated its national state and experienced a strong development. For the first time in their history, Romanians were masters of all natural resources and decided their own social and economic destiny. From a political point of view, Romania was governed by a constitutional regime, based on a real democracy. Important reforms are taking place, such as agrarian reform and universal suffrage.
Externally, Romania campaigned for European security by getting involved in the League of Nations, but also organizing regional alliances: the Little Understanding (Romania, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia) and the Balkan Agreement (Romania, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey).
The Second World War interrupts the positive evolution of Romania and throws it in an international context from which it emerges with great territorial devastation. Following the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact (1939), Romania lost Bessarabia and northern Bukovina to the USSR, and following the Vienna dictatorship (1940), Transylvania was annexed to Horticultural Hungary and the Quadrilateral annexed to Bulgaria.
Lacking the help of traditional allies, France and England, Romania joined Nazi Germany. Under the regime of Marshal Antonescu, he engaged with Germany in the liberation of Bessarabia and northern Bukovina, entering the war against the USSR on June 22, 1941.
On August 23, 1944, as a result of an armed insurrection, the Antonescu government was ousted, and Romania turned its weapons against Germany. It participates economically with all its capacity in supporting the Anti-Fascist Coalition. Romania also sent over 500,000 people to the front, with whom it participated in the liberation of the national territory, but also in the liberation of Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Austria. Even though it made this special effort, Romania was not accepted among the co-belligerent states and had the status of a defeated state, within the peace treaty of Paris, of February 10, 1947. For Romania, the immediate consequence of the treaty was the annulment of the dictatorship. from Vienna and the return of northern Transylvania within the country. Northern Bukovina and the Land of Herta remained part of the USSR, and the Quadrilateral in that of Bulgaria.
After the war, Romania entered the sphere of Soviet influence and began a series of transformations, some of which were worse for the destiny of the Romanian state. In 1945, Petru Groza was charged with forming the government, former Marshal Ion Antonescu was executed in 1946, and in December 1947 the forced abdication of King Michael I took place. During all this time, the democratic regime suffered, the opposition it was eliminated, and political opponents were arrested under directives from Moscow. Romania became communist, for a long time, for four and a half decades.
The communist regime meant for Romania: the abolition of freedoms, the elimination of private property almost entirely, the transformation of the free economy into a centralized one, the collectivization of agriculture. There was a massive industrialization, sometimes excessive, and foreign economic relations took place through the CAER market. The decoupling of the economy from Western markets and the latest technologies in Western Europe has led to a lag behind the means of production, structural and managerial gaps. All this had a correspondent in the decrease of the living standard of the citizens, many dissatisfactions and social tensions.
The '80s of the last century were characterized by the cult of personality of Nicolae Ceaușescu, a bankruptcy of the Romanian economy, implicitly of the Romanian state and an increasingly accentuated degradation of the citizens' lives. From an external perspective, Romania has suffered increasing isolation from Western states, which has put even more pressure on the communist regime. The dissatisfaction of the population could not be controlled at the end of 1989, so the communist regime was overthrown by force, during the events that began on December 22 of the same year. After the execution of the Ceausescu couple, at the end of 1989, Romania returned to the democratic regime, based on several parties. The Romanian state is embracing the market economy and is increasingly concerned with everything that European reintegration means.
In 1993 Romania was received in the Council of Europe, and in 1994 it concluded with NATO the Partnership for Peace, being the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to adhere to this pact. After obtaining guest status in 2002, in 2004 he officially joined NATO. After the Copenhagen summit in 2002, in which Romania was invited to join the EU, in 2007 it officially became a full member of the European Union, then made up of 27 states.
* Romania will assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first six months of 2019.
