Part of the series History of Romania
Dacia
Roman Dacia
The Dark Ages
The Middle Ages
National awakening
Kingdom of Romania
World War II
Communist Romania
Romania since 1989

From 1859 to 1877, Romania evolved from a personal union of two vassal principalities (Moldavia and Wallachia) under a single prince to a full-fledged independent kingdom with a Hohenzollern monarchy. In 1918, at the end of World War I, Transylvania, Eastern Moldavia (Bessarabia), and Bukovina united with the Kingdom of Romania, resulting in a "Greater Romania". In 1940, at the beginning of World War II, Northern Transylvania, Basarabia and Cadrilater were ceded to Hungary, Soviet Union and Bulgaria respectively, only Northern Transylvania being recovered after World War II ended. In 1947 the Monarchy was replaced by a Communist regime. Coat of arms of Romania This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... This article provides only a brief outline of each period of the History of Romania; details are presented in separate articles (see the links in the box and below). ... Dacia, in ancient geography the land of the Daci, named by the ancient greeks Getae, was a large district of Central Europe, bounded on the north by the Carpathians, on the south by the Danube, on the west by the Tisa, on the east by the Tyras or Nistru, now... Booty from Trajans conquest of Dacia Map of the Roman provinces Pannonia, Dalmatia, Moesia, and Dacia The Roman province of Dacia was limited to Transylvania, Banat and Oltenia. ... The Dark Ages in Romania began with the withdrawal of the Roman administration and ended in the 11th century, after Catholicism was brought to Hungary and the Romanian lands were once again connected to the Western world, this time not directly, but via the Hungarian Kingdom. ... Migration age Faced by successive invasions of Goths and Carpi, the Roman administration withdrew from Dacia, abandoning the last of their positions north of the Danube during the reign of Aurelian (270-275). ... During the period of Austro-Hungarian rule in Transylvania and Ottoman suzerainty over Wallachia and Moldavia, most Romanians were in the situation of being second-class citizens (or even non-citizens) in their own country. ... After a brief period of nominal neutrality, Romania joined the Axis Powers in June 1941, under the government of Ion Antonescu. ... The Soviets pressed for inclusion of Romanias heretofore negligible Communist Party in the post-war government, while non-communist political leaders were steadily eliminated from political life. ... 1989 marked the Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe. ... 1859 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... 1877 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... A personal union is a political union of two or more entities that, internationally, are considered separate states, but through established law, share the same head of state —hence also whatever political actions are vested in the head of state, but no (or very few) others. ... Moldavia (Moldova in Romanian) was a Romanian principality, originally created in the Middle Ages, now divided between Romania, Moldovan Republic and Ukraine. ... Map of Romania with Wallachia in yellow. ... Birds-eye view of the castle, Hohenzollern, Germany. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Introduction World War I is infamous for the protracted stalemate of trench warfare along the Western Front, embodied within a system of opposing manned trenches and fortifications (separated by a No mans land) running from the North Sea to the border of Switzerland. ... For other uses, see Transylvania (disambiguation). ... Moldavia (Moldova in Romanian) was a Romanian principality, originally created in the Middle Ages, now divided between Romania, Moldovan Republic and Ukraine. ... Old map of Bessarabia Bessarabia or Bessarabiya (Basarabia in Romanian, Besarabya in Turkish) was the name by which the Imperial Russia designated the eastern part of the principality of Moldavia annexed by Russia in 1812. ... Bukovina (Romanian: Bucovina; Ukrainian: Буковина, Bukovyna; German and Polish: Bukowina; see also other languages) is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains. ... Greater Romania (1920 - 1940) Greater Romania (România Mare) generally refers to the territory of Romania in the years between the First and Second World Wars, the greatest territorial exent of a united country of ethnic Romanians, on historically Romanian lands. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a military conflict that took place between 1939 and 1945. ... For other uses, see Transylvania (disambiguation). ... Old map of Bessarabia Bessarabia or Bessarabiya (Basarabia in Turkish) was the name used by Russia to designate the eastern part of the territory known as Moldova (Moldavia in English), which was occupied by Russia in 1812. ... Southern Dobruja (Dobrudzha in Bulgarian, Dobrogea de sud or Cadrilater in Bulgaria comprising the two former administrative districts named for its two principal cities of Dobrich and Silistra. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Unification and monarchy

The 1859 ascendancy of Alexander John Cuza as prince of both Moldavia and Wallachia under the nominal suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire united an identifiably Romanian nation under a single ruler. On February 5, 1862 (January 24 Old Style) the two principalities were formally united to form Romania, with Bucharest as its capital. 1859 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... Alexander John Cuza Alexandru Ioan Cuza (March 20, 1820, Galaţi – May 15, 1873, Heidelberg), more commonly known in English as Alexander John Cuza, was the domnitor (ruler) of the United Principalites of Romania between 1859 and 1866. ... Moldavia (Moldova in Romanian) was a Romanian principality, originally created in the Middle Ages, now divided between Romania, Moldovan Republic and Ukraine. ... Map of Romania with Wallachia in yellow. ... Suzerainty refers to a situation in which a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which allows the tributary some limited domestic autonomy but controls its foreign affairs. ... Imperial motto (Ottoman Turkish) Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (the Eternal State) The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power (1683) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Bursa (1335-1365), Edirne (1365-1453), İstanbul (1453-1922) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40... February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... In Britain and countries of the British Empire, Old Style or O.S. after a date means that the date is in the Julian calendar, in use in those countries until 1752; New Style or N.S. means that the date is in the Gregorian calendar, adopted on 14 September... Bucharest (Romanian: Bucureşti ) is the capital city and industrial and commercial centre of Romania. ... In politics, a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ...

Kingdom of Romania, 1878-1913

On February 23, 1866 a so-called Monstrous coalition, composed of Conservatives and radical Liberals, forced Cuza to abdicate. The German prince Carol (Charles) of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was appointed as Prince of Romania, in a move to assure German backing to unity and future independence. His descendants were to rule as the kings of Romania until the rise of the communists in 1947. Image File history File links Rom1878-1913. ... Image File history File links Rom1878-1913. ... February 23 is the 54th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1866 is a common year starting on Monday. ... Carol I, original name Karl Eitel Friedrich Zephyrinus Ludwig von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (April 20, 1839 - October 10, 1914) was elected Domnitor (prince) of Romania in April 1866 following the overthrow of Alexander John Cuza, and proclaimed king on March 26, 1881. ... The King of Romania was the title of the ruler of the Kingdom of Romania from 1881 until 1947 when Romania was proclaimed a republic. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In 1877, following a Russian-Romanian-Turkish war, Romania was recognized independent by Treaty of Berlin, 1878, acquired Dobruja, though, she was forced to surrender southern Bessarabia (Budjak) to Russia. Charles was crowned as Carol, the first King of Romania, in 1881. 1877 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Plevna Monument near the walls of Kitai-gorod. ... The Treaty of Berlin was the final Act of the Congress of Berlin (June 13-July 13, 1878), by which the United Kingdom, Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and Turkey revised the Treaty of San Stefano signed on March 3 of the same year. ... Dobruja, or sometimes Dobrudja (Dobrogea in Romanian, Добруджа—transliterated Dobrudzha—in Bulgarian, Dobruca in Turkish), is the territory between the lower Danube river and the Black Sea, including the Danube Delta and the Romanian coast. ... Old map of Bessarabia Bessarabia or Bessarabiya (Basarabia in Romanian, Besarabya in Turkish) was the name by which the Imperial Russia designated the eastern part of the principality of Moldavia annexed by Russia in 1812. ... Budjak or Budzhak is the southern part of Bessarabia, now part of the Odessa Oblast (province) of Ukraine. ... 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

The new state, squeezed between the Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Russian empires, with Slavic neighbors on its western and northeastern borders, and Magyar neighbors on its western and northwestern borders, looked to the West, particularly France, for its cultural, educational and administrative models. Official languages Latin, German, Hungarian Established church Roman Catholic Capital & Largest City Vienna pop. ... Magyar may refer to: The Magyar language The Magyar people This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

In 1916 Romania entered World War I on the Entente side. Although the Romanian forces did not fare well militarily, by the end of the war the Austrian and Russian empires were gone; governing bodies created in Transylvania, Bessarabia and Bukovina chose union with Romania, upheld in 1920 by the Treaty of Trianon. 1916 (MCMXVI) is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January-February January 1 - The Royal Army Medical Corps first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ... Introduction World War I is infamous for the protracted stalemate of trench warfare along the Western Front, embodied within a system of opposing manned trenches and fortifications (separated by a No mans land) running from the North Sea to the border of Switzerland. ... European military alliances in 1915. ... For other uses, see Transylvania (disambiguation). ... Old map of Bessarabia Bessarabia or Bessarabiya (Basarabia in Romanian, Besarabya in Turkish) was the name by which the Imperial Russia designated the eastern part of the principality of Moldavia annexed by Russia in 1812. ... Bukovina (Romanian: Bucovina; Ukrainian: Буковина, Bukovyna; German and Polish: Bukowina; see also other languages) is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains. ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ... The Grand Trianon at Versailles, site of the signing The Treaty of Trianon was an agreement that regulated the situation of the new Hungarian state that replaced the Kingdom of Hungary, part of the former dualist Austro-Hungarian monarchy, after World War I. It was signed on June 4, 1920...

The Coat of Arms of the Romanian Kingdom

Download high resolution version (465x720, 131 KB) It includes the royal motto, in Latin: Nihil Sine Deo (Nothing Without God) In Romanian: Stema Regatului României Întregite Stema se întrebuinţează în trei forme: Stema cea mare: în actele Statului emanate dela M. S. (Măria Sa) Regele şi în actele oficiale internaţionale... Download high resolution version (465x720, 131 KB) It includes the royal motto, in Latin: Nihil Sine Deo (Nothing Without God) In Romanian: Stema Regatului României Întregite Stema se întrebuinţează în trei forme: Stema cea mare: în actele Statului emanate dela M. S. (Măria Sa) Regele şi în actele oficiale internaţionale...

The interbellum years

Kingdom of Romania, 1920-1940

The resulting "Greater Romania", did not survive World War II. Until 1938, Romania's governments maintained the form, if not always the substance, of a liberal constitutional monarchy. The National Liberal Party, dominant in the years immediately after WWI, became increasingly clientelist and nationalist, and in 1927 was supplanted in power by the National Peasant Party. Between 1930 and 1940 there were over 25 separate governments; on several occasions in the last few years before World War II, conflict between the Iron Guard and other political groupings approached the level of a civil war. Image File history File links Romania_1920. ... Image File history File links Romania_1920. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a military conflict that took place between 1939 and 1945. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Partidul Naţional Liberal (National Liberal Party) is a liberal party in Romania, and the second largest party in parliament, being edged out only by the Social Democratic Party. ... The National Peasants Party (PNT, Partidul Naţional Ţărănesc) was a political party in Romania, formed in 1926 by the fusion of the National Romanian Party from Transylvania and the Peasants Party. ... Stamp bearing the symbol of the Iron Guard The Iron Guard is the name most commonly given in English to an ultra-nationalist anti-Semitic, fascist movement and political party in Romania in the period from 1927 into the early part of World War II. Originally founded by Corneliu Zelea...

Upon the death in 1927 of his father Ferdinand, Prince Carol was prevented from succeeding him because of previous marital scandals that had resulted in his renunciation of rights to the throne. After serving 3 years in exile, with his brother Nicolae serving as regent and his young son Michael as king, Carol changed his mind and with the support of the ruling National Peasant Party he returned and proclaimed himself king. 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Ferdinand of Romania Ferdinand or Ferdinand I (August 24, 1865-July 20, 1927) was the king of Romania from October 10, 1914 until his death Born in Sigmaringen in southwestern Germany, Prince Ferdinand of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen became heir to the throne of his childless uncle, King Carol I of Romania... Carol II of Romania, (15 October 1893 – 4 April 1953) reigned as King of Romania from June 8, 1930 until September 6, 1940. ... King Michael I of Romania (born October 25, 1921), reigned as King of Romania (in Romanian Majestatea Sa Regele Mihai I al României) from July 20, 1927 to June 8, 1930, and again from September 6, 1940 until deposed on December 30, 1947: he has since lived in exile. ... The National Peasants Party (PNT, Partidul Naţional Ţărănesc) was a political party in Romania, formed in 1926 by the fusion of the National Romanian Party from Transylvania and the Peasants Party. ...

Iuliu Maniu, leader of the National Peasant Party engineered Carol's return on the understanding that he would forsake his mistress Magda Lupescu, and Lupescu herself had agreed to the arrangement. However, it became clear upon Carol's first re-encounter with Elena that she had no interest in a reconciliation, and Carol soon arranged for Lupescu's return to his side. Her unpopularity in Romania, no doubt due in large part to her having a Jewish father, was to be a millstone around Carol's neck for the rest of his reign, particularly because she was widely viewed as his closest advisor and confidante. Iuliu Maniu - portrait and signature Iuliu Maniu (January 8, 1873 - February 5, 1953) was a Romanian politician, Born in Simleu Silvaniei, (Transylvania). ... Elena Wolff and Carol II arriving in the Caribbean in 1940 Elena Wolff (1895 - 1977), perhaps better known as Magda Lupescu -- Lupescu is the Romanian equivalent of the German surname Wolff and Elena can be a shortened form of Magdalena -- was the mistress of king Carol II of Romania and... Jews (Hebrew: יהודים translit. ...

The 1929 crisis greatly affected Romania and the early 1930s were marked by social unrest, high unemployment, and strikes. In several instances, the Romanian government violently repressed strikes and riots, notably the 1929 miners' strike in Valea Jiului and the strike in the Griviţa railroad workshops. In the mid-1930s, the Romanian economy recovered and the industry grew significantly, although about 80% of Romanians were still employed in agriculture. The Jiu Valley is the a region of South-Western Romania, in Hunedoara county where the Jiu river is flowing. ... Grivita (pronounced Grivitza) Railway Yards were and still are an important landmark within the manufacturing landscape of Bucharest. ...

As the 1930s progressed, Romania's already shaky democracy slowly deteriorated toward fascist dictatorship. The constititution of 1923 gave the king free reign to dissolve parliament and call elections at will; as a result, Romania was to experience over 25 governments in a decade. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Increasingly, these governments were dominated by any of a number of anti-Semitic, ultra-nationalist, and mostly at least quasi-fascistic parties. The National Liberal Party steadily became more nationalistic than liberal, and, in any case, lost its dominance over Romanian politics. Increasingly it was eclipsed by parties like the (relatively moderate) National Peasant Party and its more radical Romanian Front offshoot, the League of National-Christian Defense (LANC) - which in 1935 fused with the National Agrarian Party to form the National Christian Party (NCP) - and, most notably, the quasi-mystical fascist Iron Guard, an earlier LANC offshoot that, even more than these other parties, exploited nationalism, fear of communism, and resentment of alleged foreign and Jewish domination of the economy. The Eternal Jew: 1937 German poster. ... The Partidul Naţional Liberal (National Liberal Party) is a liberal party in Romania, and the second largest party in parliament, being edged out only by the Social Democratic Party. ... Nationalism is an ideology that creates and sustains a nation as a concept of a common identity for groups of humans. ... The National Peasants Party (PNT, Partidul Naţional Ţărănesc) was a political party in Romania, formed in 1926 by the fusion of the National Romanian Party from Transylvania and the Peasants Party. ... The Romanian Front (Frontul Românesc) was a Fascist party led by Alexandru Vaida-Voevod as a splinter group from the National Peasants Party. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The National Christian Party (Romanian: Partidul Naţional Creştin) was a Romanian political party. ... Stamp bearing the symbol of the Iron Guard The Iron Guard is the name most commonly given in English to an ultra-nationalist anti-Semitic, fascist movement and political party in Romania in the period from 1927 into the early part of World War II. Originally founded by Corneliu Zelea... Jews (Hebrew: יהודים translit. ...

Already, the Iron Guard had embraced the politics of assassination and various governments had reacted more or less in kind. On December 10, 1933, Liberal prime minister Ion Duca "dissolved" the Iron Guard, arresting thousands; 19 days later he was assassinated by Iron Guard legionnaires. December 10 is the 344th day (345th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Ion G. Duca (1879 - December 30, 1933) was prime minister of Romania from November 14 to December 30, 1933, when he was assassinated for his efforts to suppress the fascist Iron Guard movement. ...

Throughout the 1930s, these nationalist parties had a mutually distrustful relationship with King Carol II. Nonetheless, in December 1937, the king appointed LANC leader (and poet) Octavian Goga as prime minister. Around this time, Carol met with Adolf Hitler, who expressed his wish to see a Romanian government headed by the Iron Guard. Instead, on February 10, 1938 King Carol II used the occasion of a public insult by Goga to toward Lupescu as a reason to dismiss the government and institute a short-lived royal dictatorship, sanctioned seventeen days later by a new constitution under which the king named not only the prime minister but all ministers. Carol II of Romania, (15 October 1893 – 4 April 1953) reigned as King of Romania from June 8, 1930 until September 6, 1940. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Octavian Goga Octavian Goga (April 1, 1881 - May 7, 1938) was a Romanian politician and poet. ... (help· info) (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 and Führer (Leader) of Germany from 1934 until his death. ... February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

On February 10, 1938, in order to prevent the formation of a government that would have included Iron Guard ministers, and in direct confrontation to Adolf Hitler's expressed support of the Iron Guard, King Carol II dismissed the government and instituted a short-lived royal dictatorship, raising the stakes on both sides. In April 1938, Carol had Iron Guard leader Corneliu Zelea Codreanu arrested and imprisoned; on the night of November 29-30, 1938, presumably in retaliation for a series of assassinations by Iron Guard commandos, Codreanu and several other legionnaires were killed while purportedly attempting to escape from prison. It is generally agreed that there was no such escape attempt. February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... (help· info) (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 and Führer (Leader) of Germany from 1934 until his death. ... Carol II of Romania, (15 October 1893 – 4 April 1953) reigned as King of Romania from June 8, 1930 until September 6, 1940. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Corneliu Zelea Codreanu Corneliu Zelea Codreanu (13 September 1899 - 30 November 1938) was the main figure of the Romanian fascist movement in the interwar period, known as The Legion of Saint Michael the Archangel or The Iron Guard. ... November 29 is the 333rd (in leap years the 334th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The royal dictatorship was brief. On March 7, 1939 a new government was formed with Armand Călinescu as prime minister; on September 21, 1939, three weeks after the start of World War II, Călinescu, in turn, was assassinated by legionnaires avenging Codreanu. March 7 is the 66th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (67th in Leap years). ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Armand Călinescu Armand Călinescu (June 4 (May 22 (O.S.)), 1893, PiteÅŸti - 21 September 1939, Bucharest) was a Romanian economist and politician. ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a military conflict that took place between 1939 and 1945. ...

In 1939 Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which stipulated, among other things, the Soviet "interest" in Bessarabia. 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, also known as the Hitler-Stalin Pact or Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact or Nazi-Soviet Pact and formally known as the Treaty of Nonaggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was in theory a non-aggression treaty between the German Third Reich and the...

Timeline (1859 - 1939)