Romania

Flag of Romania

Romania ( Romanian: România) is a country located in Balkans, with a population of approximately 19.5 million people. It is bordered by Ukraine to the north, Moldova to the northeast, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, and Bulgaria to the south.

History

Meddieval Era

Flag of Wallachia

Romanian history in this era began in the 14th century with the establishment of the Principality of Wallachia, located in the southern part of Transylvanian Alps and extending to the Danube, and the Principality of Moldavia, located from the Outer Eastern Carpathians to the Dniester river.

The Wallachian ruler, Basarab I, founded the Principality of Wallachia in 1310. Over time, Wallachia became a crucial buffer zone between the Ottoman Empire to the south and the Hungarian Kingdom to the north. The Wallachian princes struggled to maintain their independence, often forming alliances with other regional powers, such as Poland and Hungary. The most famous Wallachian prince, Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler, achieved notoriety for his brutal tactics in defending Wallachia against the Ottomans.

Flag of Moldavia

The Principality of Moldavia, was founded by Dragos in 1359. Moldavia had a rocky relationship with the Ottoman Empire, which threatened the principality with invasion multiple times. The most significant Moldavian ruler, Stephen the Great ( after his canonization by the Romanian Orthodox Church, Stephen the Great and Saint), was known for his military prowess and diplomacy, which allowed Moldavia to maintain a degree of autonomy despite repeated Ottoman invasions.

Unification of Principalities of Wallachia and Moldovia

In 1859, the two principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia were united under the name "Unirea Moldovei și Țării Românești", which translates to the unification of Moldavia and Wallachia. This historic event is also referred to as the unification of the Romanian Principalities or the Little Union. The unification was made possible by the election of Alexandru Ioan Cuza as the prince of both regions, leading to the creation of a larger, more cohesive Romanian state.

Principality of Romania (1859–1881)

Cuza's rule was marked by a strong commitment to modernization and reform. He implemented a series of political, economic, and social reforms aimed at improving the lives of the Romanian people and strengthening the new state.

One of his earliest acts as ruler was the abolition of serfdom and the liberation of the Romanian peasantry. He also introduced a modern legal system and reformed the educational system by establishing the University of Bucharest and creating a network of primary and secondary schools.

In addition to his domestic reforms, Cuza also sought to strengthen Romania's position on the international stage. He pursued a policy of neutrality in the face of mounting pressure from the Ottoman Empire and Russia, both of which still had significant influence in the region. He also sought to establish closer ties with other European powers, such as France and Great Britain.

Despite his efforts to modernize and reform Romania, Cuza's rule was also marked by political turmoil and opposition from conservative forces in the country. In 1864, he attempted to further consolidate his power by dissolving the country's two separate assemblies and replacing them with a single national assembly. This move was met with widespread opposition, and a series of protests and uprisings erupted across the country.

In 1866, a group of politicians and army officers staged a coup and forced Cuza to abdicate.

In same year, Karl von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (later now as Carol I), son of Karl Anton Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen,

War of Indepedence

The Romanian War of Independence is the name used for romanian involvement in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878. This war led to the independence of Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro from the Ottoman Empire. On April 4/16, 1877, Romania and the Russian Empire signed an agreement in Bucharest that allowed Russian troops to cross the country en route to the Balkans, on the condition that Romania's territorial integrity was respected.. Romania mobilized around 120,000 soldiers in the south to defend against potential Ottoman attacks. On April 24, 1877, Russia declared war and entered Romania through the Eiffel Bridge. The Russian Empire later requested Romania's intervention due to heavy losses. On July 24, 1877, the first Romanian Army units crossed the Danube to join forces with the Russian Army. The act of independence of Romania was read by Kogălniceanu as the will of the Romanian people, it was signed by Prince Carol I on May 10/22, 1877

Kindom of Romania

"On March 26th, 1881, Prince Carol was crowned as King Carol I of Romania, marking the country's transition from a principality to a kingdom.

Romania stayed out of the First Balkan War, but allied with Greece and Serbia in the Second Balkan War. Bulgaria was dissatisfied with the outcome of the First Balkan War and attacked Serbia and Greece. Romania declared war on Bulgaria on July 10th, 1913, after mobilizing its army on July 5th, aiming to take over Southern Dobruja. On the same day, a section of the Romanian army entered Dobruja and took control of a line from Tutrakan to Balchik, and later the port of Varna. Bulgaria sought a truce when Romanian forces reached the outskirts of Sofia, its capital. The Treaty of Bucharest made Bulgaria cede most of the lands it gained in the First Balkan War to Serbia, Greece and the Ottoman Empire, and also give up some territory to Romania. Romania secured South Dobruja (also known as Quadrilateral) as a result of the war.

WW1

Romania initially remained neutral during World War I, but faced pressure from both the Central Powers and the Entente to join the conflict. Romania’s main goal was to annex Transylvania and create a Greater Romania. In 1916, Romania entered the war on the side of the Entente, hoping to gain Transylvania in exchange for its participation. However, Romania was soon invaded and occupied by the Central Powers, who inflicted heavy casualties and damage on the Romanian army and population. Romania signed the Treaty of Bucharest (1918) with the Central Powers, which forced it to cede Dobruja to Bulgaria and allow German exploitation of its resources. However, Romania re-entered the war in November 1918, after the collapse of the Central Powers. Romania occupied Transylvania and joined the victorious Entente. The Treaty of Versailles (1919) and the Treaty of Trianon (1920) confirmed Romania’s acquisition of Transylvania, as well as Bessarabia and Bukovina, which had been part of the Russian Empire.