A brief introduction to Romanian history

If you want to have an understanding of a land and its people, it is essential that you also gain some knowledge of its history. The history of Romania is the history of its land and of the people, who gave it a distinct cultural and national identity. Other than that, it is a commentary on the evolution of the current nation-state of Romania, from the ancient period dating back to the 3rd century BC. C. and through various periods, when the geographical boundaries of the Romanian kingdom were transformed again and again. , until the formation of present-day Romania that can be seen in any atlas.

Present-day Romania was inhabited by people from Dacia, a Thracian tribe, around 200 BC. C. The first state was formed in Romania during the reign of Burebista (82 – 44 BC). The nascent state found itself embroiled in a series of conflicts with the Roman Empire, the dominant power at the time. It was finally annexed by that empire in AD 106 during the rule of the Roman Emperor Trajan.

With the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, Romania, like the rest of Central Europe, was devastated by various tribes. From the 10th to the 12th century it was under the rule of the Hungarians. Rule passed to the Ottoman Turks and until 1541 Romania remained under the Turkish Empire. In the year 1600, there were three distinct states of Moldavia, Transylvania, and Wallachia. Michael the Brave managed to unify them, but only for a brief period. The next to rule Romania were the Austrians until 1775, and in 1812 Romania came under Russian rule.

1848, the year of revolutions, saw a great revolution for independence also in Romania. In 1859, Alexander John Cuza helped unite the provinces of Moldavia and Walachia and the modern state of Romania was born.

Romania gained its independence in the year 1877. During World War I it sided with the Allies in 1916. At the end of the war in 1918, Transylvania was added to it.

Great changes took place in Europe in 1918, at the end of the First World War. The Russian and Austro-Hungarian empires disappeared, and Romania gained the provinces of Bessarabia and Bucovina.

Romania joined the Axis powers in World War II, forcing the king to abdicate in 1940. The alliance with Germany continued until 1944, when the Russian army invaded the country. At the end of the war, Romania retained Transylvania, but lost parts of Bucovina, Bessarabia, and Dobrogea.

Romania became a satellite state of the Soviet Union after the war, but pursued more or less independent policies. However, with the coming to power of Nicolai Ceausescu, a dark period began in the country’s history. Romania was a socialist republic during his regime, with communism as the stated policy of the state. The country’s citizens suffered privation and starvation under his authoritarian rule. Countless restrictions were imposed, from television to religious freedom. In fact, several churches were torn down.

Nicolai Ceausescu’s regime was finally overthrown in 1989, and he, along with his wife Elena, were executed after summary trial. However, the period of transition to democracy saw the inevitable difficulties that a common man faces. In fact, there are some people who feel that the resulting chaos is worse than the period of authoritarian rule.

Romania is today a democratic republic, and since 1989 three presidents have come to power: Ion Iliescu, Emil Constantinescu and the current incumbent since 2004, Trajan Basescu. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and became a member of the European Union in 2007.

This brief summary of the history of Romania will give you some kind of context about the events that took place over the centuries in this small country in the interior of Europe.