Editing Romania (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of Romania}}
{{Further|Timeline of Romanian history|Origin of the Romanians}}

===Dacia and the Roman Empire===
{{Main|Dacians|Roman Dacia}}
[[File:Dacia 82 BC.png|left|thumb|Dacia under [[Burebista]], {{circa|82}} BC]]
It is believed that the [[tribes]] responsible for creating the [[Bronze Age]] culture on the territory of modern Romania belonged to the [[Indo-European]] group of [[Thracians]].<ref>[[Vasile Pârvan]], ''Getica'', Chapter I, “Cimmero-Scythian Migrations. 10th–6th century BCE”, p. 25. – Editura Meridiane, Bucharest, 1982.</ref><ref>“Thus, archaeology has demonstrated that the Geto-Dacian people was fully formed at least four or even five centuries before its name appeared in the literary sources of the ancient world. As for the unyielding ancestors and forefathers of the Geto-Dacians—the northern branch of the Thracian tribes—the same auxiliary science of history confirms their presence and their flourishing material and spiritual culture with the advent of the Bronze Age, a phenomenon that occurred around 2000–1800 BC.” – Excerpt from ''Decebal'' by Liviu Mărghitan, Editura Militară, Bucharest, 1987, p. 41.</ref><ref>[http://www.muzeulolteniei.ro/sectia-de-istorie-si-arheologie/colectii-arheologice/epoca-bronzului-cultura-garla-mare-si-verbicioara/ Muzeul Olteniei] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117125422/http://www.muzeulolteniei.ro/sectia-de-istorie-si-arheologie/colectii-arheologice/epoca-bronzului-cultura-garla-mare-si-verbicioara/ |date=2012-01-17 }} – “The Bronze Age, the Gârla Mare and Verbicioara Cultures” – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref> [[Strabo]], in ''[[Geographica]]'', notes that the Getae spoke the same language as the Thracians, and the Dacians the same language as the Getae.<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/10882460/Strabon-Geografia-Vol-1 Scribd] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224190448/http://www.scribd.com/doc/10882460/Strabon-Geografia-Vol-1 |date=2009-02-24 }} – ''Geographica'' by Strabo, p. 22 – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref> However, the earliest account of the Getae is attributed to [[Herodotus]].<ref>Herodotus – {{Google books|sfHsgNIZum0C|page=215|title=The Ancient History of Herodotus By Herodotus}}, pp. 213–217, Derby & Jackson.</ref><ref>“The race of the Thracians is the most numerous in the world, after that of the Indians. If they had a single ruler or if the Thracians were united, they would be invincible and far stronger than all other nations according to my estimation... The Thracians have several names according to their regions, but their customs are almost the same for all, except for the Getae, the Trausi, and those who live north of the Crestonai.” – [[Herodotus]], [[:en:Histories (Herodotus)|Histories]], V, 3.</ref> The [[Roman conquest of Dacia|conquest of Dacia by the Romans]] led to the fusion of two cultures—the Daco-Romans became the ancestors of the [[Romanians|Romanian people]].{{sfn|Vékony|2000|p=4}}{{Sfn|Illyés|1992|p=33}} After [[Dacia]] became a province of the [[Roman Empire]], elements of Roman culture and civilisation—most notably [[Vulgar Latin]], which laid the foundation for the development of the [[Romanian language]]—were introduced.<ref>[http://www.learnromanian.ro/romana/Romania-istorie.php Learn Romanian] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101215818/http://www.learnromanian.ro/romana/Romania-istorie.php |date=2012-11-01 }} – History of Romania – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Matley |first=Ian |title=Romania: A Profile |publisher=Praeger |year=1970 |pages=85}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Giurescu |first=Constantin C. |title=The Making of the Romanian People and Language |publisher=Meridiane Publishing House |year=1972 |location=Bucharest |pages=43, 98–101, 141}}</ref>

Based on information from the inscription at [[Dionysupolis]]<ref>“The first and greatest of the kings of Thrace” – Inscription of the Greek citizen Acornion from Dionysopolis.</ref><ref>[http://www.observatorul.com/articles_main.asp?action=articleviewdetail&ID=3536 Observatorul – Published in Toronto, Canada] – “Romania, the Eastern Pillar of Latinity” – Accessed 1 May 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.dacia.co.ro/db.html Dacia] – “Dacia during the reign of Burebista” – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref> and the account of [[Iordanes]], it is known that under the rule of [[Burebista]], assisted by the great priest [[Deceneu]], the first Geto-Dacian state was formed.<ref>Hadrian Daicoviciu, ''Dacii – Chapter III: Burebista'', Editura pentru Literatură, Bucharest, 1968.</ref> In 44 BC, Burebista was assassinated by one of his servants.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030920013501/http://www.geocities.com/solarguard/celtic/burebista.html Buresbita and his time] – Ion Horațiu Crișan, Bibliotheca Historica Romaniae, Bucharest, 1978</ref> After his death, the Geto-Dacian state fragmented into four, and later five, kingdoms.<ref>[http://www.ghidromania.ro/despre-romania-istoric.php România, istorie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111075549/http://www.ghidromania.ro/despre-romania-istoric.php |date=2013-11-11 }} – “About Romania” – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref> The core of the state remained in the area of the [[Șureanu Mountains]], where successive rulers such as [[Deceneu]], [[Comosicus]], and [[Coryllus]] held power.<ref>[http://dacia.dracones.ro/ Istoria Daciei] – “Dacia between Burebista and Decebalus” – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref> The centralised Dacian state reached the peak of its development under [[Decebalus]].<ref name="MEIU">Small Encyclopedia of Universal History, p. 284 – Marcel D. Popa, Horia C. Matei – Editura Politică, Bucharest, 1988.</ref> During this period, a series of conflicts with the [[Roman Empire]] continued, with part of the Dacian state being conquered in 106 AD by the Roman emperor [[Trajan]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190303014712/https://www.roman-emperors.org/assobd.htm#t-inx De Imperatoribus Romanis] – An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors – “Battle of Sarmizegetusa (Sarmizegetuza), A.D. 105” – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref> Between 271 and 275 AD, the Aurelian retreat took place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Britannica Encyclopedia, History of Romania – Antiquity – The Dacians |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/508461/Romania/214504/History#ref=ref476941}}</ref>

===Period of the Principalities and the Phanariot Era===
{{Main|Romania in the Middle Ages|Phanariots}}

In the [[first millennium]], waves of [[nomads]] swept across the territory of Romania: the [[Goths]] during the 3rd–4th centuries,<ref>{{cite book |last=Jordanes |title=Getica, sive, De Origine Actibusque Gothorum |year=551 |location=Constantinople |url=http://www.harbornet.com/folks/theedrich/Goths/Goths1.htm |access-date=2008-08-31}}</ref> the [[Huns]] in the 4th century,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Iliescu |first1=Vl. |last2=Paschale |first2=Chronicon |title=Fontes Historiae Daco-Romanae |volume=II |pages=363, 587 |place=Bucharest |year=1970}}</ref> the [[Gepids]] in the 5th century,<ref name=gepizi>{{cite book |last=Teodor |first=Dan Gh. |title=Istoria României de la începuturi până în secolul al VIII-lea |year=1995 |location=Bucharest |pages=294–325 |volume=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=István |last=Bóna |editor-last=Köpeczi |editor-first=Béla |title=History of Transylvania: II.3. The Kingdom of the Gepids |volume=1 |publisher=Institute of History of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences |place=New York |year=2001 |url=http://mek.oszk.hu/03400/03407/html/33.html |access-date=2008-08-31 |language=en}}</ref> the [[Avars (Caucasus)|Avars]] in the 6th century,<ref>{{cite web |first=István |last=Bóna |editor-last=Köpeczi |editor-first=Béla |title=History of Transylvania: II.4. The Period of the Avar Rule |volume=1 |publisher=Institute of History of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences |place=New York |year=2001 |url=http://mek.oszk.hu/03400/03407/html/41.html |access-date=2008-08-31}}</ref> the [[Slavs]] in the 7th century, the [[Magyars]] in the 9th century, the [[Pechenegs]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Constantine VII |first=Porphyrogenitus |author-link=Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus |title=Constantine Porphyrogenitus De Administrando Imperio |date=950 |location=Constantinople |url=http://faculty.washington.edu/dwaugh/rus/texts/constp.html |access-date=2008-08-31}}</ref> the [[Cumans]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Xenopol |first=Alexandru D. |title=Histoire des Roumains |place=Paris |year=1896 |volume=i |pages=168}}</ref> the [[Uzes (people)|Uzes]] and the [[Alans]] during the 10th–12th centuries, and the [[Tatars]] in the 13th century. In 1054, a series of [[Eastern Orthodox – Roman Catholic ecclesiastical differences|ecclesiastical differences]] and [[Theological differences between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church|theological disputes]] between the [[Greek East and Latin West]] caused the [[East–West Schism|Great Schism]], eventually resulting in Romania adopting Orthodoxy.

In the [[13th century]], the first bearers of the [[Medieval Serbian noble titles|Slavic noble title]] [[Knyaz]] south of the [[Carpathian Mountains]] are attested.<ref>“In the Diploma of the Ioaniți Knights the first Romanian state formations south of the Carpathians are attested – the chieftaincies of [[Ioan (voivode)|Ioan]] and [[Farcaș]], and the voivodates of [[Litovoi]] and [[Seneslau]].” [http://www.arcanum.hu/mol/lpext.dll/fejer/413/416/50b?f=templates&fn=document-frame.htm&2.0 Original text in Latin of the Diploma of the Ioaniți Knights].</ref> Later, in the context of the crystallisation of feudal relations, as a result of the creation of favourable internal and external conditions (the weakening of [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungarian]] pressure and the diminishing of [[Tatars]] domination), autonomous feudal states emerged south and east of the Carpathians – [[Wallachia]] in 1310, under [[Basarab I]], and [[Moldova]] in 1359, under [[Bogdan I]].<ref name="MEIU"/> Among the Romanian rulers who played a more important role can be mentioned: [[Alexander the Good]], [[Stephen the Great]], [[Petru Rareș]], and [[Dimitrie Cantemir]] in Moldova; [[Mircea the Elder]], [[Vlad the Impaler]], [[Michael the Brave]], and [[Constantin Brâncoveanu]] in Wallachia; and [[John Hunyadi]] in Transylvania.

Beginning in the late [[15th century]], the two principalities gradually came under the influence of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. [[Transylvania]], which throughout the [[Middle Ages]] was part of the [[Kingdom of Hungary]],<ref>{{cite web |first=László |last=Makkai |editor-last=Köpeczi |editor-first=Béla |title=History of Transylvania: III. Transylvania in the Medieval Hungarian Kingdom (896–1526) |volume=1 |publisher=Institute of History of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences |place=New York |year=2001 |url=http://mek.oszk.hu/03400/03407/html/57.html |access-date=2008-08-31}}</ref> governed by voivodes, became a self-governing principality and a vassal of the [[Ottoman Empire]] from 1526. At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, [[Michael the Brave]] for a very brief period ruled over a large part of the territory of present-day Romania.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Rezachevici |first=Constantin |title=Mihai Viteazul: the Moldavian itinerary |year=2000 |journal=Magazin Istoric |issue=5 |url=http://www.itcnet.ro/history/archive/mi2000/current5/mi5.htm |access-date=2008-08-31 |archive-date=2007-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231040/http://www.itcnet.ro/history/archive/mi2000/current5/mi5.htm}}</ref>

=== Early modern times and national awakening ===

{{Main|Early Modern Romania|Romanian War of Independence}}
{{multiple image
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| image1            = Mihai 1600.png
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| footer            = During the [[Long Turkish War]], [[List of rulers of Wallachia|Wallachian Prince]] [[Michael the Brave]] (''portrayed'') briefly reigned over the three medieval principalities of [[Wallachia]], [[Moldavia]], and [[Transylvania]], covering most of the present-day territory of Romania
}}

The Kingdom of Hungary collapsed, and the Ottomans occupied parts of Banat and Crișana in 1541.{{sfn|Pop|1999|pp=52–53}} Transylvania and [[Maramureș]], along with the rest of Banat and Crișana developed into a new state under Ottoman suzerainty, the [[Principality of Transylvania (1570–1711)|Principality of Transylvania]].{{sfn|Georgescu|1991|p=41}} The [[Reformation]], initiated in Germany by [[Martin Luther]] in 1517, encouraged the rise of Protestantism and four denominations—[[Reformed Church in Romania|Calvinism]], [[Evangelical Church of Augustan Confession in Romania|Lutheranism]], [[Unitarian Church of Transylvania|Unitarianism]], and Roman Catholicism—were officially acknowledged in 1568.{{Who|date=March 2025}}{{sfn|Pop|1999|p=69}} The Romanians' Orthodox faith remained only tolerated,{{sfn|Pop|1999|p=69}} although they made up more than one-third of the population, according to 17th-century estimates.{{sfn|Trócsányi|Miskolczy|1994|p=419}}{{sfn|Georgescu|1991|p=71}}

The princes of Transylvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia joined the [[Holy League (1594)|Holy League]] against the Ottoman Empire in 1594.{{sfn|Georgescu|1991|p=54}} The Wallachian prince, [[Michael the Brave]], united the three principalities under his rule in May&nbsp;1600.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|p=35}}{{sfn|Georgescu|1991|pp=55–56}} The neighbouring powers forced him to abdicate in September, but he became a symbol of the unification of the Romanian lands in the 19th&nbsp;century.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|p=35}} Although the rulers of the three principalities continued to pay tribute to the Ottomans, the most talented princes—[[Gabriel Bethlen]] of Transylvania, [[Matei Basarab]] of Wallachia, and [[Vasile Lupu]] of Moldavia—strengthened their autonomy.{{sfn|Pop|1999|pp=75–76}}

The united armies of the [[Holy League (1684)|Holy League]] expelled the Ottoman troops from Central Europe between 1684 and 1699, and the Principality of Transylvania was integrated into the [[Habsburg monarchy]].{{sfn|Pop|1999|p=79}} The Habsburgs supported the Catholic clergy and persuaded the Orthodox Romanian prelates to accept the [[church union|union with the Roman Catholic Church]] in 1699.{{sfn|Georgescu|1991|p=42}} In the [[18th century]], [[Moldavia]] and [[Wallachia]] maintained their internal autonomy, but in [[1711]] and [[1716]], respectively, the period of the [[Phanariots]] began, with rulers appointed directly by the Porte from among the noble families of [[Greeks|Greek]] origin in [[Constantinople]]. With the signing of the [[Ausgleich]] in [[1867]], [[Transylvania]] quickly lost its remaining political autonomy, being politically and administratively incorporated into the [[Kingdom of Hungary]].<ref>Anton Dörner, “Administrarea Transilvaniei în perioada anilor 1867–1876”, Institutul de Istorie „George Barițiu” din Cluj-Napoca – Accessed 02.05.2009.</ref> The Church Union strengthened the Romanian intellectuals' devotion to their Roman heritage.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|p=60}} The Orthodox Church was restored in Transylvania only after Orthodox monks stirred up revolts in 1744 and 1759.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|p=61}} The organisation of the [[Transylvanian Military Frontier]] caused further disturbances, [[Siculicidium|especially among the Székelys in 1764]].{{sfn|Trócsányi|Miskolczy|1994|pp=432–434}}

Princes [[Dimitrie Cantemir]] of Moldavia and [[Constantin Brâncoveanu]] of Wallachia concluded alliances with the Habsburg Monarchy and Russia against the Ottomans, but they were dethroned in 1711 and 1714, respectively.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|pp=44–45}} The sultans lost confidence in the native princes and appointed Orthodox merchants from the [[Fener|Phanar]] district of Istanbul to rule Moldova and Wallachia.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|pp=55–56}}{{sfn|Georgescu|1991|pp=73–74}} The [[Phanariotes|Phanariot]] princes pursued oppressive fiscal policies and dissolved the army.{{sfn|Georgescu|1991|pp=74–75, 78}} The neighbouring powers took advantage of the situation: the Habsburg Monarchy annexed the northwestern part of Moldavia, or [[Bukovina]], in 1775, and the [[Russian Empire]] seized the eastern half of Moldavia, or [[Bessarabia]], in 1812.{{sfn|Pop|1999|p=92}}{{sfn|Georgescu|1991|pp=75–76}}

A census revealed that the Romanians were more numerous than any other ethnic group in Transylvania in 1733, but legislation continued to use contemptuous adjectives (such as "tolerated" and "admitted") when referring to them.{{sfn|Pop|1999|p=87}}{{sfn|Trócsányi|Miskolczy|1994|pp=427–428}} The [[Romanian Greek Catholic Church|Uniate bishop]], [[Inocențiu Micu-Klein]] who demanded recognition of the Romanians as the fourth privileged nation was forced into exile.{{sfn|Georgescu|1991|pp=89–90}}{{sfn|Trócsányi|Miskolczy|1994|pp=427–428}} Uniate and Orthodox clerics and laymen jointly signed a [[Supplex Libellus Valachorum|plea for the Transylvanian Romanians' emancipation]] in 1791, but the monarch and the local authorities refused to grant their requests.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|pp=73–74}}{{sfn|Pop|1999|p=87}}
[[File:RomaniaBorderHistoryAnnimation 1859-2010.gif|thumb|right|Animated map depicting the territorial changes of Romania from [[Unification of Moldavia and Wallachia|1859]] to [[Maritime Delimitation in the Black Sea case|2010]]]]

The [[Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca]] authorised the Russian ambassador in Istanbul to defend the autonomy of Moldavia and Wallachia (known as the [[Danubian Principalities]]) in 1774.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|p=68}} Taking advantage of the [[Greek War of Independence]], a Wallachian lesser nobleman, Tudor Vladimirescu, stirred up a revolt against the Ottomans in January&nbsp;1821, but he was murdered in June by Phanariot Greeks.{{sfn|Georgescu|1991|pp=103–104}} After a [[Russo-Turkish War (1828–29)|new Russo-Turkish War]], the [[Treaty of Adrianople (1829)|Treaty of Adrianople]] strengthened the autonomy of the Danubian Principalities in&nbsp;1829, although it also acknowledged the sultan's right to confirm the election of the princes.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|p=81}}

[[Mihail Kogălniceanu]], [[Nicolae Bălcescu]] and other leaders of the [[Moldavian Revolution of 1848|1848 revolutions in Moldavia]] and [[Wallachian Revolution of 1848|Wallachia]] demanded the emancipation of the peasants and the union of the two principalities, but Russian and Ottoman troops crushed their revolt.{{sfn|Pop|1999|p=99}}{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|pp=96–97}} The Wallachian revolutionists were the first to adopt the blue, yellow and red [[Tricolour (flag)|tricolour]] as the [[Flag of Romania|national flag]].{{sfn|Pop|1999|p=100}} In Transylvania, most Romanians supported the imperial government against the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1848|Hungarian revolutionaries]] after the Diet passed a law concerning the union of Transylvania and Hungary.{{sfn|Pop|1999|p=100}} Bishop [[Andrei Șaguna]] proposed the unification of the Romanians of the Habsburg Monarchy in a separate duchy, but the central government refused to change the internal borders.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|p=99}}

=== Unification and the Kingdom of Romania ===
{{Main|Unification of Moldavia and Wallachia|United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia|Kingdom of Romania}}

[[File:Al I Cuza.jpg|right|thumb|upright|[[Alexandru Ioan Cuza]], ''[[Domnitor]]'' of Romania from 1862 to 1866]]

====From the Little Union to the Great War====
The modern Romanian state was created through the [[Unification of the Romanian Principalities|unification of the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia]], accepted as a federative structure by the Great Powers following the [[Paris Convention]] of 1858, and later cemented by the simultaneous election as ruler of both states of the unionist [[Alexandru Ioan Cuza]].<ref name="150_2012-07-06">[http://www.jurnalul.ro/special/150-de-ani-de-la-unirea-principatelor-romane-142961.htm 150 de ani de la Unirea Principatelor Române] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527144901/http://www.jurnalul.ro/special/150-de-ani-de-la-unirea-principatelor-romane-142961.htm |date=2012-05-27 }}, 24 January 2009, ''Jurnalul Național'', accessed 6 July 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.mnir.ro/ro/ExpozitiiTemporare/Expozitie.aspx?IDExpozitieTemp=68 National Museum of Romanian History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226155145/http://www.mnir.ro/ro/ExpozitiiTemporare/Expozitie.aspx?IDExpozitieTemp=68 |date=2009-02-26 }} – Unirea Principatelor Române, 150 de ani – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Bobango|first=Gerald J|title=The emergence of the Romanian national State|publisher=Boulder|year=1979|location=New York|isbn=9780914710516}}</ref> After carrying out numerous reforms that laid the foundations for the modernisation of the state, he was forced in 1866 by a broad coalition of the political parties of the time, also known as the "[[Monstrous coalition]]", to abdicate and leave the country.<ref name="FC">Constantiniu, Florin: ''A Sincere History of the Romanian People'', Bucharest, Editura Univers Enciclopedic, 1997 – ISBN 973-9243-07-X</ref>

The union was at one time in peril, but the political leaders of the era succeeded in placing on the princely throne [[Carol I of Romania]], who accepted the Constitution and took the oath on 10 May 1866. Eleven years later, on 10 May 1877, Romania proclaimed its independence—achieved on the battlefield—and in 1881, on the same day of the year, Carol was crowned as [[King of Romania]]. In 1913, Romania entered the [[Second Balkan War]] against [[Bulgaria]], at the end of which it obtained [[Southern Dobruja]].<ref>[http://www.rri.ro/arh-art.shtml?lang=2&sec=40&art=8410 Radio România Internațional] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819013509/http://www.rri.ro/arh-art.shtml?lang=2&sec=40&art=8410 |date=2011-08-19 }} – Romania in the Balkan Wars – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref><ref>“On 27 June/10 July 1913, Romania summoned its ambassador from Sofia and, via an ultimative diplomatic note, announced to Bulgaria that, if it did not cease its aggressive actions against Greece and Serbia, the Romanian Army would take action.” – Lieutenant-Colonel drd. Rizescu Alexandru – ''[http://www.armyacademy.ro/buletin/2_2001/art9.html Aspects of Romania’s Security Policy in Southeastern Europe at the Beginning of the 20th Century]'' – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Anderson|first1=Frank Maloy|last2=Hershey|first2=Amos Shartle|title=Handbook for the Diplomatic History of Europe, Asia, and Africa 1870-1914|publisher=Government Printing Office|year=1918|location=Washington D.C.}}</ref> In 1914, [[King Carol I of Romania|King Carol I]] died, and his nephew, [[Ferdinand I of Romania|Ferdinand I]], succeeded him on the throne.<ref name="FC" />

====World War I and the Great Union====
{{Main|Romania in World War I}}

In 1916, Romania entered [[World War I]] on the side of the [[Entente Powers]].<ref>[http://www.casaromana.org/istoria/r_secolulxx.html Casa Română] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322072343/http://www.casaromana.org/istoria/r_secolulxx.html |date=2009-03-22 }} – The History of the Romanians – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref> Although the Romanian forces did not perform well militarily, by the end of the war the Austrian and Russian Empires had disintegrated; the National Assembly in [[Transylvania]], and the [[Sfatul Țării]] in [[Bessarabia]] and [[Bukovina]] proclaimed their union with Romania, and [[Ferdinand I of Romania|King Ferdinand I]] and [[Queen Maria of Romania|Queen Maria]] were crowned sovereign of all Romanians in [[Alba Iulia]] on 15 October 1922.<ref>[http://www.familiaregala.ro/?lng=&id2=010103 The Romanian Royal Family] – Ferdinand – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref> The [[Treaty of Versailles]] recognised all the union proclamations in accordance with the right to self-determination established by U.S. President [[Woodrow Wilson]]’s ''Fourteen Points''.<ref>“[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Fourteen_Points_Speech Fourteen Points Speech]”, Woodrow Wilson. [[Wikisource]].</ref>

====Interwar period====
After having left the country and renounced his claim to the throne in 1925, [[Carol II of Romania|Carol II]] returned in 1930 and usurped his son’s throne; influenced by his inner circle—referred to by historians as the "Royal Camarilla"—he gradually undermined the democratic system, and in 1938 he assumed dictatorial powers. Although he was pro-Western (especially Anglophile), Carol attempted to appease extreme centrifugal forces by appointing nationalist governments that adopted anti-Semitic measures, such as the [[Goga cabinet]] and the one led by the Orthodox Patriarch [[Miron Cristea]].

====World War II: Positions and territorial losses====
[[File:PérdidasTerritorialesRumanas1940-ro.svg|thumb|right|Romania's territorial losses in the summer of 1940. Of these territories, only [[Northern Transylvania]] was [[Paris Peace Treaties, 1947|regained]] after the end of World War II]]
Following the [[Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact]] of 1939, in June 1940 Romania accepted the loss of [[Bessarabia]], [[Northern Bukovina]] and the [[Hertsa]] region in favour of the [[USSR]] (as stipulated in the Soviet ultimatum of 28 June 1940). Unaware of the details of the Soviet–German pact, Carol attempted to secure an alliance with [[Nazi Germany]], and appointed Ion Gigurtu as President of the Council of Ministers, who declared that he would pursue a Nazi pro-Axis (Berlin–Rome) policy that was anti-Semitic and fascist-totalitarian in nature.<ref>''Le Figaro'', 6 July 1940, p. 2.</ref><ref>''Le Figaro'', 9 July 1940, p. 1.</ref><ref>''New York Times'', 5 July 1940; ''New York Times'', 7 July 1940; ''New York Times'', 30 July 1940; ''New York Times'', 9 August 1940.</ref> Between 4 July and 4 September 1940, by accepting [[Second Vienna Award|Hitler's arbitration]] over Transylvania (after Gigurtu declared on radio that Romania must make territorial sacrifices to justify its Nazi orientation and full adherence to the Berlin–Rome Axis), Romania ceded [[Northern Transylvania]]—including the city of [[Cluj]]—to Hungary.<ref>''Le Figaro'', 9 August 1940; ''New York Times'', 9 August 1940.</ref><ref>Constantiniu, Florin: ''Between Hitler and Stalin; Romania and the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact'', Bucharest, Editura Danubius, 1991.</ref><ref>Constantiniu, Florin: ''Hitler, Stalin and Romania – Romania and the Genesis of Operation “Barbarossa”'', Bucharest, Editura Univers Enciclopedic, 2002.</ref> The vast territories in Transylvania ceded by Ion Gigurtu to Hungary contained important natural resources, including gold mines.<ref>''Le Figaro'', 4 September 1940.</ref> Ion Gigurtu also initiated negotiations to cede 8,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of Southern Dobruja to Bulgaria,<ref>''Le Figaro'', 23 August 1940.</ref> these negotiations were interrupted by Antonescu's unconditional acceptance of the territorial cession.<ref name="romlib2018-07-04">{{Citation | url=https://romanialibera.ro/special/documentare/75-de-ani-de-la-pierderea-cadrilaterului---mica-bijuterie-a-coroanei-romaniei-391941 | title=PHOTO. 75 Years since the Loss of the Quadrilateral – the Small Jewel of the Romanian Crown | newspaper=România liberă | date=2015-09-07 | first=Mihai | last=Diac | access-date=4 July 2018}}</ref>

In response to the chaotic withdrawal from Bessarabia, the territorial cessions, public discontent, and protests from political leaders, King Carol II suspended the [[1938 Constitution of Romania]] and appointed General [[Ion Antonescu]] as Prime Minister. This measure, supported by the [[Iron Guard]], demanded that the king abdicate in favour of his son, [[Mihai I of Romania|Mihai]]. Subsequently, Antonescu assumed dictatorial powers and became President of the Council of Ministers, self-titling himself as the "Leader" of the state.<ref name="barba">Constantiniu, Florin: ''Hitler, Stalin and Romania – Romania and the Genesis of Operation “Barbarossa”'', Bucharest, Univers Enciclopedic, 2002</ref><ref name="Encarta">“[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761559516_9/Romania.html History of Romania] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030124558/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761559516_9/Romania.html |date=2009-10-30 }}”. Encarta. Accessed 14 March 2009.</ref>

====World War II====
{{Main|Romania in World War II}}
In 1941, as an ally of [[Nazi Germany]], Romania entered [[World War II]] by declaring war on the [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="barba"/><ref name="Encarta"/> A shift in fortunes only became discernible after the defeat at Stalingrad and the subsequent change of the USSR from a defensive to an offensive posture. On 23 August 1944, with the Soviet army having been present in northern Moldova since March, [[Mihai I of Romania|King Mihai I]] forcibly removed Marshal [[Ion Antonescu]] from power, as he refused to sign an armistice with the [[Allies of World War II]].<ref name="Memoria">[http://www.revista.memoria.ro/?location=view_article&id=386 ''Memoria''], Eugen Denize. Accessed 15 March 2009.</ref> Following Antonescu's outright refusal, King Mihai I ordered the dismissal and arrest of the marshal, and Romania switched sides to join the Allies.<ref name="Memoria" />

=== Socialist Romania (1947–1989) ===
{{Main|Socialist Republic of Romania}}
[[File:Nicolae Ceauşescu and Kim Il Sung at the Moranbong Stadium.jpg|thumb|[[Nicolae Ceaușescu]] with [[Kim Il Sung]] of [[North Korea]] in 1978. In [[July Theses|reforming the state]], Ceaușescu sought to emulate ''[[Juche]]'' and [[Maoism|Maoist]] ideas<ref name="Cioroianu 489">Cioroianu, p. 489.</ref><ref name="Liiceanu xviii">Liiceanu, p. xviii.</ref><ref name="Tismăneanu 241">Tismăneanu, p. 241</ref>]]
Less than three years after the [[Soviet occupation of Romania]], in 1947, [[Mihai I of Romania|King Michael I]] was forced to abdicate<ref>[http://www.adevarul.ro/articole/2005/abdicarea-regelui-mihai-i.html "The Abdication of King Michael I"]{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''[[Adevărul]]''. Accessed 15 March 2009.</ref> and the [[People's Republic of Romania]]—a state of "popular democracy"—was proclaimed. The newly established communist regime, led by the [[Romanian Workers' Party]], consolidated its power through a Stalinist-type policy aimed at suppressing any political opposition and transforming the economic and social structures of the old bourgeois regime.<ref name="CPADR">[http://www.presidency.ro/static/ordine/RAPORT_FINAL_CPADCR.pdf Final Report of the Presidential Commission for the Analysis of the Communist Dictatorship in Romania]. Accessed 16 August 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Dennis |last=Deletant |title=Romania under Communist Rule |publisher=Editura Fundației Academia Civică |edition=third |isbn=978-973-8214-52-1 |location=Bucharest |year=2010 |pages=85–97}}</ref>

In the early 1960s, the Romanian government began asserting a certain degree of independence from the [[Soviet Union]] in its foreign policy,<ref name="ICIistoria">[http://romania.ici.ro/ro/istorie/index.html History], ICI. Accessed 15 March 2009. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414102009/http://romania.ici.ro/ro/istorie/index.html |date=14 April 2011 }}</ref> although it did not abandon its repressive policies (which it labeled "revolutionary conquests") in domestic affairs.<ref name="CPADR"/> In 1965, communist leader [[Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej]] died, ushering in a period of change in Romania.<ref name="HisBritan">[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/508461/Romania/42878/Communist-Romania "History » Communist Romania"], ''[[Encyclopaedia Britannica]]''. Accessed 15 March 2009.</ref> After a brief power struggle, [[Nicolae Ceaușescu]] emerged as the head of the communist party,<ref name="HisBritan"/> becoming General Secretary of the [[Romanian Communist Party]] in 1965, President of the [[State Council of Romania|State Council]] in 1967, and President of the [[Socialist Republic of Romania]] in 1974. Ceaușescu's rule from 1965 to 1989 grew increasingly authoritarian during the 1980s.<ref name="ICIistoria"/>

=== Romania since 1989 ===
{{Main|Romanian Revolution of 1989|}}
[[File:Revolutia_Bucuresti_1989_000.JPG|thumb|Tanks and [[Miliția (Romania)|Miliția]] on the [[Bulevardul Magheru|Magheru Boulevard]] in [[Bucharest]] during the revolution]]
In the context of the fall of communism throughout Eastern Europe during the [[revolutions of 1989]], a protest in support of [[Reformed Church in Romania|Reformed pastor]] [[László Tőkés]] that began in December 1989 in [[Timișoara]] quickly escalated into a national uprising against the communist regime, ultimately resulting in the [[Trial and execution of Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu|execution of Ceaușescu]] and his wife [[Elena Ceaușescu|Elena]] on 25 December 1989.<ref>[http://www.learnromanian.ro/romana/Romania-istorie.php History of Romania] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101215818/http://www.learnromanian.ro/romana/Romania-istorie.php |date=2012-11-01 }} – Learn Romanian – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref>

An interim council composed of figures from civil society and former communist officials assumed control of the government, and [[Ion Iliescu]] became the provisional president of the country. The new government reversed many of the authoritarian communist policies<ref>{{cite web|last=Carothers|first=Thomas|title=Romania: The Political Background|url=http://www.idea.int/publications/country/upload/Romania,%20The%20Political%20Background.pdf|quote="This seven-year period can be characterized as a gradualistic, often ambiguous transition away from communist rule towards democracy."|access-date=2008-08-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Hellman|first=Joel|title=Winners Take All: The Politics of Partial Reform in Postcommunist|journal=Transitions World Politics|volume=50|issue=2|year=1998|pages=203–234|doi=10.1017/S0043887100008091 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.infoghidromania.com/istoriaromaniei.html Info Ghid Romania] – History – Accessed 15 March 2009</ref> and dismissed several leaders of the former regime, although still influenced by members of the former regime (the basis for the [[Golaniad]]'','' and [[Mineriads]]).

==== Return to democracy ====
In [[1990 Romanian general election|May 1990]], the first free elections in Romania since [[1937 Romanian general election|1937]] elections were held, with Iliescu of the [[National Salvation Front (Romania)|National Salvation Front]] winning the presidency with 85% of the vote. In [[1992 Romanian general election|1992]], he was reelected in the first election after the adoption of [[Constitution of Romania|a permanent constitution]] via [[1991 Romanian constitutional referendum|a referendum]] held [[1991 Romanian constitutional referendum|the previous year]]. Illiescu lost the [[1996 Romanian general election|1996 election]] to [[Emil Constantinescu]], but returned to power in [[2000 Romanian general election|2000]]. [[Traian Băsescu]] was elected president in [[2004 Romanian general election|2004]] and [[2009 Romanian presidential election|2009]], serving until [[2014 Romanian presidential election|2014]] at which point [[Klaus Iohannis]] succeeded him, being re-elected in [[2019 Romanian presidential election|2019]] and serving until [[2025 Romanian presidential election|2025]]. During these years several events occurred. In 2009, the country was bailed out by the [[International Monetary Fund]] as result of the [[Great Recession in Europe]] following the [[2008 financial crisis|2008 global financial crisis]].<ref name="igber">{{cite news|last1=Reguly|first1=Eric|title=In Gold Blood|url=https://www.newsweek.com/gold-blood-251438|publisher=Newsweek|date=20 May 2014|access-date=21 March 2021|archive-date=21 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421213916/https://www.newsweek.com/gold-blood-251438|url-status=live}}</ref>

The post-1989 period has been characterised by the privatisation and closure of several former industrial and economic enterprises from the communist period were closed,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rtsa.ro/tras/index.php/tras/article/download/97/93|title=Deindustrialization and Urban Shrinkage in Romania. What Lessons for the Spatial Policy?|first=Claudia|last=Popescu|access-date=8 October 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231182636/http://rtsa.ro/tras/index.php/tras/article/download/97/93|archive-date=31 December 2016 }}</ref> while [[Corruption in Romania|corruption]] has been a [[Corruption in Romania|major issue]] in contemporary politics.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-romania-corruption-mayors/romanias-powerful-mayors-tumble-in-corruption-crackdown-idUKKCN0RV3IO20151001|title=Romania's powerful mayors tumble in corruption crackdown|first=Luiza|last=Ilie|newspaper=[[Reuters]]|date=October 2015|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025624/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-romania-corruption-mayors/romanias-powerful-mayors-tumble-in-corruption-crackdown-idUKKCN0RV3IO20151001|url-status=live}}</ref>

A [[National Anticorruption Directorate]] was formed in the country in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Direcția Națională Anticorupție |url=http://www.pna.ro/about_us.xhtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502100056/https://www.pna.ro/about_us.xhtml |archive-date=2 May 2023 |access-date=5 September 2023}}</ref> During the 2000s, Romania had one of the highest economic growth rates in Europe and has been referred at times as "the Tiger of Eastern Europe".<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web |title=Adevarul |url=http://www.adevarul.ro/articole/romania-tigrul-estului/354061 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920030429/http://www.adevarul.ro/articole/romania-tigrul-estului/354061 |archive-date=20 September 2008 |access-date=25 September 2010 |publisher=Adevarul.ro}}</ref> This has been accompanied by a significant improvement in living standards as the country successfully reduced domestic poverty and established a functional democratic state.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org">[http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_ROM.html Human Development Report 2009 – Country Fact Sheets – Romania] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101131652/http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_ROM.html|date=1 November 2013}}. Hdrstats.undp.org. Retrieved on 21 August 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.mdgmonitor.org/factsheets_00.cfm?c=ROM&cd=642# Tracking the Millennium Development Goal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126063611/http://www.mdgmonitor.org/factsheets_00.cfm?c=ROM&cd=642|date=26 November 2013}}. MDG Monitor. Retrieved on 21 August 2010.</ref> However, Romania's development suffered a major setback during the [[Great Recession|late 2000s' recession]] leading to a large gross domestic product contraction and a budget deficit in 2009.<ref name="wsj4dec09">{{cite news |author=Joe Parkinson |date=4 December 2009 |title=Romania Faces Crucial Vote |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125988241065975639 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710033758/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125988241065975639 |archive-date=10 July 2017 |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> This led to Romania borrowing from the International Monetary Fund.<ref>{{cite web |title=Romania and the IMF |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/ROU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409084621/https://www.imf.org/external/country/ROU/index.htm |archive-date=9 April 2015 |website=IMF}}</ref> Worsening economic conditions led to [[2012 Romanian constitutional crisis|unrest]] and triggered a political crisis in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Gheorghe Stoica |author2=Lavinia Stan |title=Romanian Politics in 2012: Intra-Cabinet Coexistence and Political Instability |url=http://www.seejps.ro/volume-i-number-iii-ideologies-and-patterns-of-democracy/38-romanian-politics-in-2012-intra-cabinet-coexistence-and-political-instability.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224152657/http://www.seejps.ro/volume-i-number-iii-ideologies-and-patterns-of-democracy/38-romanian-politics-in-2012-intra-cabinet-coexistence-and-political-instability.html |archive-date=24 February 2014 |work=South-East European Journal of Political Science}}</ref>

Since 2014, Romania launched an anti-corruption effort that led to the prosecution of medium- and high-level political, judicial and administrative offenses by the [[National Anticorruption Directorate]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=2015 Investment Climate Statement - Romania |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ics/2015/241712.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205183454/https://2009-2017.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ics/2015/241712.htm |archive-date=5 December 2022 |access-date=17 August 2015 |work=The US Department of State}}</ref> In 2015, massive [[2015 Romanian protests|anti-corruption protests]] which developed in the wake of the [[Colectiv nightclub fire]] led to the resignation of prime minister [[Victor Ponta]].<ref>"[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34720183 Romania PM Ponta resigns over Bucharest nightclub fire] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115091112/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34720183|date=15 November 2015}}". [[BBC News]]. 4 November 2015.</ref> During 2017–2019, in response to measures which were perceived to weaken the fight against corruption, some of the [[2017–2019 Romanian protests|biggest post-1989 protests]] took place in Romania, with over 500,000 people protesting nationwide.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38876134|title=Huge Romania rally despite decree repeal|date=6 February 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-date=12 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812033239/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38876134|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-protests/thousands-of-romanians-rally-against-ruling-partys-judicial-overhaul-idUSKBN1DQ0T3|title=Thousands of Romanians rally against ruling party's judicial overhaul|first=Radu-Sorin|last=Marinas|newspaper=Reuters|date=26 November 2017|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816061556/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-protests/thousands-of-romanians-rally-against-ruling-partys-judicial-overhaul-idUSKBN1DQ0T3|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

In 2021, [[2021 Romanian political crisis|a political crisis]] ensued, leading to the outsting of [[Florin Cîțu]]'s [[Cîțu Cabinet|incumbent government]]. The [[Ciucă Cabinet]] then took power, with Romania since having experienced a shift towards [[authoritarianism]] and [[illiberalism]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sirbu |first=Laurentiu |date=20 February 2023 |title=PNL și PSD împing România către un regim autoritar. Amendamentul surpriză din legea anti-ONG, folosit împotriva presei. "Ne ducem într-o direcție foarte periculoasă" |url=https://www.fanatik.ro/pnl-si-psd-imping-romania-catre-un-regim-autoritar-amendamentul-surpriza-din-legea-anti-ong-folosit-impotriva-presei-ne-ducem-intr-o-directie-foarte-periculoasa-20316603 |access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 June 2022 |title=Degradare accelerată și fără precedent a democrației în regimul Iohannis-Ciucă. România e redusă la tăcere, PNL se PSD-izează rapid |url=https://www.g4media.ro/degradare-accelerata-si-fara-precedent-a-democratiei-in-regimul-iohannis-ciuca-romania-e-redusa-la-tacere-pnl-se-psd-izeaza-rapid.html |access-date=14 April 2023 |website=G4Media.ro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andrei |first=Cristian |date=1 August 2022 |title=Analiză &#124; Riscul democrației iliberale în România. Umbra serviciilor, plagiat, presă plătită de partide și proiecte secrete |url=https://romania.europalibera.org/a/riscul-democrației-iliberale-in-romania-modelul-ungariei/31965186.html |access-date=14 April 2023 |work=Europa Liberă România |via=romania.europalibera.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 December 2021 |title=România iliberală? Va aduce coaliția PSD-PNL-UDMR reformele necesare sau se va îngriji doar de clientela politică? |url=https://www.bihon.ro/stirile-judetului-bihor/romania-iliberala-va-aduce-coalitia-psd-pnl-udmr-reformele-necesare-sau-se-va-ingriji-doar-de-clientela-politica-3868914/ |access-date=14 April 2023}}</ref> as well as an increased [[Corruption in Romania|corruption]]. Around this time, Romania was also hit by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Romania|COVID-19 pandemic]]. In the [[2024 Romanian presidential election|2024 presidential election]], Independent candidate [[Călin Georgescu]] achieved a surprise win in the first round. However, the [[Constitutional Court of Romania|Constitutional Court]] annulled the election results, citing [[Accusations of Russian interference in the 2024 Romanian presidential election|Russian meddling]]. The cancellation led to [[2024–2025 Romanian election annulment protests|far-right protests]], [[2025 JD Vance speech at the Munich Security Conference|criticism]] by the [[Second presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]], and [[Ilie Bolojan]] becoming acting president in February 2025 as Iohannis resigned to political pressure.<ref name="Chao-Fong">{{Cite news |last1=Chao-Fong |first1=Léonie |last2=Krupa |first2=Jakub |last3=Chao-Fong |first3=Léonie |last4=Krupa |first4=Jakub |date=February 14, 2025 |title=Zelenskyy demands 'real security guarantees' before peace talks; Vance accused of 'trying to pick a fight' with EU – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/14/russia-ukraine-war-peace-vladimir-putin-volodymyr-zelenskyy-donald-trump-munich-security-conference-europe-news?page=with:block-67af4b688f08101b5631d57f&filterKeyEvents=false#liveblog-navigation |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>