Europe. Second half of the 19th century. 1848 Revolution ideas still around. Empires are shaken. Romantic spirit at its peak. Let’s see what happened in the Balkans.
For centuries, the Balkan counties had been under the control of the Ottoman Empire. However, starting late 18th century, its power began to decline, facing the rise of the Russian Empire, keen to control the eastern coast of the Black Sea and particularly the Danube mouths, facilitating their maritime access to world seas.
These are the circumstances in which the Ottoman – Russian War broke in 1853, known as the Crimean War. It ended in 1856 with the victory of an alliance between the Ottomans and some of the European powers at that time, such is France, Britain and Sardinia-Piedmont, which took active part in the combats.
In the aftermath of the war, the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1856. It provided for the withdrawal of the Russian from the Danubian Principalities (Moldova and Wallachia) and the return to Moldova of part of the territories previously annexed by Russia in 1812 (mouth of the Danube, southern Bessarabia).
Based on the 1848 Revolution ideas a unionist campaign emerged in both Moldova and Wallachia, met with sympathy by the French, Russians (seeing the unification a barrier against the Ottomans), Prussians and Sardinians, but with reluctance by the Austrian Empire, the British and, of course, by the Ottomans.
Negotiations on the fate of the two Danubian Principalities led to an agreement on a minimum formal union under the Paris Convention (1858). The two countries were to preserve their institutions (each with its ruling prince, parliament, government and authorities), with a common court of justice to settle the judicial matters of common interest. However, the text of the agreement was ambiguous: nothing prevented the same person being elected Domnitor (ruling prince) of the two countries.
Taking profit of this ambiguity, Alexandru Ioan Cuza was elected ruling prince in Moldova (5 January 1859) and in Wallachia (24 January 1859), the two countries entering a personal union. European powers has nothing to do but accept this fait accompli. Thus, 24 January is the birthday of modern Romania.
The difficult part was yet to begin: recognition of the union. The Austrian and Ottoman Empires considered it a breach of the Paris Convention. The European powers summoned a new convention in 1859 on the matter. During the first session, on 1 April (13 April O.S.) France, Russia, England Prussia and Sardinia recognized the union. Later that year (August), Austria and the Ottoman Empire did the same.
An anti-unionist movement was also influent, particularly in Moldova. They relied on nationalist grounds, invoking a long history of conflicts between the two principalities. It all culminated with a rebellion in the Moldovan capital city of Iasi in 1866, upon the abdication of Cuza, demanding that the two countries keep the union, but with different rulers on their respective thrones. It was to be the restoration of the pre-1859 situation.
The rebellion failed and politicians agreed for a foreign prince to become Romania’s king. Cuza was succeeded by Carol I, who was to rule for the next 48 years, the longest reign of a Romanian king.
Romania become thus one of the first European states to emerge post-1848. Before Italy (1861) and Germany (1871). Within one century, between 1820 and 1920, the continent saw the appearance of no less than 20 countries in the aftermath of the break-up of the then empires.
Ovidiu-Florian Mirică – Balkazaar contributor
