romanian rulers

ROMANIAN RULERS

13-PM-241-DJ-BG MINISTERUL EDUCAŢIEI NAȚIONALE

INSPECTORATUL ŞCOLAR JUDEŢEAN DOLJŞCOALA GIMNAZIALĂ TEASC

1. FERDINAND I (1914-1927)

He was called “the one who made Romania whole” or “the Loyal”. Ferdinand`s reign was characterized by the centralization of the Romanian state. The favourable international framework of 1918 allowed Bessarabia (on March 27, 1918), Bucovina (on November 28, 1918) and Transylvania (on December 1, 1918) to be united with the mother-country, Romania. He was also responsible for Romania`s adopting a new, democratic Constitution in 1923, which ensured progress and prestige to the newly-formed state.



FERDINAND I AND ROMANIA DURING HIS REIGN



2. CAROL I (1866-1914) Carol I had the longest reign in the history of Romania. The events during his rule lead Romania on its way to modernity and recognition as a nation. Once he acceded to the throne, Carol adopted the fist Romanian Constitution in 1866, inspired by the Belgian Constitution of 1830. On May 10th 1877, Carol proclaimed Romania`s independence from the Ottoman Empire, which needed to be won on the battlefield as well. Romania took part in the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878. The Peace Treaty of Berlin recognized Romania`s independence and the fact that Dobrogea belonged to Romania. Starting with 1881, Romania became a Kingdom, which increased the international prestige of our country.



ROMANIA UNDER CAROL I



3. ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA (1859-1866)

He is called “the ruler of the Union” because during his rule the two Principalities: Moldava and Wallachia became united, as people elected Alexandru Ioan Cuza as ruler of both principalities. Despite the opposition of the Ottoman Empire and Austria, Cuza became ruler of Moldavia on January 5, 1859 and, on January 24, 1859 he was elected ruler of Wallachia as well. His reign is known as the Age of Reforms. His programme of reforms that started in 1863 lead Romania`s transition from feudalism to modernity.



BOTH WALLACHIA AND MOLDAVIA CHOOSE CUZA

AS THEIR RULER



4. MIHAI VITEAZUL (1593-1601)

Ruler of Wllachia, Mihai Viteazul is a great Romanian hero. During that time of turmoil he succeeded, for a short time, to secure the independence of his country from the fearful Ottoman Empire. He succeeded, for a short time, to fulfill a Romanian dream that everybody speaking the same language and belonging to the same people should live in one state. Therefore, for a few months during the year 1600, Mihai brought under his rule Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldavia. The intervention of the powerful neighbouring countries – Austria, Poland and the Ottoman Empire – put an end to that dream which, thus, became an ideal for future generations to attain.



THE FIRST ROMANIAN STATE UNDER MIHAI

VITEAZUL



5. VLAD ȚEPEŞ (1448; 1456-1462; 1476) – VLAD

THE IMPALER Maybe the most famous Romanian ruler, Vlad Tepes owes his fame to his association with the character Dracula in Bram Stoker`s novel. In reality, he was a brave ruler of Wallachia who was able to fight back and even defeat Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople. Talking about his name (the Impaler), the association is not accidental. Even in his lifetime, he was called Draculea or “the son of the Devil” since his father had received the “Order of the Dragon” from Sigismund of Luxembourg and it was the popular belief, that the dragon was associated with the Devil. He got the nickname “the Impaler” as he frequently ordered that criminals be impaled, a common type of punishment in Mediaeval Europe.



VLAD ȚEPEȘ



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romanian rulers