Romanian United Principalities

This article is about the specific polity Romanian United Principalities and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.

If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here:All Statistics

On 3 February 1862, Moldavia and Wallachia formally united to create the Romanian United Principalities, the core of the Romanian nation state. The United Principalities were an Ottoman vassal until 1877, when they declared independence.

Summary

In 1878, the Treaty of Berlin recognized Romania's independence from the Ottoman Empire. The country was also granted the Dobrudja region, but had to cede southern Bessarabia to Russia. This territorial adjustment was seen as an injustice by Romanians, who had hoped to regain all of Bessarabia.

During this period, the country worked to consolidate its newly-won independence and establish itself as a sovereign state. The constitution was revised, with the prince becoming King Carol I in 1881, marking the transition to the Kingdom of Romania.

This era was characterized by continued modernization efforts, the strengthening of state institutions, and the development of Romania's international relations. However, the country still faced challenges in asserting its full sovereignty and dealing with the legacies of Ottoman rule and great power interference.

Establishment

May 1877: In the Romanian Parliament, Mihail Kogălniceanu declared the independence of Romania from the Ottoman Empire, in accordance with the will of the Romanian people.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878)

Was a conflict between the Ottoman Empire and a coalition led by the Russian Empire, and including Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro.

1.1.Danubian Theatre

Was the Danubian theatre of the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878).

1.2.Treaty of Berlin

The Congress of Berlin (13 June - 13 July 1878) was a meeting of the representatives of the era's six great powers in Europe (Russia, Great Britain, France, Austria-Hungary, Italy and Germany), the Ottoman Empire and four Balkan states (Greece, Serbia, Romania and Montenegro). It aimed at determining the territories of the states in the Balkan Peninsula after the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 and came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Berlin, which replaced the preliminary Treaty of San Stefano. The treaty formally recognized the independence of the de facto sovereign principalities of Romania, Serbia and Montenegro.

July 1878: Romania was forced to cede southern Bessarabia to the Russian Empire.

July 1878: The Congress of Berlin was a meeting of the representatives of the era's six great powers in Europe (Russia, Great Britain, France, Austria-Hungary, Italy and Germany), the Ottoman Empire and four Balkan states (Greece, Serbia, Romania and Montenegro). It aimed at determining the territories of the states in the Balkan Peninsula after the Russo-Turkish War and came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Berlin, which replaced the preliminary Treaty of San Stefano. The treaty formally recognized the independence of the de facto sovereign principalities of Romania, Serbia and Montenegro.