Romania

Country Briefs: Bordered by Ukraine and Moldova in the northeast, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro in the west and Bulgaria in the south, Romania is a beautiful European country. The vast area of 238,391 square kilometers that Romania covers is not just about the charismatic scenic splendor but also about grand castles, medieval towns, incredible wildlife, skiing and other such attractions.

Demographically speaking Romania’s population is 22,329,977 approximately, out of which around 2.3 million people reside in its capital and largest city Bucharest. Apart from being a famous vacation destination, Bucharest is also the industrial and commercial hub of Romania.

However thousands of years ago in first century BC the present day Romania was the state of Dacia that was settled by the Dacian and other Thracian tribes. In 106 the Roman Empire conquered Dacia after which the area came under the control of the Goths in 271. The Gepides, the Huns, the Assyria, the Kumans and the Pechenegians followed the Goths variously. The Slavic tribes conquered the region in 6^th century BC and the Hungarians invaded it in 9^th century. During the 13^th and 14^th century the Vlachian principalities of Wallachia was founded by the Basarab I and Moldavia by Dragos. In the Middle Ages the Romanians were scattered in three different principalities, Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania.

In 1475 Stephen the Great of Moldavia won over the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Valsui. In 1812 Moldova lost its eastern part Bessarabia to Russian Empire, its northern side Bukovina to the Austrian Empire and its southeastern part Budjak to the Ottoman Empire.

In 11^th century the Hungarians captured Transylvania. The 1526 Battle of Mohacs led to Transylvania becoming a multi-ethnic principality under the rule of the Ottomans. However at the end of the 18^th century the Austrian Habsburgs incorporated Transylvania.

In 1859 the principalities of Moldovia and Wallachia were united to form the state of Romania. After the Russo-Turkish War, the Treaty of Berlin led to the recognition of Romania as an independent state by the Great Powers.

During the First World War in order to acquire Transylvania Romania fought for the Triple Entente. The war concluded with the collapse of the Austria-Hungary and the Russian empire and with the unification of Bessarabia, Bukovina and the Transylvania under the Kingdom of Romania in 1918. Further the 1920 Treaty of Trianon sanctioned the union of Transylvania with Romania.

During the Second World War soviet union captured most of Romania. But as Romania entered into an alliance with the nazi Germany, Italy, Hungary and Bulgaria and fought against soviet union, it managed to acquire some of its lost territories.

In 1944 Romania came along with the Red Army to fight against Nazi Germany. However Romania’s contribution in this was only virtually recognized.

Till 1958 Romania served as a communist state under the control of USSR. These years are reckoned as ‘dark’ for during this time Romania faced not only loss of wealth but also the population of the country suffered to a great extent.

In 1958 the soviet troops were made to retreat by Romanian population. The country then formed its independent policies and worked upon its economy and status.

On 22^nd December 1989 the communist dictatorship ended in the country. On 12^th December 2004 Traian Basescu was elected the president of Romania. After Cold War ended in 1989 Romania built up good relations with Western Europe. In 2004 Romania joined NATO.

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