Historical regions of Romania

The historical regions of Romania are located in Central and Southeastern Europe.[1] Romania came into being through the unification of two principalities, Wallachia and Moldavia in 1862.[2] The new unitary state extended over further regions at various times during the late 19th and 20th centuries, including Dobruja in 1878, and Transylvania in 1918.[3]

These regions are part of Romania today:

Wallachia:

  • Muntenia (Greater Wallachia): part of Wallachia (which united with Moldavia in 1859 to create modern Romania);
  • Oltenia (Lesser Wallachia): the territory between the rivers Danube and Olt and the Southern Carpathian became part of the Principality of Wallachia in the early 14th century.[4]

Moldavia:

Dobruja:

  • Northern Dobruja: in Romania since 1878 (excepting some Danubian islands and the Snake Island which were incorporated in the USSR in 1948, and became part of Ukraine since 1991);

Wallachia, western Moldavia, and Dobruja are sometimes referred collectively as the Regat (The Kingdom), as they formed the Romanian "Old" Kingdom before World War I.

Transylvania (the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical regions of Crișana, Maramureș, and Romanian part of Banat. The final border arrangement were set by the Treaty of Trianon in 1920):

Transylvania is divided into several ethnographic regions.

These regions were part of Romania in the past:

  • Bessarabia: This territory was part (as the eastern half) of Moldavia until 1812 (when it was incorporated into the Russian Empire). The entire region became part of Romania from 1918 to 1940 when it got occupied by the Soviets. Romania managed to annex it again, but lost it after World War II.[7]
  • Southern Bessarabia: In 1856, the southern part of Bessarabia was returned to Moldavia, which united with Wallachia in 1859 to create modern Romania. In 1878, Romania was pressured into exchanging this territory for the Dobruja, and the Russian rule was restored over it.
  • Northern Bukovina: The region was part of Romania from 1918 to 1940 when it got occupied by the Soviets. Romania managed to annex it again, but lost it after World War II.[8]
  • Hertza region: A territory of Moldavia, it was part of Romania from 1859 to 1940, when it was occupied by the Soviets. Romania managed to annex it again, but lost it after the World War II.[9]
  • Southern Dobruja: Was annexed from Bulgaria in 1913, after the Second Balkan War. It became Bulgarian again after 1940.[10]

Others:

  • Snake Island: An island located in the Black Sea, that was part of Romania between 1878–1948.
  • Transnistria Governorate: A Romanian-administered territory from 1941 to 1944 (Romania did not formally incorporate Transnistria into its administrative framework).[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Treptow & Popa 1996, p. 1, Map 2.
  2. ↑ Treptow & Popa 1996, p. 13.
  3. ↑ Treptow & Popa 1996, pp. 14-15.
  4. ↑ Treptow & Popa 1996, p. 151.
  5. ↑ Treptow & Popa 1996, pp. 80-81.
  6. ↑ Treptow & Popa 1996, pp. 125-126.
  7. ↑ "Bessarabia - region, Eastern Europe".
  8. ↑ "The Soviet Occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina".
  9. ↑ "Ţinutul Herţa. Povestea colţului uitat de Românie furat de sovietici - PSIHOLOGIE - ISTORIE - TEATRU". www.hetel.ro.
  10. ↑ "1940: Treaty of Craiova and the return of Southern Dobruja to Bulgaria".
  11. ↑ "ROMÂNIA ȘI GUVERNĂMÎNTUL TRANSNISTRIEI (1941-1944)". 30 November 2015.

Sources

  • Treptow, Kurt W.; Popa, Marcel (1996). Historical Dictionary of Romania. Scarecrow Press, Inc. ISBN 0-8108-3179-1.
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