1 history
1.1 principality of moldavia (1359–1812)
1.1.1 moldavian identity in medieval chronicles
1.1.2 selected foreign travelers moldavians
1.1.3 works in local language of moldavia
1.1.4 diplomats opinion
1.2 bessarabia in russian empire (1812–1918)
1.3 bessarabia within greater romania (1918–1940)
1.4 bessarabia within soviet union (1940–1992)
history
principality of moldavia (1359–1812)
hronicul vechimei romano-moldo-vlahilor (chronicle of durability of romano-moldo-wallachians). written moldavian prince dimitrie cantemir.
carte românească de Învățătură (romanian book of learning). written metropolitan of moldavia, varlaam moțoc.
moldavian identity in medieval chronicles
the chronicles of medieval moldavia attested names used inhabitants of moldavia refer common language , origin of moldavians, wallachians , transylvanians. first important chronicler of moldavia, grigore ureche (1590–1647), states romanians of hungarian kingdom , moldavians have same origin, since both come rome . same author refers language of work our moldavian language . later, chronicler miron costin (1633–1691) wrote in on moldavian nation oldest , more righteous name of people inhabiting moldavia, wallachia , transylvania rumân (romanian), roman , , name kept emperor trajan s colonizations till day, albeit more commonly among wallachians , transylvanians. mentioned that, while people of moldavia identify moldavian , call language romanian . son, chronicler nicolae costin (1660–1712), expressed similar opinions.the wallachian chronicler constantin cantacuzino (1655–1716) explains romanians means romanians wallachia, transylvania, , moldavia, speak same language , have common origin. nevertheless states that, unlike wallachians , transylvanians, identify romanians , population of moldavia identifies moldavian . dimitrie cantemir (1673–1723), prince of moldavia , member of royal academy of berlin, wrote history book called hronicul vechimei romano-moldo-vlahilor (chronicle of ancientness of romanian-moldavian-vlachs). in introductory part, calls chronicle of entire romanian land (hronicon toată Țara românească) later divided moldavia, wallachia , transylvania (care apoi s-au împărțit în moldova, muntenească și ardealul) , mentions book first written in latin , translated romanian (pre limba românească). while attesting people of moldavia call moldavians , states romanian used when referring commonly transylvanians, moldavians , wallachians(carii cu toții cu un nume de obște români să chiamă).
selected foreign travelers moldavians
several foreign travelers through moldavia since 16th century noted locals called romanians , language romanian . mention awareness of common roman origin among inhabitants of moldavia , neighbouring wallachia , transylvania . georg reicherstorffer (1495–1554), transylvanian saxon, emissary of ferdinand of habsburg in wallachia , moldavia. reicherstorffer had traveled in 1527 , 1535 in principality of moldavia , wrote travel memoirs – moldaviae quae olim daciae pars, chorographia (1541) , chorographia transylvaniae(1550). describing geography of moldavia finds besides name called wallachia , speaking moldavian people says roman [italian] language still endures in nation...so wallachians [from moldavia] italian nation, claim, old romans . chronicler , mercenary verona, alessandro guagnini (1538–1614), traveled twice in moldavia , helped despot vodă (ioan iacob heraclid) gain throne in 1563. in biography of prince, vita despothi principis moldaviae , described people of moldavia: nation of wallachians refer romana , originate exiled romans of italy. language mixture of latin , italian languages, italian can understand wallachian . after visit moldavia anonymous traveler, italian jesuit, wrote in 1587 description of people , found these people [moldavians] belong greek faith, take kindly roman, maybe because of corrupted language latin, or belief have descent romans, call romans . also, according these sources, slav neighbours called moldovans vlachs or volokhs , term equally used refer romance speakers wallachia, transylvania, , balkan peninsula. nicolaus olahus (1493–1568), proeminent humanist, writes in hungaria et attila moldavians have same language, rituals , religion wallachians , way distinguish them clothes. mentions language of moldavians , other vlach peoples once roman (latin), colonies of roman empire.
thomas thornton (1762–1814) wrote book in 1807 numerous travels inside ottoman empire , says wallachian , moldavian peasants call rumun, or roman , distinguish boyars (local nobles), , language corrupt latin.
early works in local language of moldavia
similarly, in 1643, moldavian prince vasile lupu sponsored book of homilies translated metropolitan varlaam of moldavia slavonic romanian (pre limba romeniască) , titled carte românească de Învățătură (romanian book of learning) . foreword prince lupu says addressed entire romanian nation everywhere (la toată semenția românească de pretutindeni). book, known cazania of varlaam (varlaam s homiliary), first printed in moldavia , large numbers of copies spread in neighboring provinces inhabited romanian speakers. furthermore, reaction translation in transylvania of calvinist catechism romanian, metropolitan varlaam wrote in 1645 response calvinist catechism (răspuns la catehismul calvinesc) addressed beloved christians , 1 romanian nation transylvania vasile lupu sponsored printing in 1646 of first code of laws in moldavia titled romanian book of learning (carte românească de învățătură de la pravilele împărătești și de la alte giudețe). book inspired byzantine tradition , in 1652 virtually identical code of laws appeared in wallachia, sponsored prince matei basarab.
moldavian metropolitan dosoftei printed dumnezaiasca liturghie (divine liturgy) in romanian (tiparita româneste). in foreword romanian nation (cuvânt depreuna catra semintia rumaneasca), dosoftei calls book gift romanian language (acest dar limbii rumânesti) translated greek (de pre elineasca) romanian (pre limba rumâneasca).
later, after annexation of bessarabia russian empire, religious books written in region commonly called language moldavian . menologium printed in chișinău in 1819 states translated slavonic moldavian (тълмъчиндуль де пре лимба Словенѣскъ пре чѣ Молдовенѣскъ), typicon 1821 (Сау тълмъчить Молдовенеще де пре чель Словенескь).
diplomats opinion
joseph ii, ruler of austrian empire , catherine ii, empress of russia between 1762–1796, willing unite moldavia , wallachia, under ottoman sovereignty, in order create independent buffer state between russia , austria. proposed independent state, named dacia, have contained moldavia, bessarabia , wallachia, catherine wished under russian influence presented in so-called greek project . during british parliament debates of 1793, mr. whitebread, speaking initiative of france erect independent belgium austro-hungaria, mentions edmund burke s initiative form independent state ottoman empire, named circle of danube comprising wallachia, moldavia , bessarabia. also, memoirs of sir james porter (1720–1786), british diplomat, ambassador sublime porte in istanbul 1747 1762, mentions that, inside ottoman empire, next in number slavonians rumelians or romani, whom moldavians , wallachians belong, call rumuryi.
bessarabia in russian empire (1812–1918)
in 1812, eastern part of principality of moldavia, called bessarabia, includes current territory of republic of moldova (except transnistria) ceded ottomans russian empire.
the idea of unified state including romanian speakers transylvania, moldavia , wallachia did not emerge before 18th century, foreign spirit of age starting 18th century, pan-romanian national idea appeared, inspired german , french romantic nationalism. young boyars moldavia , wallachia educated in western universities returned home ambitious political goals modernize countries, , sought accomplish ideal of unified romanian nation state. 1 important step achieved in 1859, in favorable international context, election of alexandru ioan cuza common ruler of autonomous principalities of wallachia , (western) moldavia. newly formed romanian state set among primary tasks inculcate sentiment of belonging common romanian nation illiterate rural majority through state-funded universal elementary school. romantic historical discourse reinterpreted history march towards unified state. creation of standardized romanian language , orthography, adoption of roman alphabet replace older cyrillic important elements of national project. although still under foreign rule, masses of romanians in multiethnic transylvania developed romanian national consciousness, owing interaction ethnic groups, , reaction status of political inferiority , aggressive nationalist politicies of later hungarian national state.
such developments not reflected in russian-controlled bessarabia. russification policy of regime, more successful among higher strata of society, did not have important effect on majority of rural moldavians. romanian politician take ionescu noted @ time, romanian landlords russified through policy of cooptation, government allowing them maintain leading positions in administration of province, whereas peasantry indifferent national problem: there no schools de-nationalization, and, although church service held in russian, of little significance furthermore, university of bucharest lecturer cristina petrescu noted, bessarabia missed reforms aimed @ transforming 2 united principalities [wallachia , moldavia] modern state irina livezeanu claims that, moreover, @ beginning of 20th century, peasants in regions of former principality of moldavia more identify moldavians inhabitants of cities.
in 1849, george long writes wallachia , moldavia separated political boundary , history closely connected. latter says inhabited wallachians call roomoon (romanian). ethnologist robert gordon latham, writes in 1854, name wallachian, moldavian or bessarabian designates himself roman or rumanyo (romanian), name author applies romance speakers of macedonia. similarly, in 1845, german brothers arthur schott , albert schott (historian) write in beginning of book – walachische mährchen (wallachian fairy tales) – wallachians live in wallachia, moldavia, transylvania, hungary, macedonia , thessaly. authors mentions wallachians respond eo sum romanu (i romanian) when asked are.
bessarabia within greater romania (1918–1940)
in 1918, sfatul Țării voted union of bessarabia kingdom of romania. @ time, romanian army present in bessarabia. historian charles upson clark notes several bessarabian ministers, codreanu, pelivan , secara, , russian commander-in-chief shcherbachev had asked intervention maintain order. mentions after arrival of romanian army classes in bessarabia, except russian revolutionaries, breathed sigh of relief . however, adds that, @ beginning, intervention had roused great resentment among still clung hope of bessarabian state within russian federated republic such ion inculeț, president of sfatul Țării , prime-minister pantelimon erhan demanded prompt withdrawal of romanian troops avoid civil war. however, inculeț later welcomed romanian general ernest broșteanu, in charge intervention, formal reception @ sfatul Țării.
given complex circumstances, scholars such cristina petrescu , historian charles king considered controversial bessarabian vote in favor of union romania. on contrary, historian sorin alexandrescu thinks presence of romanian army did not cause unification, [...] consolidated . . similarly, bernard newman, traveled bike in whole of greater romania, claimed there little doubt vote represented prevailing wish in bessarabia , events leading unification indicate there no question of seizure , voluntary act on part of people.
quoting emmanuel de martonne, historian irina livezeanu mentions that, around time of union, bessarabian peasants still called moldovans . adds ion nistor s explanation 1915 of similar earlier phenomenon in austrian-ruled bukovina, peasants had called moldovans under influence of [romanian] literary language, term moldovan replaced romanian , while in bessarabia influence has not penetrated yet
after unification, few french , romanian military reports period mentioned reticence or hostility of bessarabian ethnic minorities, @ times moldovans, towards new romanian administration. livezeanu notes that, @ beginning, moldovan urban elite educated under russian rule spoke predominantly russian, , despised romania uncivilized , culture of elite, of knew little.
owing partly relative underdevelopment compared other regions of greater romania, low competence , corruption of of new romanian administration in province, process of turning bessarabian peasants romanians less successful in other regions , disrupted soviet occupation. cristina petrescu thinks transition between tsarist-type of local administration centralized romanian administration alienated many moldovans, , many of them felt rather occupied united alleged brothers . based on stories told group of bessarabians villages of bălți county, who, notably, chose move romania rather live under soviet regime, cristina petrescu suggests bessarabia seems region of greater romania central authorities did not succeed in integrating own coethnics , of whom did not begin consider part of romanian nation, going beyond allegiance regional , local ties .
bessarabia within soviet union (1940–1992)
in 1940, bessarabia, along northern bukovina, incorporated ussr following ultimatum sent romanian government. soviet authorities took several steps emphasize distinction between moldovans , romanians, @ times using physical elimination of pan-romanian supporters, deemed enemies of people . repressed nkvd , kgb bourgeois nationalism . soviet propaganda sought secure separate status varieties of romanian language spoken in ussr. thus, imposed use of cyrillic script derived russian alphabet, , promoted exclusive use of name moldovan language , forbidding use of name romanian language . harsh anti-romanian soviet policy left trace on identity of moldovans.
there several requests switch latin alphabet, seen more suitable romance core of language, in moldovan ssr. in 1965, demands of 3rd congress of writers of soviet moldavia rejected leadership of communist party, replacement being deemed contrary interests of moldavian people , not reflecting aspirations , hopes .
although established official alphabet of moldavian soviet socialist republic, things began change in 1988 , 1989 when soviet union began unravel. on august 27, 1989, popular front of moldova (fpm) organized mass demonstration in chișinău, became known great national assembly, pressured authorities of moldavian soviet socialist republic adopt language law on august 31, 1989 proclaimed moldovan language written in latin script state language of mssr. identity romanian language established. august 31 has been national language day ever since.
however, moldovan cyrillic alphabet still official , accepted alphabet in breakaway russian-supported transnistria language.
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