39 events in the past four centuries that defined the course of Romania’s history

Romania’s history is full of war and foreign invasion. Throughout the past centuries, Romanians had to fight for their independence several times. First time that the country was united for a brief amount of time was in 1600. At that time, the principalities was under Ottoman and Habsburg domination. This moment is actually from where our journey through history starts.

A chronology of key events:

1600-1601 – The three historic principalities of Romania – Transylvania, Moldavia and Wallachia – are briefly united under one ruler, Michael the Brave. They had been under Habsburg and Ottoman domination.

1683 – The Habsburgs recapture Transylvania from the Ottoman Empire.

1715 – Phanariot Greek governors begin to rule Moldavia and Wallachia on behalf of the Ottoman Empire, and launch administrative reforms.

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1600-1601 – The three historic principalities of Romania – Transylvania, Moldavia and Wallachia – are briefly united under one ruler, Michael the Brave. They had been under Habsburg and Ottoman domination.

1683 – The Habsburgs recapture Transylvania from the Ottoman Empire.

1715 – Phanariot Greek governors begin to rule Moldavia and Wallachia on behalf of the Ottoman Empire, and launch administrative reforms.

1881 – Romania becomes a kingdom.

1904 – The oil industry takes off with the opening of the first refinery.

1914 – King Carol’s death ends Romania’s alliance with the Central Powers – Germany and Austria. His nephew Ferdinand takes Romania into World War I on the Allied side in 1916.

1918 – As part of the peace settlement at the end of the war, Romania virtually doubles in size and population.

1930s – Rise of fascist “Iron Guard” mass movement.

1940 – General Ion Antonescu seizes power, and allies Romania with Nazi Germany.

1944 – Romania switches sides as Soviet forces close in. A Soviet-backed government is installed the following year.

Communist takeover

1947 – Romania regains Transylvania under peace treaty but loses some territory to Soviet Union. King Michael is forced to abdicate and Soviet-style people’s republic is formed.

1965 – Nicolae Ceausescu becomes Communist leader and pursues a foreign policy that often runs counter to Moscow’s lead, while increasing repressive rule and personality cult at home.

1975 – United States grants Romania most-favoured-nation status.

1977 – Bucharest earthquake kills around 1,500 people.

1985-86 – Austerity programme aimed at reducing foreign debt leads to food shortages and widespread power cuts.

Revolution

1989 December – Demonstrations in city of Timisoara spread nationwide in a bloody national uprising that leads to the execution of Nicolae Ceasescu and his wife.

Former Ceausescu ally Ion Iliescu forms a government pledged to democracy

1990 May – Government embarks on economic and political reform programme.

1990 June – Student and opposition protests against ex-communist leadership crushed when 20,000 miners are brought in to stage a counter demonstration.

1991 – Riots by miners on strike over soaring prices force Prime Minister Petre Roman’s resignation. 1996 – Centre-right election victory sweeps aside former communists. Emil Constantinescu elected president, Victor Ciorbea becomes prime minister.

1997 – Economic reform programme announced. Securitate Communist-era secret police files opened.

1999 January – Security forces prevent 10,000 miners striking over pay from entering Bucharest.

2000 November-December – Ion Iliescu defeats far-right rival Corneliu Vadim Tudor to retake presidency. Leftist Adrian Nastase becomes prime minister in minority government.

Path to EU membership

2004 March – Romania admitted to Nato.

2004 November-December – Centrist alliance leader Traian Basescu elected president. Ally Calin Tariceanu becomes prime minister with agenda of speeding up EU-oriented reforms.

2005 April – Romania signs EU accession treaty.

2007 January – Romania and Bulgaria join the European Union.

2008 February – European Commission warns Romania over high-level corruption.

Financial crisis

2009 March – The International Monetary Fund and other lenders agree to provide Romania a rescue package worth 20bn euros.

2012 January-February – Clashes over austerity and corruption prompt resignation of Prime Minister Emil Boc.

2012 May – Victor Ponta becomes prime minister when his left-wing Social Liberal Union alliance topples the interim government.

2014 November – Conservative Klaus Iohannis beats Victor Ponta in presidential run-off election.

2015 November – Victor Ponta resigns as prime minister after months of scandal, culminating in mass street protests over lax safety regulations at a nightclub where 32 people died in a fire.

2016 May – A Nato missile defence system is installed in the face of Russia opposition.

2017 January – Social Democrats form government after winning December 2016 elections.

2017 February – Some 200,000 people protest over government attempts to water down corruption measures, in largest demonstrations since fall of Communist regime in 1989.

2018 October – Referendum to ban gay marriage fails because of a low turnout.