The Animated History of the Romanian People: From the Roman Conquest (102 AD) to 1947 (King Mihai I)
Frescos by Costin Petrescu (May 10, 1872 – October 15, 1954) Romanian Athenaeum
The Dacian Wars: Roman Emperor Trajan launched two campaigns against Dacia, ruled by Decebalus, formidable leader, which was a "inheritor" of the legacy of Burebista, who, at the peak of Dacian power, had first unified the tribes into a vast empire. After fierce fighting and the fall of Dacian capital Sarmizegetusa, Dacia was conquered and transformed into a Roman province. The victory brought vast riches to Rome and marked the beginning of deep Roman influence north of the Danube.
106 AD
102 AD
The Daco-Roman Fusion: After the conquest of Dacia, Roman settlers, soldiers, and administrators mixed with the local Dacian population. Roman law, language, architecture, and customs blended with native traditions, giving birth to a new Daco-Roman culture. Cities such as Sarmizegetusa Ulpia Traiana (the provincial capital), Apulum (modern Alba Iulia), Napoca (modern Cluj-Napoca), and Tomis (modern Constanța) became lasting urban centers. This fusion laid the foundations of the Romanian people and their Latin-based language.
271 AD
106 AD
The barbarian invasions: From the 3rd century onward, waves of migrating peoples — including Goths, Huns, Gepids, Avars and possibly any remaining free Dacian tribes — passed through the former Roman territories north of the Danube. Although Roman administration withdrew, local Daco-Roman population remained. Despite constant invasions, elements of Roman culture, language, and rural life endured, preserving continuity through centuries of change.
after 271 AD
Formation of Romanian (Rumân,Vlah/Olachi) culture: after the early waves of barbarian invasions, local communities continued to live north and south of the Danube. Over the centuries, they interacted with new arrivals, including Slavic and Magyar tribes, later being influenced by neighboring powers wich shaped political and social structures. A distinct Romanian population gradually emerged by some sources as early as 9th century.
before 900 AD
The formation of the Principalities: as small communities were organized, Transylvania’s rulers were mentioned in the late 9th century, under the influence of the newly formed kingdom of Hungary. To the south of the Carpathians the Kingdom of Bulgaria influenced formation of Wallachia together with the Byzantine Empire in Dobruja, Hungarian influence later in the North, and Mongol invasions. Moldavia’s early development was similarly shaped by the same regional powers.
after 900 AD
cca 1340 GAD
The reign of Mircea the Elder: Mircea the Elder ruled after Basarab I, Alexandru Basarab, Vlaicu Basarab, and Radu I. By his reign, Wallachia was already well integrated into European medieval culture. Mircea strengthened his army to resist the Ottomans, formed strategic alliances with neighbouring powers, and even influenced Ottoman politics. His reign marks a peak period of political consolidation, military resistance, and growing Wallachian influence in the region.
1418 AD
1386 AD
The reign of Alexander the Good: Alexander the Good ruled Moldavia during a period of stability and growth. He forged strong alliances with Poland, Lithuania, and Hungary, and secured his rule after support from Wallachia. Alexander strengthened the army, defended against Ottoman and Tatar incursions. He promoted trade, granting privileges to merchants from Lviv, Kraków, and Armenian communities, and developed key Black Sea ports. A devoted patron of the Orthodox Church, he founded monasteries and codified the first Moldavian law, laying the foundations of a prosperous, organized principality.
1400 AD
1431 AD
The reign of John Corvinus: Ioan Huniade was born in Wallachia to a noble Wallachian family that settled in Transylvania during the reign of Mircea the Elder. His father, Voicu, served as a commander in the Hungarian army. Huniade emerged as a leading military and political figure during a period marked by the defense of Christianity against the Ottomans. He commanded armies, influenced the Wallachian and Moldavian principalities, and held substantial sway over the Hungarian kingdom, eventually becoming its regent. His campaigns strengthened Central and Southeastern Europe’s defenses, and his legacy endured through his son, Matthias Corvinus, who became one of Hungary’s greatest kings.
1441 AD
1448 AD
The reign of Vlad Țepeș: born in Wallachia to the Drăculești family, Vlad III Țepeș ruled the principality in several periods during the mid-15th century, defending it against the Ottomans and consolidating power over rebellious boyars. He married Justina Szilágyi, a Hungarian noblewoman and cousin of Matthias Corvinus, strengthening political alliances. Vlad reinforced Wallachia’s central administration through charters, land grants, and appointments of loyal boyars. His reign left a lasting legacy in politics, military defense, and governance, influencing writings in Germany and Transylvania and reflecting Wallachia’s integration into broader European intellectual and cultural networks.
1448 AD
1476 AD
The reign of Stephen the Great: ruled Moldavia for nearly five decades with skill and vision, founding over 40 churches and monasteries and supporting local crafts and commerce. He defended the principality against Ottomans, Hungarians and Poles, successfully resisting Matthias Corvinus and John I Albert campaigns. Diplomatically active with Lviv and Genoese, he was honoured by Pope Sixtus IV as “Athleta Christi”, leaving a lasting cultural, military, and political legacy.
1457 AD
1504 AD
The reign of Neagoe Basarab: best known for his cultural and religious patronage, Neagoe promoted the printing of religious texts and encouraged artisans, craftsmanship and the spread of literacy. Diplomatically, he maintained cautious relations with its neighbours, balancing tribute obligations with internal autonomy. His reign emphasized piety, cultural flourishing, and the consolidation of princely authority, leaving a lasting legacy in Wallachian political, religious, and artistic life.
1512 AD
1521 AD
The reign of Michael the Brave: was Voivode of Wallachia (1593–1601), and for brief periods also ruled Moldavia (1600) and Transylvania (1599–1600), achieving the political unification of the three principalities under one ruler. His reign was marked by military campaigns against the Ottomans, defending Christian Europe, and expanding Wallachia’s influence in the region. Michael strengthened alliances with Habsburg Austria and other anti-Ottoman forces, using diplomacy to secure support and coordinate campaigns. His leadership left a lasting legacy as a symbol of Romanian unity, military skill, and resistance against Ottoman domination.
1593 AD
1601 AD
The era of Matei Basarab and Vasile Lupu: was marked by political stability, military consolidation, and cultural flourishing. Matei Basarab strengthened central authority, codified Wallachian law, defended against boyar unrest, and patronized churches, monasteries, and religious printing. Vasile Lupu consolidated Moldavian power, pursued alliances with Wallachia, Poland, and Transylvania, and promoted Orthodox scholarship through schools, printing presses, and the construction churches. Both princes maintained autonomy under Ottoman suzerainty, fostering European connections while leaving a lasting legacy in governance, law, culture, and Orthodox religious life.
1632 AD
1654 AD
The reign of Dimitrie Cantemir: prince, scholar, and diplomat, renowned for his intellectual and cultural contributions, detailed studies of geography, languages, and music. Sought to strengthen Moldavia’s autonomy through alliances against the Ottomans. Cantemir remained a prominent European intellectual, fostering cross-cultural scholarship, education, and literature, leaving a lasting legacy as both a ruler and a thinker of Moldavia’s Enlightenment-era culture.
1693 AD
1711AD
The reign of Constantin Brâncoveanu: a period marked by political skill, cultural flourishing, and complex diplomacy under Ottoman suzerainty. He is celebrated for his patronage of art, architecture, and the Orthodox Church, most notably the Brâncovenesc style, which combined Byzantine, Ottoman, and Western influences. Brâncoveanu supported schools, printing, and cultural development, fostering Wallachia’s intellectual and artistic life. Diplomatically, he skillfully navigated relations with the Ottomans, Habsburgs, and neighboring principalities, maintaining relative autonomy. He and his family were executed by the Ottomans in 1714 for refusing to renounce Christianity, cementing his legacy as a martyr and defender of faith and culture
1688 AD
1714 AD
The uprising from 1784: major peasant revolt in Transylvania against feudal oppression under Habsburg rule. It was driven by heavy serf obligations, lack of rights, and social inequality faced by Romanian peasants. The revolt spread rapidly through the Apuseni Mountains, targeting noble estates and demanding justice and reform. Although suppressed by imperial forces, the leaders became martyrs: Horea and Cloșca were executed in 1785, while Crișan died in prison. The uprising had lasting impact, contributing to later reforms, including the gradual easing of serfdom, and became a powerful symbol of social justice, resistance, and Romanian national consciousness.
1784 AD
1784 AD
The 1821 Revolution: Tudor, the great Oltean, receives from the boyars of Bucharest the act confirming the rights demanded by the Adunarea Norodului. Nearby stands Bishop Ilarion of Argeș, with an Oltenian culă behind him and, farther off, the towers of Hurezi Monastery, from where the revolutionary army set out. The figure of Gheorghe Lazăr, teacher of Romanian learning, links the Transylvanian uprising with Tudor Vladimirescu’s movement.
1821 AD
1821 AD
The 1848 Transylvania Revolution: the revolution in Transylvania was part of a wider European revolutionary wave, marked by struggles for national rights, social reform, and political representation. Avram Iancu, a lawyer from the Apuseni Mountains, emerged as the leader of the Romanian resistance, organizing peasant legions to defend Romanian communities. While Hungarian revolutionaries sought union with Hungary, Romanians demanded national equality and recognition within Transylvania. Iancu’s forces resisted attempts to suppress Romanian claims, and although the revolution ultimately failed, his leadership made him a lasting symbol of popular resistance, and the fight for civil rights among Romanians.
1848 AD
1848 AD
The 1848 Revolution in the Romanian Principalities: in the Romanian Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia the revolutionary movement was aiming at political reform, national emancipation, and social justice. Revolutionary leaders demanded constitutional government, civil rights, equality before the law, and the abolition of feudal privileges, including serfdom. In Wallachia, a provisional government briefly implemented reforms, while in Moldavia revolutionary activity was quickly suppressed. Although defeated, the revolution laid the foundations for modern Romanian statehood, influencing later reforms and contributing directly to the Union of the Principalities in 1859 and national consciousness.
1848 AD
1848 AD
The unification of Țara Românească (Wallachia) and Moldova under A.I. Cuza: achieved through the double election of Alexandru Ioan Cuza as prince of both principalities, marked a decisive step toward modern Romanian statehood. Despite opposition from major European powers, political elites used legal ambiguity to secure unity. Cuza’s reign (1859–1866) introduced major reforms, including the secularization of monastic estates, agrarian reform, legal modernization, and the creation of national institutions. The union laid the foundation for the Romanian nation-state, leading eventually to independence and the proclamation of the Kingdom of Romania.
1859 AD
1866 AD
The reign of Carol I: the reign of Carol I marked the consolidation and modernization of Romania as a European state. Under his leadership, Romania gained independence from the Ottoman Empire following the War of 1877–1878 and was proclaimed a kingdom in 1881. Carol I oversaw the development of constitutional monarchy, infrastructure, industry, and a professional army, while strengthening ties with Western Europe. His long reign brought political stability, economic growth, and international recognition, laying the durable foundations of the modern Romanian state.
1866 AD
1914 AD
The Great War: Romania entered the First World War in 1916 on the side of the Entente, seeking national unification by liberating Romanian-inhabited territories under Austro-Hungarian rule. After early advances into Transylvania, the country suffered severe defeats and occupation, but the army reorganized and achieved important victories in 1917 at Mărăști, Mărășești, and Oituz. Forced out of the war by Russia’s collapse, Romania rejoined the conflict in 1918, contributing to the realization of Greater Romania through the union of Transylvania, Bukovina, and Bessarabia. The war was decisive in fulfilling Romania’s national aspirations.
1916 AD
1918 AD
King Ferdinand I and Queen Marie: played a decisive role in shaping modern Romania during and after the First World War. Ferdinand, known as “the Unifier,” led Romania into the war on the side of the Entente, enabling the creation of Greater Romania in 1918. Queen Marie became an international symbol through her work as a nurse, her leadership in wartime morale, and her diplomatic efforts at the Paris Peace Conference, where she advocated Romania’s interests. Together, they embodied national unity, sacrifice, and international recognition, consolidating Romania’s place among European states.
1918 AD
1927 AD
1859 AD
Modern Romania (scene now erased from the Athenaeum): the late 1930s and early 1940s was shaped by crisis and transition. King Carol II ruled during growing political instability, authoritarianism, and external pressure from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. His abdication in 1940, following major territorial losses, marked Romania’s entry into a decisive wartime phase. His son, King Michael I, ascended the throne amid dictatorship and war. In August 1944, Michael led the royal coup that removed the pro-German regime and switched Romania to the Allied side, shortening the war and redefining Romania’s postwar trajectory.
1930 AD