2. FERDINAND I OF HOHENZOLLERN-SIGMARINGEN
(AUGUST 24, 1865, SIGMARINGEN - D. JULY 20, 1927,
SINAIA), ALSO NAMED FERDINAND I THE
ENLIGHTENER, KING OF ROMANIA, MEMBER
AND HONORARY PRESIDENT OF THE ROMANIAN
ACADEMY OF MARCH 6, 1890.
DURING HIS REIGN, THE GREAT UNION OF 1918
WAS ESTABLISHED, THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE
CONSOLIDATION OF THE ROMANIAN UNITARY
NATIONAL STATE WERE LAID AND
FUNDAMENTAL MEASURES WERE ADOPTED FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COUNTRY:
UNIVERSAL VOTE, AGRARIAN REFORM, THE
CONSTITUTION OF 1923.
3. Great Union Day occurring on December 1, is the
national holiday of Romania. It marks the unification of
Transylvania, Bessarabia, and Bukovina with the
Romanian Kingdom in 1918. This holiday was set after
the Romanian Revolution and commemorates the
assembly of the delegates of ethnic Romanians held in
Alba Iulia, which declared the Union of Transylvania
with Romania.
GREAT UNION DAY
4. According to the Constitution, the king was the supreme commander of the army. He
established his headquarters at Scroviştea, a castle near Peleş, and the Romanian
soldiers passed the Carpathians for the liberation of Transylvania.
The enthusiasm of taking control of the main passers-by in the Carpathians and
releasing cities like Brasov was stopped by the loss of the Battle of Turtucaia on the
southern front.
Although he fought with heroism and a spirit of sacrifice, the Romanian army had to
withdraw step by step, overwhelmed by the number and modern technique of the
enemy.
At the same time, Antanta did not fulfill his promise to send Russian troops to fight
with the Romanians and did not start the offensive in the Thessaloniki area, which
would have occupied Bulgaria.
THE WAR FOR THE
ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE
NATION
5.
6. Armistice with Central Powers
On November 23, General von Mackensen entered the head of his troops
in the capital. It was a difficult time for the Romanian people, who had to bear the
robbery's robbery. On December 11, a government of national union headed by
Ionel Bratianu is formed in Iaşi, and the next year is immediately to reorganize the
command, the Romanian army being endowed with modern equipment bought
from the allies.
In October 1917, the Bolsheviks took over power in Russia and announced their
willingness to end the armistice. Under these conditions, Romania remained
isolated on the eastern front, surrounded by enemy troops, so that the advantage
of victories in the summer of the same year could not be frustrated. The Russian
troops left the front line in total disarray, causing looting and destruction.
7. At the beginning of 1918, the Austro-Hungarian pressure on Romania
increased, demanding the removal of the dynasty and the speedy conclusion
of the armistice. Prime Minister Bratianu did not appear willing to conclude a
shameful peace, so he placed the government's mandate on January 26, 1918.
In his place was formed a cabinet led by General Alexander Averescu. In
disastrous conditions for the country, King Ferdinand was forced to conclude
a separate peace. On February 14, 1918, a meeting between the king and the
Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, which puts the issue of the armistice in a
lasting manner, takes place in Răcăciuni. [24] Moreover, on February 18,
Russia's outbreak of war was consecrated by the Peace of Brest-Litovsk, so
the Moldovan front remained completely isolated.
8. Ferdinand meets a Crown Council the same day, presenting participants the peace
conditions offered by the meeting with the Austro-Hungarian Minister . It was
supposed to choose between a humiliating peace or the occupation of the whole
country by the enemy. After extensive debates, it is decided that the Romanian
delegation will discuss the text of the treaty in block and not on the articles in order to
highlight the dictate nature of the provisions of the treaty . After the signing of a
preliminary treaty in Buftea on February 20, it was considered that Alexandru
Marghiloman was the most suitable person to negotiate with the Central Powers.
Alexandru Marghiloman assumes responsibility for signing a very serious peace in Bucharest, the
state of war being replaced by a regime of occupation. On April 24, 1918, the Peace of Bucharest
ended, which contained humiliating provisions: Dobrogea was occupied by Bulgaria, Austro-
Hungary took the western part of the Carpathians, Germany inscribed a monopoly on crude oil
for 90 years, grain trade, exploitation and the processing of wood, and access to the Black Sea
was allowed only along a commercial road to Constanta.
9.
10. Despite all the pressures exerted on him, King Ferdinand
refused to sign the Peace Treaty, thus allowing the survival
of the Romanian state. Taking advantage of the conjuncture
of the new international context, the Romanians from the
territories under foreign occupation expressed their desire
for unconditional unification with Patria-Mama. On March
27, 1918, in Chisinau, the council of the country decided by
a majority vote of the Union of Bessarabia with Romania.
GREAT UNION
11. On November 15/28, 1918, in CERNAUTI, the
General Congress of Bucovina unanimously voted
"Unconditioned and united Unification of Bucovina in
its old frontiers to Ceremus, Colacin and Nistru, with
the Kingdom of Romania." By decree-law of 18/31
December 1918, King Ferdinand consecrated the Union
of Bucovina with Romania.
THE UNION OF
BUCOVINA WITH
ROMANIA
12. Convened on November 3/15 through the manifesto "To the Peoples of the
World," the Great National Assembly met on November 18th / December 1,
1918, in Alba-Iulia, attending about 100,000 people from all corners of the
country. The works were opened by Gheorghe Pop of Băseşti and the Union's
Resolution was presented by Vasile Goldiş. The 1228 elected delegates of the
Romanians "from Transylvania, Banat and the Hungarian Land" voted the
Resolution of the Union "which decrees the unification of those Romanians
and all the territories they inhabit with Romania". By Decree no. 3631 of
11/24 December 1918, King Ferdinand ratified the Union of Transylvania
with Romania.
THE UNION OF TRANSYLVANIA
WITH ROMANIA.
13. Astfel se înfăptuia România Mare, sub conducerea lui Ferdinand I
„Întregitorul”, Regele României. Noul stat avea o suprafaţă de 295.049 km2
şi o populaţie de peste 16 milioane de locuitori.
