Traiasca Romania!

Today we celebrate the creation of Romania from 1859. This union was achieved through diplomacy, not war. So, how did they do it? Well, the same leader was democratically elected twice, in two independent countries: Moldova and Tara Romaneasca. After reigning in both, Alexandru Ioan Cuza argued for the union with the powers to be explaining it took him two weeks to travel between his two capitals. It was approved and it lasted.

Romania increased in size in 1918 under the leadership of a woman, queen Maria. She beacame crown princess at the tender age of 16, and stole people's hearts and conquered their minds in a new country of which she did not even speak the language when she first arrived. Yet, she unified most nearby Romanian speakers in one big realm. In some ways, she was Romania's lady Diana -- only people back then were not quite so afraid of powerful women. It was assumed the wife supports the husband, and the husband supports the wife. The country and her husband supported her. She achieved great things including the creation of a new country that we still celebrate on December 1st of every year.

This was inspite of the times and yes, her marriage was marred by infidelity. She was the most beautiful queen of her time, and was loved and admired by many men, and she loved some of them in return. Ferdinand had his own affairs, but they respected each other in public and in private. He was taciturn. She was open and full of charisma. In our more modern world, in a period when we pretend to champion women's rights, Lady Diana was not allowed to thrive. She was instead kicked out of the royal family after an ignomious divorce with hers and his dirty laundry aired in a very public fashion. Today she is replaced her husband's lover - queen Camilla. Maria continued to lead until her husband died in 1927. She was replaced by her son, who blamed her for her infidelities, did not support her and did not welcome her advice. So, the leadership in the country collapsed. Romania owns less teritory now than it did in 1918. Both Maria's son and her grandson showed yet again that talent and leadership are not hereditary.

The grand Romania created by Maria, an immigrant who became queen, was bigger than the current state. Many territories conquered by Maria and her team through diplomacy were lost after WWII. Some became independent countries like Moldova and Transnistria (de la Nistru pana la Tisa/tot romanul plansu-mi-sa), and other parts where incorporated in other countries. Long disputed territories includes Insula Serpilor, which is now part of Ukraine.