ROMANIA : BUCHAREST - HISTORY
The legend says that Bucharest was founded
by a shepherd named Bucur, another variant, more likely, is that it was
established by Mircea cel Batrân in the 14th century after a victory won
over the Turks (bucurie means joy in Romanian). Like most ancient cities
of Romania, its foundation has also been ascribed to the first
Wallachian prince, the half-mythical Radu Negru.
The town was first mentioned in a document in 1495 as residence of the
ruler of Wallachia, Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler, aka “Dracula”). It was
then that the Old Royal Court (Curtea Veche) was built and during the
rule of Radu cel Frumos it became the summer residence of the court.
Attacks by Tatars and Turks restricted its growth before the 17th
century. Between the 17th - 19th (begining with 1698) centuries it was
the capital of Wallachia. During the 18th century the possession of
Bucharest was frequently disputed by the Turks, Austrians and Russians.
In 1812 it gave its name to the treaty by which Bessarabia and a third
of Moldavia were ceded to Russia. In the war of 1828 it was occupied by
the Russians, who made it over to the prince of Wallachia.
On 23 March 1847 a fire consumed about 2,000 buildings of Bucharest
(about a third of the city) .
Bucharest was, however, to take an important role in the creation of the
Romanian state.In 1858 the international congress for the organization
of the Danubian principalities was held in the city; and when, in 1861,
the union of Wallachia and Moldavia was proclaimed, Bucharest became the
Romanian capital. Alexander John Cuza, the first ruler of the united
provinces, was driven from his throne by an insurrection in Bucharest in
1866 . The population increased in number from 122,000 (1859) to 639,000
(1930) to 1,452,000 (1966). The town held a dominant position in the
national context similarly to the position held by Budapest in Hungary,
Vienna in Austria or Paris in France.
On December 6, 1916 the city was occupied by the German forces, the
capital being moved to Iasi, but it was liberated in November 1918,
becoming the capital of the new united Kingdom of Romania.
Bucharest suffered heavy loses during WWII due to the English and
American bombardments. On November 8, 1945, the king's day, the
communists suppressed pro-monarchist rallies. During Nicolae Ceausescu's
leadership, most of the historical part of the city, including old
churches, was destroyed, to be replaced with the grandomanic socialist
buildings of the Centru Civic, notably the Palace of the Parliament.
Some historic districts remain, but many argue whether Bucharest is
really the Paris of the East today.
In 1977, a strong 7.4 on the Richter-scale earthquake claimed 1,500
lives and destroyed many old buildings.
Mass protests began in Timisoara in December 1989 and continued in
Bucharest, leading to the overthrow of Ceausescu's communist
regime.Heavy fighting near the Palace Square during the revolution that
ousted the Ceausescu regime in December 1989 caused damage to prominent
landmarks, including the Royal Palace.
