Romanians (ethnic group)

Romanians (ethnic group)
Group	Romanians
Native name	Români
Population	c. 24–30 million worldwide
Regions	Romania; Moldova (country); Serbia (Vojvodina); Ukraine (Chernivtsi, Zakarpattia); Hungary; Bulgaria; diaspora: United States, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom
Languages	Romanian language, Aromanian language (related), Daco-Romanian dialects
Religions	Eastern Orthodox Church, Romanian Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, Protestant denominations, Jewish communities (historical)
Related	Moldovans, Aromanians, Megleno-Romanians, Istro-Romanians

Romanians (ethnic group) Romanians are an East Romance-speaking people primarily associated with the modern states of Romania and Moldova (country), with significant communities across Eastern Europe and a global diaspora. Their identity has been shaped by interactions with neighboring peoples such as Slavs, Hungarians, Ottomans, and Germans, and by participation in events including the Great Union of 1918, the Treaty of Trianon, and the collapse of Communist Romania.

Etymology and Names

The ethnonym derives from the medieval self-designation "rumân" or "român", historically attested in sources such as Nestor's Chronicle-era Slavic texts, Venetian reports, and Byzantine authors like Anna Komnene. Scholarly debates reference terms from Vulgar Latin roots, comparisons with Romanus, and medieval documents including the Diploma of the Joannites and accounts by William of Rubruck. Alternate exonyms include Vlachs (used in Byzantine Empire, Hungary, and Balkan sources) and regional names like Moldavian and Wallachian reflecting principalities such as Principality of Wallachia and Principality of Moldavia.

History

Early history traces continuity from Roman Dacia and post-Roman populations mentioned in Procopius and Jordanes, through medieval principalities like Principality of Wallachia and Principality of Moldavia which resisted incursions by forces including the Ottoman Empire and Kingdom of Hungary. Cultural consolidation accelerated during the reign of figures like Vlad III the Impaler and diplomatic episodes such as the Treaty of Adrianople (1829). The 19th century saw nation-building events involving Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the United Principalities, and the 1859 union; intellectual currents connected to Romanian Enlightenment and personalities like Mihail Kogălniceanu. The 20th century included participation in World War I, the postwar Greater Romania era, territorial changes after the Second Vienna Award, wartime alignments with World War II actors, the establishment of Socialist Republic of Romania under leaders such as Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej and Nicolae Ceaușescu, culminating in the Romanian Revolution of 1989 and transition toward European Union integration with accession to European Union.

Language and Dialects

The primary language is Romanian language, an Eastern Romance tongue descended from Vulgar Latin. Major dialect groups include Daco‑Romanian dialects such as Moldavian dialect, Wallachian dialect, and the Maramureș dialect, while related languages include Aromanian language, Megleno-Romanian language, and Istro-Romanian language. The language features loanwords and influences from Slavic languages, Hungarian language, Turkish language, Greek language, Latin revivalism, and modern borrowings from French language and English language. Standardization efforts involved institutions like the Romanian Academy and orthographic reforms codified in publications such as the Dicționarul explicativ al limbii române.

Culture and Traditions

Romanian culture encompasses folk traditions such as hora (dance), doina, and crafts from regions like Maramureș, Moldova, and Transylvania. Literary traditions include authors like Mihai Eminescu, Ion Creangă, Mircea Eliade, and Eugène Ionesco; musical contributions involve composers such as George Enescu and performers like Angela Gheorghiu. Architectural heritage ranges from Bran Castle and Peleș Castle to vernacular wooden churches in Maramureș. Celebrations include Easter customs, Christmas, and regional festivals like the Sibiu International Theatre Festival. Institutions shaping cultural life include the Romanian National Opera, National Museum of Romanian History, and Academia Română.

Demographics and Distribution

Ethnic Romanian populations concentrate in Romania and Moldova (country), with historical communities in Bukovina, Bessarabia, and Transnistria. Minorities and diasporas exist in Serbia (notably Vojvodina), Ukraine (including Chernivtsi, Zakarpattia Oblast), Hungary, Bulgaria, and urban diasporas in Paris, Rome, London, Berlin, New York City, and Toronto. Census data and migration waves reflect movements tied to events like the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans, industrialization in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, postwar border shifts after the Paris Peace Conference, 1919, and labor migration to Western Europe during the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Religion and Identity

The predominant confession is Eastern Orthodox Church, with the Romanian Orthodox Church as a major institution and historical ties to Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and Patriarch of All Romania. Other confessions include Roman Catholic Church, the Reformed Church in Romania, Baptist Union of Romania, Greek Catholic Church, and historical Jewish communities in cities like Iași and Bucharest. Religious identity has intersected with movements for national awakening led by figures such as Andrei Șaguna and debates over church autonomy during regimes including the Ottoman Empire and Communist Romania.

Notable Figures and Contributions

Prominent political and cultural figures include statesmen like Alexandru Ioan Cuza and Ion Antonescu; literary figures Mihai Eminescu, Ion Creangă, Mircea Eliade, Emil Cioran; scientists and inventors such as Henri Coandă, George Manu (engineers), and mathematicians connected to Gheorghe Țițeica; composers George Enescu; film artists like Cristian Mungiu and Lucian Pintilie; athletes including Nadia Comăneci; and contemporary politicians such as Klaus Iohannis and Traian Băsescu. Contributions extend to fields reflected in institutions like Bucharest University, University of Iași, and research centers tied to the Romanian Academy.

Category:Ethnic groups in Europe