Roumania Past and Present

J >> James Samuelson >> Roumania Past and Present

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TURKISH.
RUSSIAN. General Five per Cent. ROUMANIAN.
Six per Cents. Debt. Oppenheim.

1870 83-1/2 to 94-1/2 45 to 51 75 to 98
1871 88 " 97 44-1/2 " 52-1/2 86 " 96-1/2
1872 95 " 100 46-1/2 " 55 91 " 104
1873 96 " 100-1/2 45 " 47 98 " 104
1874 97 " 103 45 " 46-1/2 98 " 108
1875 95 " 104-1/2 23 " 45 100 " 109
1876 74 " 100-1/2 11-1/2 " 23 74 " 106
1877* 71 " 93 6-1/2 " 11-1/2 58 " 91
1878* 74 " 91 8-1/2 " 12 87 " 105
1879 84 " 93 10-1/2 " 12 93 " 110
1880 85 " 96 10 " 12-1/2 102 " 112

And in 1881 the prices of the Oppenheim loan ranged from 105 to 116.
From these eloquent figures it will be seen that whilst Russia has been
stationary, and Turkey has fallen 75 per cent, the condition and
security of Roumania has risen, roughly speaking, 25 per cent, in the
eslimation of the financial world during the last ten years. The two
years marked with an asterisk were years of war.]

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX I.

_Table of Movements and Settlements of various Nationalities and Tribes
in the Provinces bordering on the Lower Danube between the Getic period
and about the end of the Thirteenth Century, A.D., compiled by
the Author, and corrected from the Ancient Historians (Tacitus, Dion
Cassius, Eutropius) and the works of Gibbon, Smith, Lesage, Engel,
Lauriani, Neigebaur, Henke, Wilkinson, Merivale, Freeman, Dierauer,
Roesler, Pic, and others._

+--------------+--------------------------------------------+------------------+
| | _APPROXIMATE DATES OF_ | |
|_NATIONALITY +-----------+-----------+----------+---------+ |
|or TRIBE, with|_First | |_By whom |_Final | _Remarks_ |
|supposed |appearance |_Term of |and when |Disappea-| |
|Subdivisions_ |in Danubian|Domination_|Conquered_|rance_ | |
| |Provinces_ | | | | |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | | | |Believed to be of |
|GETAE--Getae | 335 B.C. | ? | ? | ? |Thracian origin; |
|and _Dacians_ | | | | |not clearly |
| | | | | |traceable. |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | | | |The Dacians rose |
| |(Successors| | | |against the Romans|
| |of or | |Romans | |under Ant. Pius |
| DACIANS |contempo- | ? B.C. to |(Trajan), | See |and at other |
| |rary with | A.D. 106 |A.D. 106 | Remarks |times, but were |
| |Getae) | | | |probably fused |
| | | | | |with the Romans |
| | | | | |and the barbarians|
| | | | | |who followed them.|
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | | | |A considerable |
| | | | | |proportion of the |
| | | |Withdrew | |Roman and Daco- |
| ROMANS |1st century|106 A.D. to|before the| ? |Roman descendants |
| |B.C. |274 A.D. |Goths | |fused with |
| | | |about 274 | |succeeding tribes,|
| | | |A.D. | |and their descen- |
| | | | | |dants survive in |
| | | | | |Roumania to-day. |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | | | |About 376 A.D. |
| | | | | |they crossed the |
| | | | | |Danube, driven |
|GOTHS-- | | | | |before the Huns, |
|Ostrogoths, | 250 A.D. |274 to 375 |Huns, 375 | 378 A.D.|and were allowed |
|Visigoths, | |A.D. |A.D. | |to settle with |
|_Gepidae_ | | | | |other tribes in |
| | | | | |Moesia. Sometimes |
| | | | | |the Goths and Huns|
| | | | | |were allied. |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
|Sarmatians, | | | | |The Sarmatians |
|Quadi, | | | | |fought against the|
|Marcomanni | | | | |Romans at various |
|invaded Dacia | |282 to 375 |Romans, | |periods, but were |
|at various | |A.D. |375 A.D. | |conquered by |
|times; | | | | |Valentinian, 375 |
|_Sarmatians_ | | | | |A.D. |
|settled. | | | | | |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | | | |The Huns were |
| | | | | |driven eastward, |
| | | | | |but returned a few|
|HUNS (and |370 to 375 |375 A.D. to|Gepidae, | 460 A.D.|years afterwards, |
|Alani) |A.D. |about 453 |453 A.D. | |overran Italy, and|
| | | | | |are mentioned as |
| | | | | |being in Dacia |
| | | | | |about 564 A.D. |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| |See above |453 to |Lombards | | |
| GEPIDAE |(Goths) |550-564 |and Avari,| 568 A.D.| |
| | |A.D. |550 A.D. | | |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | | | |The Lombards, |
| | | | | |allied to the |
| | | | | |Avari, overran a |
| | | | | |great part of |
| LOMBARDS | 550 A.D. | 561 to ? |Joined the| |Dacia and |
| | | |Byzantines| |Pannonia, and, |
| | | | | |entering the army |
| | | | | |of Justinian, left|
| | | | | |their possessions |
| | | | | |to the Avari. |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | |Dispersed.| |The Avari were |
| | |564 to |Part anni-|End |alternately |
| AVARI | 550 A.D. |616-640 |hilated by|seventh |masters and |
| | |(intermit- |Heraclius |century |vassals of other |
| | |tently) |(610-640) | |tribes. |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | | | |The Bulgari were |
| | | | | |of Scythian |
| | |634 (with | | |origin, and many |
| | |Slaves) |Byzantines| |tribes have been |
| BULGARI |493 to 499 |679 (alone)|(Basilius)|See |included in them |
| |A.D. |to |1014-1019 |Remarks |by different |
| | |1014-1019 | | |authors. Amongst |
| | | | | |them, the |
| | | | | |Wallachs, Croats, |
| | | | | |Moravians |
| | | | | |(Lesage). |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | | | |The Slaves settled|
| | | | | |in detachments in |
| | | | | |various parts, |
| | | | | |from the Euxine to|
| | | | | |the Adriatic Sea, |
| SLAVES |493 to 527 |See Remarks|See | |and, allied with |
| | | |Remarks | |one or more |
| | | | | |tribes, fought the|
| | | | | |Byzantines. Many |
| | | | | |merged into the |
| | | | | |general |
| | | | | |population. |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | | | |For some time |
| | | | | |Dacia was |
|BYZANTINE | | 1014 to ? | | |nominally |
|EMPIRE | | | | |incorporated with |
| | | | | |the Empire. |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | |Stephen | | |
|UNGRI-- | |Powerful in|(about | |Transylvania was |
|Hungarians or |824 to 839 |Dacia Tra- |997) foun-| |annexed to Hungary|
|Magyars |A.D. |jana tenth |ded Hunga-| |either 1002 or |
| | |century |rian King-| |1070 A.D. |
| | | |dom | | |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | | |Disappea-|The Patzinakitai, |
|PATZINAKITAI |End of |Powerful | |red in |settled chiefly in|
|(probably |ninth |tenth |Came under|Hungary |the Carpathians, |
|mixed race) |century |century |Kumani &c.|about |are associated |
| | | | |1275 |with Wallachs and |
| | | | | |Kumani as vassals.|
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | | | |The Kumani |
|KUMANI |1047 A.D. |Powerful |Settled | |dominated over and|
|(and |(with |1083 to |and | |absorbed other |
|Chazars) |Chazars) |1220 |baptised | |tribes on the |
| | | |1220 A.D. | |Carpathians. |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | | | |The Wallachs were |
| | | | | |a race of |
|WALLACHO- | | | | |shepherds; |
|BULGARIAN | | | | |considered by some|
|EMPIRE-- |Wallachs, |1199 to |Tartars, | |an independent |
|(Wallachs, |976-1037 |1246-1285 |about | |tribe (see above |
|called also | | |1246-1285 | |remarks on |
|Romani, | | | | |Bulgari), by |
|Blachi, &c.) | | | | |others descendants|
| | | | | |of the Daco-Roman |
| | | | | |colonists. |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | | | | |The King of |
| | | | | |Hungary, as |
| | | | | |suzerain of |
|TEUTONIC | |Teut. Knts.| | |Transylvania and |
|KNIGHTS and | |1200 to | | |part of |
|KNIGHTS OF ST.| |1223; Knts.| | |Wallachia, gave |
|JOHN | |St. John | | |the government of |
| | |1249 to ? | | |certain districts |
| | | | | |to the Teutonic |
| | | | | |Knights in 1200, |
| | | | | |but withdrew it in|
| | | | | |1223 A.D. |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+
| | |Made in- | | | |
| | |roads into | | | |
| | |'Moldavia' | | | |
| | |and Walla- |Retired | |At the same time |
|TARTARS (or |About 1240 |chia 13th |northward | |there were smaller|
|Mongols) | |century. |to Russia.| |voivodeships, |
| | |Ruled in |Founded | |banates, and |
| | |Moldavia |the Tartar| |khanates north of |
| | |13th and |Dynasty. | |the Danube. |
| | |first half | | | |
| | |of 14th | | | |
| | |century. | | | |
+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------+---------+------------------+

APPENDIX II.

THE 'CAPITULATIONS.'

The original 'Capitulation' of Mircea I. of Wallachia to the Sultan
Bajazid I. at Nicopolis, 1393 A.D., is contained in a
'Hatthoumaioun' of the latter, said to have been preserved in
Constantinople, and there seen by a Roumanian called Kitzorano, who was
attached to the Wallachian Embassy, and who took a copy of it (along
with others), which he sent to the Great Ban Takanitza Vacaresco. The
Greek historian, Dionysius Photino, also saw it at the Porte, and
published a copy of it in his 'History of Dacia,' vol. ii. cap. v. p.
369, a work which the reader will find in the British Museum. This runs
as follows:--

'We order, in our great condescension, that the country of Wallachia,
which has lately submitted to our invincible arms, shall be governed by
its own laws, and that the Voivode shall have the power of making war
and peace with his neighbours and of life and death over his subjects.
All Christians belonging to the countries subject to our rule who would
emigrate to Wallachia shall be allowed the free exercise of their
religion. All Wallachians visiting our empire on business shall be
allowed to do so without interference in the same or in their garments.
The Christian voivodes to be elected by the metropolitan and the
boyards. In return for our great condescension in having accepted this
rayah (the Voivode of Wallachia) amongst the other subjects of our
empire, he will be bound to pay into our treasury, every year, the sum
of 6,000 red piastres of the country.'

Translations of this capitulation are to be found in the French
histories of Roumania, but they are not always trustworthy; for example,
Beaure and Mathorel (Appendix, p. 203) profess to give a verbatim copy,
in which the last article declares that the Sultan promises never to
deliver a firman to a Wallachian subject, nor to summon him to
_Constantinople_. A moment's reflection would have shown the inaccuracy
of this statement, for Constantinople was at that time still the capital
of the Eastern Empire, and only fell into the Ottoman power in 1453. The
stipulation in question is the last in the treaty with Vlad (V.?), 1460.

The 'Capitulation' of Bogdan of Moldavia to Selim I., 1513, was in some
respects more favourable to the vassal State. Amongst other
stipulations, it provided for the residence in Constantinople of a
Moldavian envoy, and permitted a Christian church to be erected there.
The annual tribute was, however, raised and consisted of 11,000
piastres, forty falcons, and forty mares in foal, 'all by way of
present.' In both countries, after each war or insurrection fresh
stipulations, including a constantly increasing tribute, were added.

APPENDIX III.

THE ROUMANIAN CONSTITUTION.

The Constitution of Roumania contains one hundred and thirty-three
articles, and is framed with great regard to justice and to the national
liberties. The following are some of its leading provisions. The country
is divided into districts, the districts into arrondissements, the
arrondissements into communes.[202] It grants (Article 5) freedom of
conscience, of instruction, of the press, and of public meeting.
Abolishes (10 and 12)[203] distinctions and privileges of class and
foreign titles, such as Prince, Count, Baron, &c., as being contrary to
ancient institutions.[204] Capital punishment is abolished except under
martial law in time of war (18). The property of the peasantry and the
indemnity to landowners are inviolable (20). The Greek Catholic religion
is made the State Church, but all other sects are allowed freedom of
worship (21). Primary instruction is gratuitous and compulsory (23), and
primary schools are to be established in every commune. Freedom of
speech, except as to breaches of the Criminal Code, is unrestricted;
press offences must be tried by jury, and no journal can be 'warned,'
suspended, or suppressed; neither is there any kind of 'censure' of the
press (24). Freedom of assemblage (26) and the right to petition (28)
are confirmed; and the extradition of political exiles is forbidden. All
crimes are to be tried by jury (105). The legislative power is vested in
the Prince and the national representatives, namely, the Senate and the
Chamber of Deputies (32). But money bills and matters relating to the
army contingents must originate with the latter (33).

The executive power is vested in the prince (35) (now the king), who is
hereditary in the male line only (82), and who must belong to the
Orthodox Greek Church. He is inviolate, his ministers only being
responsible, and one of them must countersign all his decrees (92). He
sanctions, and may refuse his assent to, all laws; has the right of
amnesty (93); is the head of the army, makes war, concludes peace, and
performs the other acts of a constitutional sovereign. Should a vacancy
occur in the throne, various provisions exist for the eventuality, and
in case of failure of issue the two Assemblies conjointly 'elect a
prince of one of the sovereign dynasties of Western Europe' (84).
(Rather vague, but very significant.)

The Chamber of Deputies consists of members elected by direct and by
indirect voting. The constituency is divided into four 'colleges' or
groups (58). The first college in each district comprises persons having
incomes from property (_foncier_) of not less than 300 ducats, equal to
about 141_l._ (59). The second college includes those with an income
ranging from 100 to 300 ducats (47_l._ to 141_l._)(60). The third (61)
comprises persons in trade paying the State 80 francs (about 3_l._
4_s._) or upwards per annum. Members of the liberal professions,
half-pay officers, and some others, are exempted from the money
qualification. These colleges elect each one Deputy, and the towns elect
an additional number according to their importance, from such places as
Pitesti two to Bucarest five. The fourth college elects indirectly. It
consists of all persons who pay any taxes or contributions, however
small. In this college each set of fifty electors names a delegate, and
the delegates elect a Deputy. The Deputies (of whom there are to-day one
hundred and forty-five) must be Roumanians, born or naturalised, must
have attained the age of twenty-five, and must live in Roumania (66).
The duration of the Chamber of Deputies is four years.

The Senate is elected by two colleges, being the two highest for the
election of Deputies. It consists to-day of seventy-six members, and
includes a number of high officials who are not elective, such as the
archbishop and bishops. The qualification for a Senator is an income of
800 ducats (equal to about 376_l._) per annum, and he must have attained
the age of forty years. The Senators are elected for eight years, one
half retiring every four years, except in case of a dissolution of the
Senate, when all must be re-elected, or, more properly speaking, a new
Senate must be chosen (68 to 81). The Act of the Constitution deals
with the judicial system, the Code Napoleon being in force in Roumania,
with finances, army organisation, and other important matters of
national interest. The Act is signed by the Prince and his Ministers:
The Minister of the Interior and President of the Council, L. Catargi;
the Minister of Finance, J. Bratiano; the Minister of Justice, J.
Cantacuzene; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, P. Mavrogeni; the Minister
of Public Worship and Instruction, C.A. Rosetti; the Minister of War, J.
Ghika; the Minister of Public Works, Agriculture, and Commerce, D.
Stourdza.

[Footnote 202: This abstract is made from the French translation of the
Constitution; the actual divisions of the country are as follows:--

_Judetu_ is a department or district, the head of which is a prefect. Of
these there are at present thirty-two in all.

_Plasa_, subdivision of a _Judetu_, the head of which is a sub-prefect.

_Comuna_, a parish.

_Urba_, a city.

_Orage_, a town.]

[Footnote 203: The numbers in parentheses refer to the articles.]

[Footnote 204: A few old families have retained their titles, but many
who would have the same justification for doing so have discontinued
their use.]

APPENDIX IV.

THE PEASANT PROPRIETARY OF ROUMANIA.

The precise terms and circumstances under which the peasant proprietary
was formed in Roumania, as communicated to us by Prince Jon Ghika, are
as follows:--

Before the 'Convention of Balta Liman' between Russia and Turkey, there
were three classes of peasantry:

1. Those who possessed four beasts of burden and one cow.
2. " " " two " " " "
3. " " " one cow only.

By the Convention above named each class was to receive the following
land, to be paid for in certain cases by twenty-two days' labour, 1/10th
of the harvest and 1/5th of the hay.

CLASS 1.--(11 pogones, or 5-1/2 hectares), or about 14 acres,
namely:

3 pogones = about 3-8/10 acres arable.
3 " = " 3-8/10 " hay.
5 " = " 6-4/10 " pasturage.

CLASS 2.--7-8/10 pogones, or about 10 acres, viz.:
3-8/10 acres arable.
3-8/10 " pasturage.
2-8/10 " hay; and

CLASS 3.--4-1/2 pogones, or about 5-1/2 acres, viz.:
3-8/10 acres arable.
1-2/10 " hay.
6/10 " pasturage.

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