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GREAT  ROMANIAN  PERSONALITIES 

Mircea cel Bătran (reigned 1386-1418) was one of the most important rulers in Wallachia. His name literally translates to "Mircea the Old" in modern Romanian, but the original meaning of his name is slightly different: "Mircea the Ancient". He was the son of voivode Radu I and lady Calinica, descendant of an aristocratic family of the time. Wallachia's borders moved constantly throughout history, but during his ruling, Wallahia. Mircea cel Bătran

Alexandru cel Bun (Alexandru I Muşat, Alexander the Kind) was a Voivode (Prince) of Moldavia between 1400 and 1432, son of Roman I Muşat. He succeeded Iuga to the throne, and, as a ruler, initiated a series of reforms while consolidating the status of the Moldavian Principality. Alexandru cel Bun

Vlad III the Impaler (Vlad Ţepeş IPA: ['tsepeʃ] in common Romanian reference; also known as Vlad Dracula or Vlad Drăculea and Kazıklı Bey in Turkish; November or December, 1431 – December 1476) was Prince (voivode) of Wallachia, a former polity which is now part of Romania. His three reigns were in 1448, 1456–1462, and 1476. In the English-speaking world, Vlad is best known for the legends of the exceedingly cruel punishments he imposed during his reign, and serving as the inspiration for the vampire main character in Bram Stoker's popular Dracula novel, though to an extent that has been greatly exaggerated. As Prince, he led an independent policy in relation to the Ottoman Empire, and in Romania he is best remembered as a prince with a deep sense of justice and a defender of Wallachia against Ottoman expansionism. His impact on the expansion of the Ottoman Empire is recognizable in that his successful hold against them bought precious time for Western Europe. Vlad Tepes

Stephen III of Moldavia or Stephen III (c. 1437 - July 2, 1504), also known as Stephen the Great (Romanian: Ştefan cel Mare; Ştefan cel Mare şi Sfânt, "Stephen the Great and Holy" in more modern versions) was Prince of Moldavia between 1457 and 1504 and the most prominent repesentative of the House of Muşat. STEFAN CEL MARE

Michael the Brave (Romanian: Mihai Viteazul, Hungarian: Vitéz Mihály) (1558-9 August 1601) was the Prince of Wallachia (1593-1601), of Transylvania (1599-1600), and of Moldavia (1600). During his reign, which coincided with the Long War, these three principalities forming the territory of present-day Romania and Moldova were united for the first time under a single Romanian ruler, though the unification lasted for less than six months. He is regarded as one of Romania's greatest national Mihai Viteazul

Dimitrie Cantemir Dimitrie Cantemir (-Romanian, Dmitri Konstantinovich Kantemir / Дмитрий Константинович Кантемир in Russian, Dimitri Kantemiroğlu in Turkish, Kantymir in Polish; Demetre Cantemir in several other languages; October 26, 1673—1723) was a Moldavian Voivode (Prince; March-April 1693 and 1710-1711) and prolific man of letters (philosopher, historian, composer, musicologist, linguist, ethnographer, geographer).

Born in Sigmaringen in southwestern Germany, the Roman Catholic Prince Ferdinand of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was a son of Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and princess Antonia of Portugal and Kohary (1845-1913), daughter of Queen Maria II and her consort, Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha of Kohary, himself from that Slovakian-originated family. Following the renunciations of his father and elder brother Prince Wilhelm of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, young Ferdinand became the heir to the throne of his childless uncle, King Carol I of Romania in November 1888. The Romanian government did not require his conversion to Eastern Orthodoxy from Catholicism, allowing him to continue with his born creed, but it was required that his children be raised Orthodox, then the state religion of Romania. The King Ferdinand I of Romania

The King Carol I of Romania Carol I of Romania, original name Prince Karl Eitel Friedrich Zephyrinus Ludwig von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (April 20, 1839 - September 27/October 10, 1914), German prince, was elected Domnitor (prince) of Romania in April 1866 following the overthrow of Alexander John Cuza (name in Romanian: Alexandru Ioan Cuza), and proclaimed king on March 26, 1881. He was the first ruler of the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen dynasty which would rule the country until the proclamation of a republic in 1947.

Alexander John Cuza (common English rendition of Alexandru Ioan Cuza; March 20, 1820 – May 15, 1873) was a Moldavian-born Romanian politician who ruled as the first Domnitor of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia between 1859 and 1866. Alexandru Ioan Cuza

Varlaam (1580 - 1657) a fost Mitropolit al Moldovei (1632 - 1653) în timpul domniei lui Vasile Lupu, scriitor şi om de cultură. Mitropolitul Varlaam

Matei Basarab (1588, Brâncoveni, Olt—April 9, 1654, Bucharest) was a Wallachian Voivode (Prince) between 1632 and 1654. Much of Matei's reign was spent fighting off incursions from Moldavia, which he successfully accomplished in 1637, 1639, and 1653 - see Battle of Finta. He was an enlightened ruler, and is noted for introducing the printing press to Wallachia (1634) and creating the first Wallachian code of laws as well as patronizing art and religion (founder of the first upper school in his Principality). He built more than 45 churches and monasteries, being compared to Stephen the Great, the famous ruler of Moldavia. Matei Basarab

Constantin Brâncoveanu (1654 – August 26, 1714) was Prince of Wallachia between 1689 and 1714. Constantin Brâncoveanu

Tudor Vladimirescu (1780–1821) was a Wallachian Romanian revolutionary hero, the leader of the Wallachian uprising of 1821 and of the Pandur militia. He is also known as Tudor din Vladimiri. Tudor Vladimirescu

Ion Victor Antonescu (June 15, 1882, Piteşti – June 1, 1946, near Jilava) was the prime minister and conducător (Leader) of Romania during World War II from September 4, 1940 to August 23, 1944. Ion Antonescu

Avram Iancu (Janko Avram in Hungarian; 1824, in Vidra [de Sus], today Avram Iancu in Alba county, Romania—September 10, 1872, in the same area) was a Transylvanian Romanian lawyer who played an important role in the local chapter of the Austrian Empire Revolutions of 1848-1849. He was especially active in the Ţara Moţilor region and the Apuseni Mountains. The rallying of peasants around him, as well as the allegiance he paid to the Habsburgs got him the moniker Crăişorul Munţilor ("The little Emperor/King of the Mountains", also translatable as "The little Emperor/King in the Mountains", present in other, more explicit forms —such as Împăratul Munţilor, "The Emperor of/in the Mountains"). Avram Iancu

Nicolae Ceauşescu (January 26, 1918 – December 25, 1989) was the leader of Romania from 1965 until December 1989, when a revolution and coup removed him from power. The self-called revolutionaries' representatives held a two-hour trial and sentenced him to death for crimes against the state, genocide, and "undermining the national economy." The hasty trial has been criticized as a kangaroo court. His subsequent execution marked the final act of the Revolutions of 1989. Nicolae Ceausescu

Iulia Hasdeu, née le 14 novembre 1869 et morte le 17 septembre 1888, était une poétesse roumaine, fille de l'écrivain et polymathe Bogdan Petriceicu-Hasdeu. Iulia Hasdeu

Hariclea Darclée (born Hariclea Haricli; (June 10 1860–January 12 1939 )was a celebrated Romanian operatic soprano. She possessed an agile, powerful, and beautiful voice that was wielded with a fine technique. An extremely handsome woman, Darclée's stage presence was as elegant and refined as her singing. Although universally admired, she displayed a coldness of temperament that at times diminished her conviction in the more passionate verismo repertory. A singer of prodigous talent, her repertoire ranged from coloratura soprano roles to heavier Verdi roles, including many in the Franco-Italian lyric repertory. Throughout her career she participated in several world premieres, including originating the title roles in Puccini s Tosca, Mascagni 's Iris , and Catala s La Wally. Hariclea Darclée

Anna, princesse Brâncoveanu (francisé en Brancovan), comtesse Mathieu de Noailles, née à Paris le 15 novembre 1876 et morte à Paris le 30 avril 1933, est une poétesse et romancière française. Anna de Noailles

He was born into the family of Iraclie Gołęmbiowski (who changed the Polish-sounding family name to its Romanian translation) an ethnic Romanian writer and Orthodox priest of possible Polish origins. He studied music in Suceava and Cernăuţi, then continued at the Konservatorium für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna, under Anton Bruckner and Franz Krenn. He was among the most celebrated Romanian composers of his time; his most popular works are the pieces Crai nou, Trei culori, Song for the 1st of May, Ballad for violin and piano, Serenada. In addition, he composed the music for Pe-al nostru steag e scris Unire, which was used for Albania's national anthem, Hymni i Flamurit. Ciprian Porumbescu

Elizabeth of Wied (December 29, 1843 - November 2, 1916) was the Queen Consort of King Carol I of Romania, widely known by her literary name of Carmen Sylva. She was the daughter of German Prince Hermann of Wied and his wife Marie, daughter of Wilhelm, Duke of Nassau (and sister of Grand Duke Adolphe of Luxembourg). She was a prospective bride for Edward VII of the United Kingdom, then Prince of Wales. She first met the future king of Romania at Berlin in 1861, and was married to him on the November 15, 1869. Carmen Sylva (Elizabeth, Queen of Romania)

He was born in Ştefăneşti, a village of Botoşani County, as the son of Major Dumitru Luchian and of Elena Chiriacescu. The Luchian family moved to Bucharest in 1873 and his mother wanted to follow his father's path and join the Military School, but instead chose to join in 1885 the painting class at the Fine Arts School in Bucharest, where he was encouraged to pursue a career in painting by Nicolae Grigorescu, whose work was to have a major impact on his entire creation. Stefan Luchian

Take Ionescu (1858–1922) was a Romanian centrist politician, journalist, lawyer and diplomat. Tache Ionescu

Ionel Perlea (n. 13 decembrie 1900, Bucu-Ograda Ialomiţa - d. 29 iulie 1970, New York), dirijor şi compozitor român. Ionel Perlea

George Enescu known in France as Georges Enesco) (August 19, 1881, Liveni – May 4, 1955, Paris) was a Romanian composer, violinist, pianist, conductor and teacher, preeminent musician of the 20th century, one of the greatest performers of his time. George Enescu

Alexandru Dimitrie Xenopol (March 23, 1847 – February 27, 1920) was a Romanian scholar, economist, philosopher, historian, professor, sociologist, and author. Among his many major accomplishments, he is credited with being the Romanian historian credited with authoring the first major synthesis of the history of the Romanian people. Born in Iaşi, where he graduated high school, he went on to Vienna in 1870 to study law and then to Berlin, where he studied philosophy. In 1868, he made his debut in Convorbiri Literare with a series of studies on Romanian traditions and on Romanian institutions. Alexandru D. Xenopol

Nicolae Iorga (his name may also be rendered as Nicolas Jorga in foreign works; January 17, 1871, Botoşani - November 27, 1940, Strejnic, Prahova County), was a historian, university professor, literary critic, memorialist, playwright, poet, and Romanian politician. He served as a member of Parliament, as President of the post-World-War-I National Assembly, as minister, and (1931-32) as Prime Minister. He was co-founder (in 1910) of the Democratic Nationalist Party and was ultimately assassinated by fascist Iron Guard (legionnaire) commandos. Nicolae Iorga

Ana Aslan (1897-1988) was a Romanian biologist and physician. She is considered to be a founding figure of gerontology and geriatrics in Romania. In 1952, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Ana Aslan, the Geriatric Institute in Bucharest was founded. This Institute was the first of its kind in Romania and was recognized by the World Health Organization. The remainder of this page concerns a product marketed by Aslan. A thorough review of biomedical research literature shows no empirical or peer-reviewed evidence that this product, under any formulation, prevents or postpones any aspect of aging. Further, there is evidence that the pharmaceutical ingredients of this product pose the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular complications, as well as a risk of serious systemic allergic reactions Ana Aslan

Nicolae Titulescu (March 4, 1882, Craiova - March 17, 1941, Cannes) was a well-known Romanian diplomat, at various times government minister, and President of the League of Nations. He served as president of the League of Nations for two terms. He was a member of the Freemasonry. Born in Craiova to a solicitor, he passed through his childhood at his father's estate in Tituleşti, Olt County. Upon graduating with honours in 1900 from the Carol I High School in Craiova, he studied law in Paris, obtaining his doctorate with the thesis Essai sur une théorie des droits éventuels. Nicolae Titulescu

Paler was born in Lisa, Braşov County.He studies at Spiru Haret High School in Bucharest In the summer of 1944, one week before graduating the 7th grade of high school, he has a wrangle with George Serban, the principle of the school, who is his uncle, Paler is forced to leave the school and move to Radu Negru High School from Făgăraş. Here, he studies his last grade, at the literature profile. He has remarking results at philosophy, Latin and Greek In 1945, he graduates magna cum laude. In the same year, he takes the school-leaving examination in Sibiu. He studies Philosophy and Law at the University of Bucharest. He dies at the age of 80, because of a heart attack. Octavian Paler

Emil Cioran (known in French as Émile Cioran), (April 8, 1911 - June 20, 1995). He was born in Răşinari, Sibiu, Austria-Hungary (present-day Romania) the son of a Romanian Orthodox priest, and died in Paris, having variously lived in Bucharest, Berlin, and elsewhere. He attended Bucharest University, where he in 1928 met Eugène Ionesco and Mircea Eliade, and the three became lifelong friends. He also began to be interesed, without any membership, in the Iron Guard, a nationalist organization which he supported until the early years of World War II. Cioran's 'pessimism' (in fact, his skepticism) is more that of one who looks deeply into the abyss, yet is able to continue existing with the tragic wisdom he has discovered and remain, in his own particular manner, joyful; it is not a pessimism which can be traced to such simple origins, single origins themselves being questionable. When Cioran's mother spoke to him of abortion, it did not disturb him, but made an extraordinary impression which led to an insight about the nature of existence. "I'm simply an accident. Why take it all so seriously?" is what he later said in reference to the incident, noting that everything is without substance. Existence is chance. A 1937 scholarship from the French Institute in Bucharest brought him to Paris, where he lived the rest of his life—though he famously said "I have no nationality—the best possible status for an intellectual." His early work was in Romanian, his latter work in French, and it was mostly in the form of aphorisms and short essays. Friedrich Nietzsche and buddhism influenced him greatly. Emil Cioran

Eugène Ionesco, born Eugen Ionescu, (November 26, 1909 – March 29, 1994) was one of the foremost playwrights of the Theatre of the Absurd. Beyond ridiculing the most banal situations, Ionesco's plays depict in a tangible way the solitude of humans and the insignificance of one's existence. Eugène Ionesco

Nichita Stănescu (born Nichita Hristea Stănescu) (March 31, 1933, Ploieşti—December 13, 1983, Bucharest) was a Romanian poet and essayist. He is the most acclaimed contemporary Romanian language poet, beloved by the public and generally held in esteem by critics. Nichita Stănescu

Constantin Brâncuşi was a Romanian sculptor, born in Hobiţa, Gorj, near Târgu Jiu, where he placed his sculptural ensemble with The Table of Silence, The Gate of the Kiss and The Endless Column. Constantin Brâncuşi

  MIHAI  EMINESCU Mihai Eminescu was a late Romantic poet, the best-known and most influential Romanian poet celebrated in both Romania and Moldova. Famous poems include Luceafărul (Morning Star), Odă în metru antic (Ode in an antique meter), and the 5 Scrisori (Epistles). Eminescu was active in the Junimea literary society, and served as editor of Timpul, the official newspaper of the Conservative Party.

Ion Luca Caragiale (commonly referred to as I. L. Caragiale; February 12 [January 30] 1852–July 9, 1912) was a Wallachian-born Romanian playwright, short story writer, poet, theater manager, political commentator and journalist. Leaving behind an important cultural legacy , he is considered one of the greatest playwrights in Romanian language and literature , as well as one of its most important writers and a leading representative of local humor , Alongside Mihai Eminescu, Ioan Slavici and Ion Creangă, he is seen as one of the main representatives of Junimea , an influential literary society with which he nonetheless parted during the second half of his life. His work, spanning four decades, covers the ground between Neoclassicism , Realism , and Naturalism, building on an original synthesis of foreign and local influences. Eminescu si Caragiale Ion Luca Caragiale

Creangă was born in the village of Humuleşti , located in the foothills of the Eastern Carpathians, in northern Moldavia, in 1837. As the first child of eight, Creangă's mother wanted him to be educated for Orthodox priesthood, traditionally a prestigious position in the village community. Details of Creangă's youth can be extracted from his Amintiri din copilărie ("Memories of My Boyhood"). He began his education in Humuleşti, then he studied briefly at Broşteni before returning home and enrolling at a school in the neighbouring Târgu Neamţ , After a year at the seminary in Fălticeni Creangă left for Iaşi , the Moldavian capital, where he continued to prepare for priesthood at the school of the Socola Monastery . Ion Creangă

Mircea Eliade (1907-1986) was educated as a philosopher. He published extensively in the history of religions and acted as editor-in-chief of Macmillan's Encyclopedia of Religion. The influence of his thought, through these works and through thirty years as director of History of Religions department at the University of Chicago, is considerable. Eliade's analysis of religion assumes the existence of "the sacred" as the object of worship of religious humanity. It appears as the source of power, significance, and value. Humanity apprehends "hierophanies"--physical manifestations or revelations of the sacred--often, but not only, in the form of symbols, myths, and ritual. Any phenomenal entity is a potential hierophany and can give access to non-historical time: what Eliade calls illud tempus (Latin for 'that time,' I tend to think of it as 'yon time'). The apprehension of this sacred time is a constitutive feature of the religious aspect of humanity. MIRCEA ELIADE

Great Romanian Personalities Magdalena