The Principality of Rumania

[Justin Pickard]

This is the first part of the background to my ME6 nation:

1. The Art of the Possible: The Principality of Rumania (1859-1914)

On January 24, 1859, Alexander Ion Cuza (1820-73) was elected as Prince Alexander of Rumania.

In this timeline Alexander John Couz’s private life remained private – rumours of a mistress were suppressed and, subsequently, he wasn’t forced to abdicate in 1866. Elena Rossetti Cuza, his wife, accepted the two illegitimate children – Alexander and Dmitri – as her own. With less severe health problems than in OTL, they were able to participate in normal life. Indeed, when Alexander died in 1873, his eldest son – Alexander II (1862-1910) - became Prince Regent of under the guidance of his mother, assuming full Prince status in 1880.

In the immediate aftermath of the Prince’s death, Rumania had to deal with the aftermath of the 1873 Vienna Stock Market Crash (significantly worse than in OTL due to butterflies). This plunged Rumania (and, indeed, most of Europe) into an economic recession that lasted until the early 1890s, resulting initially in mass unemployment, food shortages and civil unrest. The election of a populist liberal government in 1876 helped matters somewhat, and with the passing of much-needed agrarian reforms and a number of popular social reforms, a civil war was narrowly avoided with public support for the monarchy and the government begrudgingly regained.

In January 1877, Russia declared war on Ottoman Turkey. Rumania refuses to commit troops to fight alongside the Turks, professing absolute neutrality whilst asserting its independence. In 1878, the Greeks join the war, on the side of Russia. Having to defend themselves on two fronts, the Ottomans start to lose territory to both the Russians and the Greeks. In 1879, with a growing threat of UK involvement on behalf of the Greeks, the Ottomans sue for peace.

Rumania received official recognition of its independence from the Ottoman Empire in the 1879 Treaty of San Stephano, which concluded the Russo-Turkish War. 1880 heralded the coronation of Prince Alexander II. In 1882, Alexander II married Princess Viktoria (1866-1929), strengthening relationships with both Germany and the UK. She gave him three children; Niklas (b. 1884), Maria (b. 1887) and Friedrich (1892-93).

With the co-operation with the Rumanian Prime Minister (the liberal leader, Ion Bratianu), Alexander II helped oversee the creation of a limited Rumanian welfare state in 1883. National elections in autumn 1886 see huge vindication of this move, with the liberals receiving an overwhelming majority and a change in leadership. The new populist Prime Minister, Dmitri Torok, manages to peacefully diffuse potentially violent reactionary protests in the winters of 1886 and 1889.

Prince Alexander II died from a heart condition in 1910, and was succeeded by his twenty-six year old son, who became Prince Niklas of Rumania (b.1884-1942). The first few months of his reign were committed to his opposition of the new conservative government’s attempt to limit his powers essentially to those of a constitutional monarch. Political deadlock was reached by early 1911, with neither side prepared to budge. Alexander II demanded the dissolution of Parliament in March, but the summer election returned a broadly similar result. Ultimately, it took the liberal opposition to negotiate a compromise. A series of negotiations throughout 1911-12 established that whilst Alexander would retain his executive powers, he would be bound to any decisions ratified by over two thirds of the parliament. Parliament would gain de jure legislative powers, and the question of an independent judiciary would be looked into. This formed the cornerstone of what would ultimately, in the inter-war years, become known as the Bucharest Republic.

The First World War broke out, right on shedule, in 1914.

* * * * *

Thoughts anyone? What happens next?

[Grey Wolf]

Very interestingly done.

I used the Cuza dynasty in AFOE, although I had them elevated to kings as that was the general trend in the Balkans.

A good amount of convincing-lookinmg detail here

Grey Wolf

[Hapsburg]

Maybe have a direct descendant of Vlad III Tepes rise from nowhere, and begin a revolt soon after WW1(afterwar instability is enough). This man, Vlad Dracul the Fourth, becomes Prince in a coup, then elevates himself to King, and then Emperor/Tsar(after maybe conquering Bulgaria in a short war)/

[Norman]

Very good thread, I'll be following it.

WWI must face Rumania with a huge problem, they have connections and friendships with both sides of the argument. As a result inorder to enforce their independence, they would have to strengthen their army without appearing to threaten either side if their nuetrality is to be maintained.

Maybe what they could do would be to consider a radical departure from the current Military doctrines by developing effective tanks and significantly motorizing their army. This would permit them to maintain a smaller mobile force, that could respond if their borders are threatened by any warring party.

[Justin Pickard]

2. Some damned silly thing in the Balkans: Rumania and the outbreak of War (1914)

The Rumanian parliament was dissolved in August 1914 when debates on the appropriate reaction to the outbreak of war reached a deadlock. Hasty electoral polls held across the country returned an unexpected result; a national coalition government with a strong modernization agenda. The elections also see the return of Ion Bratianu as PM, although this time kept in check by a strong militaristic faction. His first task in this new term is diplomatic in scope, conducting simultaneous dialogues with its two strongest allies; Bethmann-Hollweg, the German chancellor, and Asquith, the British PM. Mutual protection treaties on both counts are unexpectedly put on hold on September 5, when the London Agreement places the UK and Germany on different sides of the conflict. Bratianu somehow manages to extricate himself from both sets of talks without alerting either side to the nature of Rumania’s split loyalties – they have other things to be worrying about.

Autumn 1914 sees two major issues dominating the Rumanian nation, with the parliament announcing a number of schemes in preparation for war; an initial rationing of imported goods, and the Eminescu Plan - a comprehensive scheme to built and mechanize the Rumanian military. This includes plans for a Rumanian military railway, building on the existing network with military outposts and defensive measures, an extension of the national telegraphy grid, and the construction of a small air force of sorts.

[Norman]

I like it so far, keep up the good work. It's nice to see a POD involving something else other than the 'usual suspects.'

[Faeelin]

Hmm. I must say, it's rather intruiging.

[Justin Pickard]

I'll finish this off when I get back next week. Until then, all input and ideas are most welcome...

[Justin Pickard]

HELP ME FOLKS! I need input to bring this up to the present day, as quickly as possible. If you can help please either post here or PM me...

[Imajin]

I would say that Rumania has more to gain from the Central Powers than the allies (Transylvania), and most likely about the same to lose (Russia could annex a CP Rumania, Austria-Hungary a Allied) So if they're going to chose a side, I'd say they'll go wtih the Allies..

[G.Bone]

Interesting format and prose Mr. Pickard! Keep going with it!

[Justin Pickard]

Here's a slight reworking of No. 2:

2: Some damned silly thing in the Balkans: Rumania and the outbreak of WW1

The Rumanian parliament was dissolved in August 1914 when debates on the appropriate reaction to the outbreak of war reached deadlock. Hasty electoral polls held across the country returned an unexpected result; a national coalition government with a strong modernization agenda. The elections also see the return of Ion Bratianu as PM, although this time kept in check by a strong militaristic faction. His first task in this new term is diplomatic in scope, conducting simultaneous dialogues with its two strongest allies; Bethmann-Hollweg, the German chancellor, and Asquith, the British PM. Mutual protection treaties on both counts are unexpectedly put on hold on September 5, when the London Agreement places the UK and Germany on different sides of the conflict. Bratianu somehow manages to extricate himself from both sets of talks without alerting either side to the nature of Rumania’s split loyalties – they have other things to be worrying about.

Autumn 1914 sees two major issues dominating the Rumanian nation, with the parliament announcing a number of schemes in preparation for war; an initial rationing of imported goods, and the Eminescu Plan – a comprehensive scheme to expand and mechanize the Rumanian military. This includes plans for a Rumanian military railway, building on the existing network with military outposts and defensive measures, an extension of the national telegraphy network, and the construction of a small air force of sorts.

The last two months of 1914 saw a mass mobilization of political forces in an all-engaging series of debate and argument in Rumania. With Eminescu on everyone’s mind – be they supporters or opponents of the plan – the direct threat of the war which raged all around seemed almost incidental. Viktor Eminescu presented his report personally to the Rumanian parliament on November 5th and, after a good month and a half of contentious debate and a number of compromises, a slightly watered-down version of the scheme was ratified by a good deal more than the necessary two thirds required to pass it through parliament.

[DuQuense]

A neutral Romania trying to stay out, AH and the Ottomans get fed up with their vacillating, A joint invasion, Romania joins the allies, Post war they join with Greece to take a little more of Turkish Europe.

1920's Peace and prosperity, 1930's unrest, but they survive, 1940's invaded by Germany for the oil, post war Greece/Italy situation. 1949 Communists take power. 1960's- under pressure from JFK's military buildup, USSR collapses. 1970's Restoration of the Monarchy, 1980's - today, peace and rebuilding.

[Norman]

Mybe a neutral Rumania stands back, both sides at one time or another attempt to violate its declared neutrality and both sides learn their lesson. Maybe the US determines to support Rumania, and when the war winds down adds its weight to the a diplomatic effort by Rumania for a fair treaty.

[Justin Pickard]

3. The Poetry of Motion: Eminescu, the Coandas and the OTI (1915-1917)

1915 started with a feeling of hushed urgency within the Rumanian nation; patriotism was in the air, and significant changes were afoot. March saw a drawn-out movement by the Rumanian government towards an expropriation of the nation’s railway network. Marred by outright hostility from involved companies, nevertheless by early April an agreement had been reached; the railway firms would continue to operate with de facto independence but competition would be severely limited, and all firms would fall under the interventionist jurisdiction of a new government; the OTI (Office of Transportation and Industrialization). The appointment of Constantin Coanda as the Minister in charge of the OTI proved highly influential, making his presence felt in his first few weeks in the job with a number of sweeping moves. He won a funding battle for the Eminescu railway plans, proposed to parliament a series of diplomatic meetings with German representatives with regards to defensive industrialization initiatives, and recommended his son Henri, an aviation engineer, to Bratianu with regards to the expansion of the Rumanian air force.

To be continued...

[Justin Pickard]

Another couple of slight changes...

3. The Poetry of Motion: Eminescu, the Lusitania, and Constantin Coanda (1915)

1915 started with a feeling of hushed urgency within the Rumanian nation; patriotism was in the air, and significant changes were afoot. March saw a drawn-out movement by the Rumanian government towards an expropriation of the nation’s railway network. Marred by outright hostility from involved companies, nevertheless, by early April an agreement had been reached; the railway firms would continue to operate with de facto independence but competition would be severely limited, and all firms would fall under the interventionist jurisdiction of a new government; the OTI (Office of Transportation and Industrialization). The appointment of Constantin Coanda as the Minister in charge of the OTI proved highly influential, making his presence felt in his first few weeks in the job with a number of sweeping moves. He won a funding battle for the Eminescu railway plans, proposed to parliament a series of diplomatic meetings with German representatives with regards to defensive industrialization initiatives, and a recommended his son Henri, an aviation engineer, to Bratianu with regards to the expansion of the Rumanian air force.

The RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat at the start of May, killing around 1,500, including three Rumanian nationals (butterflied from Rumanian-British monarchy links). A public protest and memorial is held in Bucharest; a manifestation of a shift from a broadly pro-German sentiment. At the start of June, the US Secretary of State resigns over a disagreement regarding his nation's handling of the Lusitania incident. The Rumanian government sends an ambassador to the USA, in a symbolic attempt to cement diplomatic links in light of the Lusitania tragedy.

July and August see the plans of Eminescu and the Coandas finally reaching a fruition of sorts. After several months of political maneuvering, feasibility studies and a mobilization of academic specialists and labor forces, the dust was settling. The Germans had, after the anti-German backlash of the Lusitania disaster, been unwilling to enter any talks about external investment in Rumania. However, the consolidation of the national railway and telegraphy networks were progressing smoothly, with major routes experiencing a dramatically expanded capacity. July also saw the completion of the first armoured trains from factories in Resita.

In October, Bulgaria declared war on Serbia. This left Rumania in a difficult territorial situation; bordered by two Allied states (Serbia and Russia), and two Central Powers (Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary). With these developments increasing the territorial value of Rumania greatly, German representatives were suddenly found to be a lot more co-operative with regards to the dialogues proposed by Coanda. Initial talks between Bratianu and the German Undersecretary of State, Zimmerman, in December 1915, seemed to be progressing soundly.

[Norman]

As the death toll mounts in the battlefields of Europe how is the Rumanian public reacting?

[Justin Pickard]

Originally Posted by Norman

As the death toll mounts in the battlefields of Europe how is the Rumanian public reacting?

Mostly with anxiety - most of the population broadly support the governments plans of strengthening, although certain - quite vocal - sections of the population are pro-German or pro-Allies. The main thing that turns the public away from supporting the Central Powers is Austria-Hungary's involvement - not a state that the Rumanian population has any great affinity for.

Serbia, on the other hand...