A History of Romania

Romanian Civilization Studies #7

by Kurt W. Treptow, Ioan Scurtu, Larrz Watts

This history of Romania in a regional context is intended for the English-speaking general reader who seeks an overall presentation, from ancient times to the present day. It includes a selected bibliography of works useful for further exploration.

Genres: History, Romania

724 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Nicolae Alexandru · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as I can see, the book is written by great Romanian academicians such as Florin Constantiniu, Ioan Scurtu and the President of the Romanian Academy, Ioan Aurel Pop. But I can say that this work has not been verified, because there are great confusions. On page 65 it is stated that voivode Basarab is of Cuman origin "whose name suggests that he was of Cuman origin". It is known that the assimilation of the Cumans was achieved in the XII century when the Byzantine Emperor Manuel Comnenus attacked them, and the ruler of these, Lazarus, was a Christian. The name Basarab is of Cuman origin, but does not attest to the origin of the voivode especially in a period when the name is taken from the rulers.
A second mistake I noticed is on page 115, when it is stated that "Thus, Stephen joined the ottomans in their attack on Vlad III Darcula and Wallachua in 1462" and on page 116 "and the surrender of the strategic fortress of Chilia which he had captured from Wallachia in 1465". First of all, Chilia did not belong to Wallachia, but to Moldavia, being offered in 1448 by Petru Aron to Iancu de Hunedoara, installing a Hungarian garrison. So, Stephen the Great did not attack Vlad Tepes Dracula in 1462 (who helped him in taking over the throne ), but the Hungarian garrison in Chilia, managing to conquer it in 1465. This initiative of the Romanian lord started the operation of revenge of the Hungarian king Matei Corvinul, the son of Iancu de Hunedoara in 1467-The battle of Baia (ethnically Romanian).