January 24: 162 Years from the Unification of Two Romanian Principalities in 1859

There are three Romanian historic principalities which later, by their union, formed what is now the Romanian state: Wallachia in the South (Valahia in Romanian, hence the name of our platform), Moldavia in the East (Moldova) and Transylvania or, in its larger version, Ardeal, in the West.

On January 24, 1859, though vassals of the Otoman Empire, the principality of Wallachia and the principality of Moldavia decided to elect the same ruling prince in both territories: Alexandru Ioan Cuza. By doing that, in spite of the international protests coming from the Otomans, there was planted the seed of the first Romanian state as we know it these days.

This event is called The Little Union by the locals and by the historians, such as to distinguish it from the Great Union of 1918, when all three historic provinces were united into one. This is why each year, on January 24, Romanians celebrate the Unification Day.

By calling it ‘the Little Union‘ some might consider this event of a less importance, but it was definitely the moment when Romania stepped on the road of modernization as a state, as an economy and adopted a strong European vision.

Romanians all over the country celebrate today the Unification Day as an important event in their history, a proof that, when the people want to accomplish something, no external power can prevent it from happening.