January 24: Little Union Day

In 1859, 163 years ago, two historic Romanian principalities were united, by having the same elected ruler, to form Romania: Wallachia (Valahia) in the South and Moldova (Moldova) in the East.

Despite the opposition of the most significant powers of that time, how did that happen?

The Ottoman Empire vassals, the principality of Wallachia, and the principality of Moldova decided on January 24th, 1859, that Alexandru Ioan Cuza would be the ruling prince for both territories. Despite international protests from the Ottomans, this was done, and it was the very beginning of the Romanian state as we know it today.

This event is known as The Little Union by both the locals and historians to distinguish it from the Great Union in 1918. All three historical provinces were unified into one. The third province to join the motherland was Transylvania.

It is sometimes called ” the Little Union“, but it was not little at all. That was when Romania began to modernize as a country and as an economy.

Romanians across the country are celebrating today’s Unification Day. This is a significant event in their past and a reminder that no outside power can stop Romanians when people want something to happen.