Romania: People and Destinies, Stories and Legends

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The history of Romania is rich and multifaceted, marked by a series of different historical periods. In ancient times, the Dacians dominated, who were eventually conquered by the Romans in 106 AD, leading to a period of Roman rule that had a lasting influence on the language and culture. In the Middle Ages, separate principalities such as Wallachia and Moldavia emerged, often caught between the interests of powerful neighboring empires like the Ottoman Empire, the Habsburgs, and Russia. In the modern era, Romania gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877 and subsequently united in 1918, encompassing Transylvania, Banat, and other regions. The interwar period was marked by political upheavals and economic growth, followed by World War II, when Romania initially joined the Axis powers but then switched sides in 1944. The post-war period was characterized by the establishment of a communist regime that lasted until the 1989 revolution, which led to a transition to democracy. Romania’s accession to the European Union in 2007 was an important milestone in its modern history, reflecting its integration into Western political and economic structures.

The Statue of Decebalus - "the largest face in Europe"

J7RR+FF Dubova, Romania

The Statue of Decebalus on the Danube River, Romania. This is "the largest face in Europe." The face belongs to the Dacian leader Decebalus, stands 40 meters tall, and is the largest sculpture in Europe carved from a single rock. History enthusiasts might be disappointed: this statue is younger than you and me; it was built in 2004 by 12 sculptors who spent nearly 10 years carving it into the rock. The statue rises above the waters of the Danube and is clearly visible even from Serbia.