The Romanity of the Romanians in the View of Historians

Ethnogenesis and Structure of the Romanian LanguagePage 1

The Romanian people formed through a synthesis involving Dacians (natives), Romans (conquerors), and later Slavic migrants. Romanization, initiated during the Roman occupation (106-271 AD), imposed Latin language and culture, which persisted even after the Aurelian withdrawal. The Romanian language is a Romance language comprising a Dacian substratum (approx. 1%), a Latin layer (approx. 70%), and a Slavic adstratum (approx. 20%).

Continuity in the Carpathian-Danubian-Pontic SpacePage 3

The continuity of the Romanian people is supported by archaeological findings (e.g., the Biertan Donarium), linguistic evidence, and historical documentation. Scholars argue that the Daco-Roman population remained in the region throughout the migration period, maintaining their distinct identity.

Romanity in the View of Historians and HumanistsPage 4

Early medieval sources (7th-13th century) identified Romanians as 'Vlachs' or 'Romans' of Latin origin. During the Renaissance, humanists like Antonio Bonfini and later Romanian chroniclers (Ureche, Costin, Cantemir) solidified the theory of Roman descent to assert national identity and cultural nobility.

Political Debates: The Immigrationist Theory vs. ContinuityPage 6

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the 'Roeslerian' (immigrationist) theory claimed Romanians migrated to Transylvania from the south of the Danube in the 13th century. This was a political instrument used by Austro-Hungarian authorities to deny political rights to the Romanian majority. Conversely, the Transylvanian School and later historians like A.D. Xenopol and Nicolae Iorga defended the continuity theory based on scientific evidence.

Modern Perspectives and ConclusionsPage 11

During the communist era, the narrative of Romanian history was manipulated to serve political agendas, shifting from Slavic influences to an obsessive focus on Dacian identity under Ceaușescu. Post-1989 historiography has returned to an objective synthesis, acknowledging the three-fold origin (Dacian, Roman, Slavic). Contemporary historians emphasize that while Romanity is a core pillar of national identity, historical 'continuity' arguments have lost their weight in modern international law.