Greeks in Romania: Difference between revisions

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	There has been a '''] presence in ]''' for at least 27 centuries. At times this presence has amounted to high positioning and influence; at other times (including the present), the Greeks have simply been one among the areas many ethnic minorities.
			Greeks are a historic minority group in Romania. At times, as during the ] era, this presence has amounted to hegemony; at other times (including the present), the ] have simply been one among the many ] in ].

			{{Greeks}}
	==History==		==History==
	===Ancient and ~~Medieval~~ ~~Greeks~~===		===Ancient and medieval periods===
	The Greek presence in what is now Romania dates back as far as the ''~~apoikiai~~'' (colonies) and ''emporia'' (trade stations) founded in and around ] (''see ] and ]''), beginning in the ]. Starting with the ] colony at ], the process reached its height after ] was founded in the ]. Although forever subject to the ] interference and easily disrupted by changes in the politics of neighbour tribal chieftains, the colonies prospered until being briefly submitted in various forms by King ] (late ]). Immediately after, and for the following centuries, they were stripped of their privileges by their new ] masters, and followed the Empire into its crises.		The Greek presence in what is now Romania dates back as far as the '']i'' (colonies) and '']'' (trade stations) founded in and around ] (''see ] and ]''), beginning in the 7th century BC. Starting with the ] colony at ], the process reached its height after ] was founded in the 5th century BC. Although forever subject to the ] interference and easily disrupted by changes in the politics of neighbour tribal chieftains, the colonies prospered until being briefly submitted in various forms by King ] (late 1st century BC). Immediately after, and for the following centuries, they were stripped of their privileges by their new ] masters, and followed the Empire into its crises.{{cn\|date=July 2022}}

	~~Although~~ ~~not~~ ~~Greek~~ ~~''per se''~~, the ] was a living presence north of the ], maintaining a cultural hegemony over the lands virtually until its disappearance ~~(one doubled~~ by ~~certain~~ periods of political dominance in ~~such~~ ~~places~~ as ~~Tomis~~ ~~and~~ ]).		In the Middle Ages, the Greek-speaking ] was a living presence north of the ], maintaining a ] over the lands virtually until its disappearance, and for long periods exercised actual political dominance in the area of modern Dobruja (known to the Byzantines as ]).{{cn\|date=July 2022}}

	===Early modern ~~Greeks~~===		===Early modern period===
	After the fall of the Empire, the ] of ] and ] (the ]) often took on the ] of many Greek-proper cultural institutions such as several monasteries on ], gestures guaranteed to provide prestige ~~in an~~ ] culture. To this was added the exodus of Byzantine officials and commoners to the two countries, which were at the time under a rather relaxed ] tutelage. They took opportunities to advance in office, and from early on included themselves in the inner circle of power. This meant not only the reliance of Princes on a new elite (more often than not, also one to provide it with the funds needed by the administrative effort), but also the gradual ascendancy of Greeks to the thrones themselves.		After the fall of the Byzantine Empire to the ], the ]s of ] and ] (the ]) often took on the ] of many Greek-proper cultural institutions such as several monasteries on ], gestures guaranteed to provide prestige within ] culture. To this was added the exodus of Byzantine officials and commoners to the two countries, which were at the time under a rather relaxed Ottoman tutelage. They took opportunities to advance in office, and from early on included themselves in the inner circle of power. This meant not only the reliance of Princes on a new elite (more often than not, also one to provide it with the funds needed by the administrative effort), but also the gradual ascendancy of Greeks to the thrones themselves.{{cn\|date=July 2022}}

	The rapid change brought them much hostility from traditional ]. Landowners in a rudimentary economy, accustomed to have an important say in political developments, these found themselves stripped of importance in the new structure, and became bitterly hostile to the immigrants. However, this was not the only notable trend: there were numerous cases of ] at the top of the social scale (and not only), the arguably most famous of which being the ones inside the very powerful ].		The rapid change brought them much hostility from traditional ]s. Landowners in a rudimentary economy, accustomed to have an important say in political developments, these found themselves stripped of importance in the new structure, and became bitterly hostile to the immigrants. However, this was not the only notable trend: there were numerous cases of ] at the top of the social scale (and not only), the arguably most famous of which being the ones inside the very powerful ].{{cn\|date=July 2022}}

	===The Phanariote period===		===The Phanariote period===
	~~:''Main article: ]''~~		{{main\|Phanariotes}}
	] and Ottomans in Bucharest, late 1821]]		] and ] in ], late 1821.]]
	With the early ] emergence of ] rule, Greek culture became ~~the~~ norm. On one hand, this meant a noted neglect for the institutions inside the countries; on the other, the channeling of Princes' energies into emancipation from Ottoman rule, through projects that aimed for the erasing of inner borders of the Empire, moving toward the creation of an all-], neo-Byzantine state (seen as the extended identity of Greekdom). To these was added the omnipresence and omnipotence of Greek ethnic clerics at all levels of the religious hierarchy, with many monasteries becoming directly submitted to similar institutions in Greece, after being gradually granted by successive Princes.		With the early 18th century emergence of ] rule over the Danubian Principalities, Greek culture became a norm. On one hand, this meant a noted neglect for the institutions inside the countries; on the other, the channeling of Princes' energies into emancipation from Ottoman rule, through projects that aimed for the erasing of inner borders of the Empire, moving toward the creation of an all-], neo-Byzantine state (seen as the extended identity of Greekdom). To these was added the omnipresence and omnipotence of Greek ethnic clerics at all levels of the religious hierarchy, with many monasteries becoming directly submitted to similar institutions in ], after being gradually granted by successive Princes.

	Thus, the emergence of ~~Greek~~ ] opened the two lands to revolution, as the main concentrations of political power available to it at the time, and the ones sharing a border with the expected supporter of the cause - ]. The Wallachian stage of the ] consumed itself in a conflict between the initially supportive ] led by ] and the ], while Moldavia was under Greek occupation for a limited duration. The outcome only served to stir up animosity, and the Ottomans were receptive to the demands, putting an end to the ~~troublesome~~ Phanariote system in ].		Thus, the emergence of ] opened the two lands to revolution, as the main concentrations of political power available to it at the time, and the ones sharing a border with the expected supporter of the cause - ]. The Wallachian stage of the ] consumed itself in a conflict between the initially supportive ] led by ] and the ], while Moldavia was under Greek occupation for a limited duration. The outcome only served to stir up animosity, and the Ottomans were receptive to the demands, putting an end to the Phanariote system in 1822.

			] client in ], ca. 1880]]

	===19th and 20th centuries===		===19th and 20th centuries===
	] client in ], ca. 1880]]
	In time, most Greeks lost their specificity and became fully integrated (for example, a sizable portion of noble families considered "Phanariote" contributed to the adopted culture more than local ones).		In time, most Greeks lost their specificity and became fully integrated (for example, a sizable portion of noble families considered "Phanariote" contributed to the adopted culture more than local ones).

	With new trends of migration, Romania became a less important target for exiled Greeks, and this became limited to people of lower social status—with ethnic Greeks being most visible as entrepreneurs, middlemen traders, and especially sailors (both on the Danube the ]—in the case of the latter, after the integration of ] in ], which also gave Romania a new population of Greeks, already on the spot).		With new trends of migration, Romania became a less important target for exiled Greeks, and this became limited to people of lower social status—with ethnic Greeks being most visible as entrepreneurs, middlemen traders, and especially sailors (both on the Danube the ]—in the case of the latter, after the integration of ] in 1878, which also gave Romania a new population of Greeks, already on the spot).

	The communities were largely prosperous and maintained specific cultural institutions; they attracted a new wave of arrivals when ] was hit by the ], in the late ]. This situation was challenged by ], with the properties of most organizations and many individuals being confiscated, and hundreds of Greek ethnics being imprisoned on sites such as the ].		The communities were largely prosperous and maintained specific cultural institutions; they attracted a new wave of arrivals when ] was hit by the ], in the late 1940s. This situation was challenged by ], with the properties of most organizations and many individuals being confiscated, and hundreds of Greek ethnics being imprisoned on sites such as the ].

	==Present situation==		==Present situation==
			], with service occasionally held in ]]]
	In ], the Greek population was given as 6,513 persons, most of which inhabit ] and its surrounding area. Next in line come the Dobruja counties of ] and ], and the Danube-facing ones of ] and ].
			Among the towns and communes in Romania with the highest proportions of Greeks as of 2011 are ] ({{langx\|el\|Ιζβοάρελε}}; 43.82%) and ] ({{langx\|el\|Σουλινάς}}; 1.69%), both in ].

			According to the Romanian census of 2002, the Greek community numbered 6,472 persons, most of whom live in ] and its surrounding area. Next in line come the Dobruja counties of Tulcea and ], and the Danube-facing ones of ] and ]. The 1992 census however found 19,594 Greeks;<ref> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060104150139/http://www.eurominority.org/version/eng/minority-detail.asp?id_minorites=ro-gree \|date=2006-01-04 }}, eurominority.org. Accessed 15 December 2006.</ref> this shows the tendency of assimilation. According to the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad (a dependency of the ]) the Greek community in Romania numbers 14,000.<ref>{{in lang\|el}} {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080716045118/http://www.ggae.gr/gabroad/organosi.el.asp \|date=2008-07-16 }}, ggae.gr. Accessed 15 December 2006.</ref>
	The '']'', founded in ], represents the political and cultural preservation interests of the community, notably by providing its representatives in the ].

			The ], founded in 1990, represents the political and cultural preservation interests of the community, notably by providing its representatives in the ].
	==Notable Romanian people of Modern Greek heritage==

			==Notable Romanian people of Greek origin==
	===Phanariotes===		===Phanariotes===
	*the ]~~s - although Moldavian in origin~~		*the ]
			*the ]
	*] and ]
			*]
	*the ] (Greek-])
			*]
	*the ]
			*the ]
	*]
			*]
	*] and ] - of the ], but also thought to have been ]
			*] and ]
	*] and ]
			*] and ]
			*] and ]

	===Non-Phanariote ~~ethnic Greek~~ rulers over the Danubian Principalities===		===Non-Phanariote rulers over the Danubian Principalities===
	*]		*]
	*] and ]		*] and ]
	*] ~~- according to the family tradition, they were of Byzantine Greek origin~~		*the ]

			=== Figures of Wallachian uprising of 1821 ===
	===Modern-day persons of Greek heritage===
			* ]
	*] - writer and political activist
			* Vasilios Karavias
	*] - writer and playwright, his uncles ] and ] - actors, and his son ] - novelist and poet
	*] - actor and playwright
	*] - Queen Mother and Regent of Romania
	*] - writer and political activist
	*] - ]n poet
	*] - writer, diplomat, politician
	*] - literary critic
	*] - current ]

			=== Other Important Figures ===
	==See also==
			*]
			*]
			*]
			*]
			*]
			*]
			*]
			*]

			=== Modern-day persons of Greek origin or heritage ===
			* ] - scientist
			* ] - psychiatrist and neurologist
			* ] - Romanian actor
			* ] - writer and political activist
			* ] - engineer, pioneer in aerodynamics
			* ] - writer and playwright, his uncles ] and Iorgu Caragiale - actors, and his son ] - novelist and poet
			* ] - actor and playwright
			* ] - actor
			* ] - actor
			* ] - actor
			* ] - diplomat
			* ] - politician
			* ] - Queen Mother and Regent of Romania
			* ] - poet
			* ] - writer
			* ] family - originated from the island of Naxos
			* ] - writer and political activist
			* ] - poet
			* ] - industrialist
			* ] - Romanian general and politician
			* ] - singer
			* ] - poet
			* ] - writer, diplomat, politician
			* ] - literary critic
			* ] - ]
			* ], composer and architect
			* ], classical conductor

			==See also==
			{{Portal\|Greece\|Romania}}
			*]
	*Ethnic groups in Greece who were subject to immigration in Romania:		*Ethnic groups in Greece who were subject to immigration in Romania:
	**]		**]
	**]		**]
			*]

	==~~External links~~==		==Notes==
			{{reflist}}
	*

	{{Ethnic groups of Romania}}

			== External links ==
	]
			* {{in lang\|ro}}
	]
			* {{in lang\|ro}}
	]
			{{Ethnic groups in Romania}}
			{{Greek diaspora}}
			{{Portal bar\|Greece\|Romania}}
			{{DEFAULTSORT:Greeks In Romania}}
			]
			]
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 01:28, 13 December 2024

Greeks are a historic minority group in Romania. At times, as during the Phanariote era, this presence has amounted to hegemony; at other times (including the present), the Greeks have simply been one among the many ethnic minorities in Romania.

Greeks
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History

Ancient and medieval periods

The Greek presence in what is now Romania dates back as far as the apoikiai (colonies) and emporia (trade stations) founded in and around Dobruja (see Colonies in antiquity and Pontic Greeks), beginning in the 7th century BC. Starting with the Milesian colony at Istros, the process reached its height after Tomis was founded in the 5th century BC. Although forever subject to the Dacian interference and easily disrupted by changes in the politics of neighbour tribal chieftains, the colonies prospered until being briefly submitted in various forms by King Burebista (late 1st century BC). Immediately after, and for the following centuries, they were stripped of their privileges by their new Roman masters, and followed the Empire into its crises.

In the Middle Ages, the Greek-speaking Byzantine Empire was a living presence north of the Danube, maintaining a cultural hegemony over the lands virtually until its disappearance, and for long periods exercised actual political dominance in the area of modern Dobruja (known to the Byzantines as Scythia Minor).

Early modern period

After the fall of the Byzantine Empire to the Ottoman Empire, the Hospodars of Moldavia and Wallachia (the Danubian Principalities) often took on the patronage of many Greek-proper cultural institutions such as several monasteries on Mount Athos, gestures guaranteed to provide prestige within Eastern Orthodox culture. To this was added the exodus of Byzantine officials and commoners to the two countries, which were at the time under a rather relaxed Ottoman tutelage. They took opportunities to advance in office, and from early on included themselves in the inner circle of power. This meant not only the reliance of Princes on a new elite (more often than not, also one to provide it with the funds needed by the administrative effort), but also the gradual ascendancy of Greeks to the thrones themselves.

The rapid change brought them much hostility from traditional boyars. Landowners in a rudimentary economy, accustomed to have an important say in political developments, these found themselves stripped of importance in the new structure, and became bitterly hostile to the immigrants. However, this was not the only notable trend: there were numerous cases of intermarriage at the top of the social scale (and not only), the arguably most famous of which being the ones inside the very powerful Cantacuzino family.

The Phanariote period

Main article: Phanariotes

With the early 18th century emergence of Phanariote rule over the Danubian Principalities, Greek culture became a norm. On one hand, this meant a noted neglect for the institutions inside the countries; on the other, the channeling of Princes' energies into emancipation from Ottoman rule, through projects that aimed for the erasing of inner borders of the Empire, moving toward the creation of an all-Balkan, neo-Byzantine state (seen as the extended identity of Greekdom). To these was added the omnipresence and omnipotence of Greek ethnic clerics at all levels of the religious hierarchy, with many monasteries becoming directly submitted to similar institutions in Greece, after being gradually granted by successive Princes.

Thus, the emergence of Greek nationalism opened the two lands to revolution, as the main concentrations of political power available to it at the time, and the ones sharing a border with the expected supporter of the cause - Imperial Russia. The Wallachian stage of the Greek War of Independence consumed itself in a conflict between the initially supportive Anti-Ottoman Revolt led by Tudor Vladimirescu and the Philikí Etaireía, while Moldavia was under Greek occupation for a limited duration. The outcome only served to stir up animosity, and the Ottomans were receptive to the demands, putting an end to the Phanariote system in 1822.

19th and 20th centuries

In time, most Greeks lost their specificity and became fully integrated (for example, a sizable portion of noble families considered "Phanariote" contributed to the adopted culture more than local ones).

With new trends of migration, Romania became a less important target for exiled Greeks, and this became limited to people of lower social status—with ethnic Greeks being most visible as entrepreneurs, middlemen traders, and especially sailors (both on the Danube the Black Sea—in the case of the latter, after the integration of Dobruja in 1878, which also gave Romania a new population of Greeks, already on the spot).

The communities were largely prosperous and maintained specific cultural institutions; they attracted a new wave of arrivals when Greece was hit by the Civil War, in the late 1940s. This situation was challenged by Communist Romania, with the properties of most organizations and many individuals being confiscated, and hundreds of Greek ethnics being imprisoned on sites such as the Danube-Black Sea Canal.

Present situation

Among the towns and communes in Romania with the highest proportions of Greeks as of 2011 are Izvoarele (Greek: Ιζβοάρελε; 43.82%) and Sulina (Greek: Σουλινάς; 1.69%), both in Tulcea County.

According to the Romanian census of 2002, the Greek community numbered 6,472 persons, most of whom live in Bucharest and its surrounding area. Next in line come the Dobruja counties of Tulcea and Constanța, and the Danube-facing ones of Brăila and Galați. The 1992 census however found 19,594 Greeks; this shows the tendency of assimilation. According to the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad (a dependency of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs) the Greek community in Romania numbers 14,000.

The Hellenic Union of Romania, founded in 1990, represents the political and cultural preservation interests of the community, notably by providing its representatives in the Chamber of Deputies of Romania.

Notable Romanian people of Greek origin

Phanariotes

Non-Phanariote rulers over the Danubian Principalities

Figures of Wallachian uprising of 1821

Yiannis Farmakis
Vasilios Karavias

Other Important Figures

Modern-day persons of Greek origin or heritage

Grigore Antipa - scientist
Constantin von Economo - psychiatrist and neurologist
Radu Beligan - Romanian actor
Cezar Bolliac - writer and political activist
Elie Carafoli - engineer, pioneer in aerodynamics
Ion Luca Caragiale - writer and playwright, his uncles Costache Caragiale and Iorgu Caragiale - actors, and his son Mateiu Caragiale - novelist and poet
George Ciprian - actor and playwright
Christos Tsaganeas - actor
Jean Constantin - actor
Nicu Alifantis - actor
Noti Constantinide - diplomat
Radu Portocală - politician
Elena of Greece - Queen Mother and Regent of Romania
Andreas Embirikos - poet
Elena Farago - writer
Filotti family - originated from the island of Naxos
Panait Istrati - writer and political activist
Antigone Kefala - poet
Nicolae Malaxa - industrialist
Nicolae Mavros - Romanian general and politician
Jean Moscopol - singer
Anna de Noailles - poet
Alexandru Paleologu - writer, diplomat, politician
Dimitrie Panaitescu Perpessicius - literary critic
Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu - Prime Minister of Romania
Iannis Xenakis, composer and architect
Sergiu Celibidache, classical conductor

Notes

Greeks in Romania Archived 2006-01-04 at the Wayback Machine, eurominority.org. Accessed 15 December 2006.
(in Greek) ΓΕΝΙΚΑ ΣΤΟΙΧΕΙΑ ΔΙΑΣΠΟΡΑΣ Archived 2008-07-16 at the Wayback Machine, ggae.gr. Accessed 15 December 2006.

External links

(in Romanian) The Hellenic Union of Romania
(in Romanian) The Greeks - Their story on the Romanian lands

v t e Ethnic groups in Romania
Dominant group	Romanians (16,792,868)
Officially recognised minorities	Hungarians (1,227,623) Romani (621,573) Ukrainians (50,920) Germans (36,042) Turks (27,698) Lipovans (23,487) Tatars (divided into Crimean Tatars and Nogais) (20,282) Serbs (18,076) Slovaks (13,654) Bulgarians (7,336) Croats (5,408) Greeks (3,668) Jews (3,271) Italians (3,203) Poles (2,543) Czechs (2,477) Armenians (1,361) Macedonians (1,264) Albanians (520) Rusyns (262)
Non-recognized minorities	Aromanians (26,500) Hutsuls* (self-declared, 3,890) Csángós* (self-declared, 1,536) Megleno-Romanians (1,200–2,000) Székelys* (self-declared, 532) Krashovani* (self-declared, 207) Slovenes (175) Gagauz (5)
Historical ethnic groups	Circassians (approximately 10,000 in the mid-19th century) Dobrujan Arabs (145 in 1850)
Immigrant groups	Citizens of the Republic of Moldova (177,000) Arabs (5,000) Afghans (2,384) Chinese (2,243) Indians (1,000) Filipinos (800) Africans (700) Pakistanis (700) Iranians (610) Kurds (500) Mexicans (224) Bangladeshis (100)
* = Subgroups of officially recognized ethnicities that are not treated by the Romanian authorities as separate minorities.

v t e Greek diaspora (Omogenia)
Old Greek Diaspora	Asia Minor Greeks genocide population exchange pogrom expulsion massacre burning Egyptian Greeks expulsion Ukrainian Greeks evacuation Soviet Greeks deportation prison shootings
New Greek Diaspora	Greek Americans Boston Chicago New York City Greek Australians Melbourne Sydney Greek Canadians Toronto
Traditional areas of Greek settlement	Albania Bulgaria Caucasus Cyprus France Italy Malta North Macedonia Russia Turkey Ukraine
Europe	Austria Belgium Czechia Denmark France Germany Hungary Moldova Netherlands Poland Romania Serbia Sweden United Kingdom
Caucasus	Armenia Azerbaijan Georgia
Central Asia	Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan
Middle East	Israel Lebanon Syria United Arab Emirates
Africa	D.R. Congo Ethiopia South Africa Sudan South Sudan Zimbabwe
Latin America	Argentina Bahamas Brazil Chile Mexico Uruguay Venezuela
Asia-Pacific	New Zealand Philippines
Hellenization Greek colonization Hellenistic world