Romania

Transylvania

Situated at the crossroads of several commercial routes, Constanta lies on the western coast of the Black Sea, 185 miles from the Bosphorus Strait in a region named Dobrogea. An ancient metropolis and Romania's largest sea port, Constanta traces its history some 2,500 years. Originally called Tomis, legend has it that Jason landed here with the Argonauts after finding the Golden Fleece.

Transylvania. Romania. 1791.

The Carpathian Mountains divide Romania's upper half from north to south and connect near the center of the country with the Transylvanian Alps, running east and west. North and west of these ranges lies the Transylvanian plateau, and to the south and east are the plains of Moldavia and Walachia. In its last 190 mi (306 km), the Danube River flows through Romania only. It enters the Black Sea in northern Dobruja, just south of the border with Ukraine.

During the 17th Century, Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania briefly united under Mihai Viteazul (Michael the Brave), prince of Wallachia. Unity lasted only one year after which Michael the Brave was defeated by the Turks and Hapsburg forces. Transylvania came under Hapsburg rule while Turkish suzerainty continued in Wallachia and Moldavia.

Michael Soutzo (Mihai Sutu), Prince of Moldavia 1819-21.

The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania.

During the 19th Century, King Carol I revived Constanta as a port and seaside resort by building mansions and hotels.

October 17, 1872, The New York Herald, New York, New York

The Romanian Persecution
A Hebrew Editor Presents the
Case of His Brethren on the Danube.

October 16, 1872, 11 Ann Street, New York, New York

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:

A correspondence from Vienna contained in today's issue or the HERALD does great injustice to the entire Jewish population of Roumania, and also to one of our own fellow citizens, Mr. B. F. Peixotto, a gentleman of noble and generous heart, who was only prompted by his own sympathetic nature to undertake a mission which could easily be foreseen to be strewn with thorns. The correspondence reads as if a member of the editorial staff of Roumanian papers like theTrompetta or the Roumanul had penned it; papers that unblushingly preach the extinction and annihilation of the Jews, designate them as robbers and murderers, and day after day fan the prejudices of an illiterate and bigoted mob against a class of people whose record is one of patient suffering and never of aggression.

Mr. Peisotto was appointed Consul to Roumania for the reason assigned by Mr. Froude, for the assistance rendered by an American frigate to an English squadron when helplessly exposed to the fire of a Chinese fort; for the expedition of Dr. Kane in search of Sir John Franklin; for the Heraldexpedition sent in search of Dr. Livingstone; because "blood is thicker than water." The blood of every American, of every freeman, boiled at the indignity offered to 'civilization by a horde of uncivilized barbarians in slaughtering and tormenting innocent people, women and children, and the government of the United States, with praiseworthy generosity, declared itself ready to send a representative to the scene of outrage to evince its sympathy with the persecuted, and to lend its moral cooperation to those Powers that were not ashamed to plead the cause or the oppressed and to arrest the hand or the brutal mob. Mr. Peixotto declared his willingness to assume the thankless task, and though he is a Jew he is not merely a naturalized citizen, but a native of this country, and claims equal rights and privileges with any. Italy is represented at the Court of France by a Jew; other countries do not hold the Jew less worthy to be represented by him, and I have yet to learn that a Jew thus honored and trusted has proven recreant to his duty or unworthy of the confidence bestowed upon him.

The outrages committed against the Jews have been condemned by every civilized government represented at Bucharest, and it were useless for the criminals to deny their crime in the face of the jury trials that lately took place at Cabul, where the guilty rioters and slayers of human beings were declared innocent and their victims sentenced to imprisonment so that the poor Jews had to pine in dungeons until the Prince "dared" to pardon them. The Neue Freie Presse of Vienna, which from time to time contains able reports from Roumania, has stated again and again that, were it not for the Jews, there would be no mechanics, no manufacturers, no merchants, no industry In that country; and is it necessary to cite history. which is unanimous in the opinion that Spain "has decayed, since, by the expulsion of the Jews, it drove oat enterprise and energy?

According to impartial testimony the Jews of Roumania are a thriving, industrious, hardworking class of people, not behind any of their brethren, and, as in all countries, no burden on public charity and no disturbers of public peace.

Is it not strange that to this day these Jews, whose Bible is the text book of all religions, the premises of whose prophets are the hopes of mankind, the wisdom and morals of whose sages are the texts of all Christian sermons, and of whose loin came He whom the Christian community caps "The Son of God" are looked upon as outcasts -- inferior in morals and intellect and that even theHerald, usually generous and impartial, heads a one-sided correspondence with flaming designations condemnatory of an American citizen because he is a Jew, and of a whole people because they are descendants of the ancient race of patriarchs, prophets and seers?

Will the Herald, after mature consideration, blame the American government for maintaining a diplomatic mission that is purely humanitarian and in the interest of civilization? Yours, very respectfully,

M. Ellinger
Editor, Jewish Times

August 17, 1895, Morning Telegram, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Roumania has another of the little German princes, elected under outside influence in 1868 and proclaimed King Carol in 1881. He is a son of Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.

Kazan Gorge, Romania. Iron Gates. Bartlett, 1840.

The first few years as ruler of Romania were very difficult for Carol. He had to adapt to a new culture and language, to Balkanian ways of doing politics and he was about to abdicate in 1870. Few years later however, he was commanding the Russian-Romanian troops in the Russian-Ottoman war. This war brought the independence of Romania. May 10, 1877 is a historical landmark in the development of modern Romania: the Declaration of Independence. Carol's name is forever linked with the event and his role was a very important one.

June 19, 1904, Logansport Journal, Logansport, Indiana, U.S.A.

Roumania to Pray for Rain

(Special Cable to The Journal.)

Bucharest, Romania

Two thirds of the Roumanian wheat and hay crops have already been lost owing to the prolonged drought and the maize crop is in great danger. The synod has ordered that prayers be said for rain and that holy Icons be carried in possession.

Soviet occupation following World War II led to the formation of a communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king.

Former communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power.

Much economic restructuring remains to be carried out before Romania can achieve its hope of joining the EU.

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1899. World's Fleet. Boston Daily Globe

Lloyds Register of Shipping gives the entire fleet of the world as 28,180 steamers and sailing vessels, with a total tonnage of 27,673,628, of which 39 perent are British.

Great Britain	10,990 vessels, total tonnage of 10,792,714
United States	3,010 vessels, total tonnage of 2,405,887
Norway	2,528 vessels, tonnage of 1,604,230
Germany	1,676 vessels, with a tonnage of 2,453,334, in which are included her particularly large ships.
Sweden	1,408 vessels with a tonnage of 643, 527
Italy	1,150 vessels
France	1,182 vessels

For Historical Comparison
Top 10 Maritime Nations Ranked by Value (2017)

	Country	# of Vessels	Gross Tonnage (m)	Total Value (USDbn)
1	Greece	4,453	206.47	$88.0
2	Japan	4,317	150.26	$79.8
3	China	4,938	159.71	$71.7
4	USA	2,399	55.92	$46.5
5	Singapore	2,662	64.03	$41.7
6	Norway	1,668	39.68	$41.1
7	Germany	2,923	81.17	$30.3
8	UK	883	28.78	$24.3
9	Denmark	1,040	36.17	$23.4
10	South Korea	1,484	49.88	$20.1
Total		26,767	87.21	$466.9