Mihail Kogălniceanu: Historian as Foreign Minister, 1876–8

Abstract

Romanian political leaders and diplomats have always relied heavily on historical arguments to justify their aims in foreign policy. The emphasis on historic rights and continuous residence has caused the most controversy in the question of the possession of Transylvania, but it has also been a major element in each stage of the national movement. Because of the close link between past and present in Romanian national ideology and the importance of the historical heritage, it can be understood why historians have played such a major role in politics and diplomacy. Men such as Nicolae Bălcescu, Nicolae Iorga and Mihail Kogălniceanu not only wrote about their nation’s past, but they helped shape the course of its development. The importance of the historical element in the national idea and the presence of notable historians in the political leadership explains why Romanian leaders have placed such an emphasis on historic rights even when justifying their claims to areas, such as Transylvania, where the majority of the population is Romanian.