The Historical Roots of Romanians Before They Were Known As Such

For centuries, the Romanian people have referred to themselves using terms like “Romani” or “Rumani.” Over time, these terms have acquired different connotations, and have appeared in documents and literature, including early European linguistic works.

Dates and Early References

One notable piece of evidence comes from a German to Wallachian Dictionary published in 1666. In this work, the term “Zara Rumeneaske” is used instead of “Wallachia,” and the Romanian language is mentioned as “Limba Rumaneasc” (Romanian language) a century earlier in a book printed in 1570 by the Deacon Coresi at Braov. Coresi was the first to establish a printer in the area that today is part of Romania on January 30, 1561.

Deacon Coresi's Pseudepigraphic Psalter

From Deacon Coresi’s psalter, we read:

Derept aceaia fraii miei preuilor scrisu-v-amu aceaste psltiri cu otveat de-am scos de n psltirea srbeasca pre limba RUMNEASC s va fie de nelegatura i grmaticilor.

This passage suggests that the text was written in Romanian and not in Serbian, using the term "Rumneasc."

Medieval Usages and Confusions

The term “Romanian” or “Rumani” was used by medieval peasants, who often referred to themselves as such, and this usage also included the meaning of farmers tied to the land of their masters (boyars) or monasteries.

Rumelia and Its Influence

Another critical point to note is the existence of an autonomous province called Rumelia in northern Bulgaria under the Ottoman Empire. This province was located between the mountains to the south, the Black Sea to the east, the Danube to the north, and Serbia to the west. This term has a tendency to complicate discussions on Romanian history, especially in the context of US and British narratives, which sometimes used the term "Rumania." This can lead to confusion, as it often appeared in discussions that referred to the region around Adrianople in Europe, linked to the former Eastern Roman Empire enclave later known as the Byzantine Empire. This region was less about a particular language and more about a cultural and political identity.

Livestock Migrants and Shepherds

Romanian identity also intersects with the roles of migrant shepherds, who moved their sheep flocks up the mountains for summer grazing and back to shelters for wintering. Some of these shepherds also became traders, providing a range of goods including coal, and some even enlisted in the Ottoman troops as warriors.

Origins and Ethnic Composition

Regarding the origins of the Romanian people and language, my personal opinion, based on available historical data and linguistic research, is that the original space was likely the lower valley of the Danube, mostly between Moldova Veche and Silistra, and also included the mountainous regions north and south of the Danube. Another possible source could be the Dacia Aureliana region, which is today part of the Timok region.

Factors Influencing Population Movements

Throughout history, the region has experienced repeated mass migrations, including Goths, Huns, Gepids, Vandals, Avars, Slavs, Bulgarians, Pechenegs, Cumans, and Tatars. These migrations likely pushed the proto-Romanians around the region, contributing to their nomadic and dispersed nature.

Modern Genetic Studies

While comprehensive DNA testing has not been done on the early populations that lived in what is now Romania, the available data, from a genetic point of view, indicates that modern Romanians are closely related to their Balkan neighbors. They also possess strong linkages to Celtic, German, Sarmatian, Scythic, Roman, and Greek ancient populations, with some even having ties to Hungarian, Kievan Rus, and even Ptolemaic Egypt. The Thracian and Dacian elements are minimal, as seen in the few genetic samples tested for comparison.