Romania and Moldova, migration mid‐19th century to present

AbstractRomania as a modern polity was created in 1859 when the medieval principalities of Walachia (the southern part of present‐day Romania) and western Moldova were united in a single state (the Old Kingdom). The eastern part of the medieval Moldovan principality (known also as Bessarabia) was formally annexed to Russia in 1812 and kept under Russian rule until 1918. After World War I Romania took control over eastern Moldova, and Transylvania (a historical principality, part of the Hungarian kingdom) was also incorporated (the Greater Romania). On the eve of World War II, the Romanian state lost control over northern Transylvania (where Hungarian rule was reinstated), and the Soviets took control for a short period over eastern Moldova. Following World War II, Romania regained control over the whole of Transylvania (present‐day Romania). Eastern Moldova became a Soviet socialist republic, proclaiming its independence in 1991.