Dobruja, or sometimes Dobrudja (Добруджа—transliterated Dobrudzha—in Bulgarian, Dobrogea in Romanian, Dobruca in Turkish, and Δοβρουτσά—transliterated Dovroutsá—in Greek), is an informal region shared by Bulgaria and Romania, located between the lower Danube river and the Black Sea, including the Danube Delta, Romanian coast and the northernmost part of the Bulgarian coast. Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian Bulgarian (български език IPA: ɛzˈik is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group Romanian or Daco-Romanian ( dated: Rumanian or Roumanian; self designation limba română, ˈlimba roˈmɨnə is a Romance Turkish ( tr Türkçe IPA) is a language spoken by over 63 million people worldwide making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania The Danube (In Donau from earlier Danuvius, Celtic *dānu, meaning "to flow run" Slovak and Polish Dunaj The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey The Danube Delta ( Romanian: Delta Dunării; Ukrainian: Дельта Дунаю Del'ta Dunaju) is the second largest delta Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania The Bulgarian Black Sea Riviera (Черноморие Chеrnomoriе) covers the entire eastern bound of Bulgaria stretching from the Romanian

The territory of Dobruja comprises Northern Dobruja, which is part of Romania, and Southern Dobruja, which belongs to Bulgaria. Northern Dobruja (Dobrogea Северна Добруджа Severna Dobrudzha) is the part of Dobruja within the borders of Romania. Southern Dobruja ( Южна Добруджа Yuzhna Dobrudzha in Bulgarian, Dobrogea de sud or Cadrilater in Romanian) The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian

The territory of the Romanian region Dobrogea is now organised as the counties of Constanţa and Tulcea, with a combined area of 15,500 km² and a population of slightly less than a million. Constanţa (kon'stanʦa is a county ( Judeţ) of Romania, in Dobruja, with the capital city at Constanţa. Tulcea (tulʧa is a county ( Judeţ) of Romania, in the historical region Dobruja, with the capital city at Tulcea. Main cities are Constanţa, Tulcea, Medgidia, and Mangalia. Constanţa (pronunciation in Romanian: /kon'stanʦa/ historical names Tomis, Κωνστάντια or Constantia, Köstence Tulcea ('tultʃe̯a Bulgarian, Russian, and Ukrainian: Тулча Tulcha; Turkish: Hora-Tepé or Tolçu Medgidia (medʤi'dia historical names Karasu or Carasu, Mecidiye or Megidie) is a city in Constanţa County, Dobruja, south-eastern Mangalia (man'galia Callatis Panglicara other historical names Pangalia, Tomisovara) is a city and a port on the Romanian coast of the Dobrogea is represented by dolphins in the coat of arms of Romania. Dolphins are Marine mammals that are closely related to Whales and Porpoises There are almost forty species of dolphin in seventeen genera. The Coat of arms of Romania was adopted in the Romanian Parliament on 10 September, 1992 as a representative coat of arms for Romania

The Bulgarian region of Dobrudzha, which is divided between the administrative regions of Dobrich and Silistra, has a total area of 7,565 km², and a combined population of some 350,000 people. Dobrich Province is a Province in northeastern Bulgaria. Municipalities and towns Dobrich Province is subdivided into the following municipalities Silistra Province is a province of Bulgaria, named for its main city Silistra.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Etymology 3 History 3.1 Prehistory 3.2 Ancient history 3.3 Roman rule 3.4 Byzantine rule 3.5 First Bulgarian Empire rule 3.6 Return of the Byzantine rule and late migrations. Second Bulgarian Empire and Mongol domination 3.7 Autonomous Dobruja. The wars against the Ottomans 3.8 Ottoman rule 3.9 Modern age 4 Demographic history 4.1 Northern Dobruja 4.2 Southern Dobruja 5 Area, population and cities 6 Notes 7 References

Geography

With the exception of the Danube Delta, a marshy region located in its northeastern corner, Dobruja is hilly, with an average altitude of about 200-300 meters. The Danube Delta ( Romanian: Delta Dunării; Ukrainian: Дельта Дунаю Del'ta Dunaju) is the second largest delta The highest point is in the Ţuţuiatu/Greci Peak in the Măcin Mountains, having a height of 467 m. The Măcin Mountains (Munţii Măcin is a Mountain range in Tulcea County, Dobrogea, Romania. The Dobrogea Plateau covers most of the Romanian part of Dobruja, while in the Bulgarian part the Ludogorie Plateau is found. The Dobrogea Plateau (Romanian Podişul Dobrogei) is a plateau in Eastern Romania located in the Dobruja region surrounded to the north and west by the Danube The Ludogorie (Лудогорие usually used with a definite article Лудогорието Ludogorieto) or Deliorman (Делиорман Deliorman all meaning Lake Siutghiol is one of the most important lakes in Northern Dobruja.

Etymology

The origin of the name of Dobruja could be found in the Turkish rendition of the name of a 14th century ruler, despot Dobrotitsa (دوبرجه). Despot (from δεσπότης despotēs; plural δέσποτες despotes; feminine δέσποινα despoina; in Bulgarian and Serbian Dobrotitsa (Добротица dɔˈbrɔtitsa Dobrotici or Dobrotiţă Τομπροτίτζας in contemporaneous Byzantine documents Dobrodicie in contemporaneous _l^[1] It was common for the Turks to name countries after one of their early rulers (for example, nearby Moldavia was known as Bogdan Iflak by the Turks, named after Bogdan I). Moldavia (Moldova is a geographic and historical region and former Principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between Eastern Carpathians Vlachs is a blanket term covering several modern Latin peoples descending from the Latinised population in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe Bogdan of Cuhea (or Bogdan-Vodă; Bogdan I of Moldavia) is the second founding-figure of the Principality of Moldavia, its ruler between

An alternative etymology was given by Gheorghe I. Brătianu, according to whom, its name is a Slavic derivation from a Turkic word (Bordjan or Brudjars) which referred to the Turkic Proto-Bulgarians, term also used by Arabic writers. Gheorghe (George I Brătianu ( February 3 1898 &ndash April 23-27 1953 was a Romanian politician and historian The Bulgars (also Bolgars or proto-Bulgarians) were a seminomadic people probably of Turkic descent originally from Central Asia,

Initially, the name meant just the steppe of the southern region, between the forests around Babadag in the north and the Silistra-Dobrich-Balchik line in the south,^[2] but eventually, the term was extended to include the northern part and the Danube Delta. Babadag (historical name Babadağ is a town in Tulcea county, Romania, located on a small lake formed by the Taiţa river, in the densely wooded Silistra (Силистра, historically Bulgarian: Дръстър Drastar, ( and Romanian: Dârstor) is a Port city of northeastern Dobrich (Добрич Bazargic is a town in northeastern Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Dobrich Province. Balchik (Балчик Balçık Κρουνοι Krounoi, Διονυσοπολις Dionysopolis; Balcic is a Black Sea coastal Town and The Danube Delta ( Romanian: Delta Dunării; Ukrainian: Дельта Дунаю Del'ta Dunaju) is the second largest delta ^[3] In the 19th century, some authors used the name to refer just to the territory between the southernmost branch of the Danube (St. George) in the north and the Carasu Valley (nowadays the Danube-Black Sea Canal) in the south. The Danube-Black Sea Canal (Canalul Dunăre-Marea Neagră is a Canal in Romania which runs from Cernavodă on the Danube to Agigea ^[4]

History

Prehistory

The territory of Dobruja has been inhabited since Middle and Upper Palaeolithic,^[5] as the remains at Babadag, Slava Rusă and Enisala prove. The Middle Paleolithic (or Middle Palaeolithic) is the second subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, The Upper Paleolithic (or Upper Palaeolithic) is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe Africa Babadag (historical name Babadağ is a town in Tulcea county, Romania, located on a small lake formed by the Taiţa river, in the densely wooded In the Neolithic, it was part of the Hamangia culture (named after a village on the Dobrujan coast), Boian culture and Karanovo V culture. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos Hamangia was a Middle Neolithic culture in Dobruja ( Romania and Bulgaria) to the right bank of the Danube in Muntenia and At the end of the fifth millennium BC, under the influence of some Aegeo-Mediterranean tribes and cultures, the Gumelniţa culture appeared in the region. The Karanovo culture is a neolithic culture (Karanovo I-III ca In the Eneolithic, populations migrating from the north of the Black Sea, of the Kurgan culture, mixed with the previous population, creating the Cernavodă I culture. The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos ' Copper stone' period or Copper Age period known as the '''Eneolithic''' ('''Æneolithic''' is a Kurgan (курга́н is the Russian word (of Turkic origin for a Tumulus, a type of Burial mound or barrow heaped over a Cernavoda culture, ca 4000 — 3200 BC a late copper age Archaeological culture of the lower Bug River and Danube located Under Kurgan II influence, the Cernavodă II culture emerged, and then, through the combination of the Cernavodă I and Ezero cultures, developed the Cernavodă III culture. The Ezero culture, 3300&mdash2700 BC was a Bronze Age Archaeological culture occupying most of present-day Bulgaria. The region had commercial contacts with the Mediterranean world since the 14th century BC, as a Mycenaean sword discovered at Medgidia proves. "Lion Gate" redirects here For other uses see Lions' Gate (disambiguation. Medgidia (medʤi'dia historical names Karasu or Carasu, Mecidiye or Megidie) is a city in Constanţa County, Dobruja, south-eastern ^[6]

Ancient history

During the early Iron Age, in the 8th–6th centuries BC the Geto-Dacians individualised from the large Thracian population. This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. The Getae ( Greek: Γέται singular Γέτης was the name given by the Greeks to several Thracian tribes that occupied the regions south of the The Dacian language was spoken by the ancient inhabitants of Dacia. "Thracians" also refers to modern inhabitants of Thrace, regardless of ethnicity In the second part of the 8th century BC, the first signs of commercial relations between indigenous population and Greeks appeared on the shore of the Halmyris Gulf (now the Sinoe Lake). Lake Sinoe is a Lagoon in Northern Dobruja, Romania, close to the Black Sea. In 657/656 BC colonists from Miletus founded the first colony in the region - Histria. Miletus (mī lē' təs ( Ancient Greek: Μίλητος literally Transliterated Milētos, Latin Miletus) was an Ancient Ancient Histria or Istros (Ιστριη Thracian river god, Danube was a Greek colony or polis (πολις city on the Black Sea coast ^[7] In the 7th and 6th centuries BC, more Greek colonies were founded on the Dobrujan coast (Callatis, Tomis, Mesembria, Dionysopolis, Parthenopolis, Aphrodisias, Eumenia etc). Colonies in antiquity were City-states founded from a mother- City Mangalia (man'galia Callatis Panglicara other historical names Pangalia, Tomisovara) is a city and a port on the Romanian coast of the Constanţa (pronunciation in Romanian: /kon'stanʦa/ historical names Tomis, Κωνστάντια or Constantia, Köstence Dionysopolis was a town in ancient Moesia at the place of the contemporary Black Sea port of Balchik. In the 5th century BC these colonies were under the influence of the Delian League, passing in this period from oligarchy to democracy. The Delian League was an association of approximately 150 5th-century BC Greek City-states under the leadership of Athens, whose purpose was to continue Oligarchy' ( Greek, Oligarkhía) is a Form of government where Political power effectively rests with a small elite segment Athenian democracy developed in the Greek City-state of Athens ^[8] Furthermore, in the 6th century BC, the first Scythian groups began to enter the region. The Scythians or Scyths (Σκύθες Σκύθοι were an Iranian speaking people of horse-riding Nomadic pastoralists who dominated the Pontic Two Getae tribes, the Crobyzi and Terizi, and the town of Orgame (Argamum) were mentioned on the territory of present Dobruja by Hekataios of Miletus (540–470 BC). The Getae ( Greek: Γέται singular Γέτης was the name given by the Greeks to several Thracian tribes that occupied the regions south of the ^[9]

In 514/512 BC King Darius I of Persia subdued the Getae living in the region during his expedition against Scythians living north of the Danube. Darius I the Great (c 549 BC&ndash486 BC 𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁 Dārayavahuš: "Possessing goodness" Having ascended to power amidst controversy and bloodshed The Getae ( Greek: Γέται singular Γέτης was the name given by the Greeks to several Thracian tribes that occupied the regions south of the ^[10] At about 430 BC, the Odrysian kingdom under Sitalkes extended its rule to the mouths of the Danube. The Odrysian kingdom was a union of Thracian tribes that endured between the 5th century BC and the 3rd century BC. Sitalces (reigned 431 - 424 BC was one of the great kings of the Thracian Odrysian state ^[11] In 429 BC, Getae from the region participated in an Odrysian campaign in Macedonia. Macedon or Macedonia ( Greek grc Μακεδονία grc-Latn Makedonía) was the name of a kingdom centered in the northern-most ^[12] In the 4th century BC, the Scythians brought Dobruja under their sway. In 341–339 BC, one of their kings, Atheas fought against Histria, which was supported by a Histrianorum rex (probably a local Getic ruler). In 339 BC, King Atheas was defeated by the Macedonians under King Philip II, who afterwards extended his rule over Dobruja. Macedon or Macedonia ( Greek grc Μακεδονία grc-Latn Makedonía) was the name of a kingdom centered in the northern-most Philip II of Macedon, ( Greek: Φίλιππος Β' ο Μακεδών &mdash φίλος = friend + ίππος = Horse ^[13]

In 313 BC and again in 310–309 BC the Greek colonies led by Callatis, supported by Antigonus I Monophthalmus, revolted against Macedonian rule. Antigonus I Monophthalmus ("the One-eyed" (382 BC - 301 BC son of Philip from Elimeia, was a Macedonian nobleman general and Satrap The revolts were suppressed by Lysimachus, the diadochus of Thracia, who also began a military expedition against Dromichaetes, the rulers of the Getae north of the Danube, in 300 BC. Lysimachus ( Greek: Λυσίμαχος Lysimachos; 360 BCE - 281 BCE was a Macedonian officer and diadochus (i The Diadochi (plural of Latin Diadochus, from Greek Διάδοχοι, Diadokhoi, "successors" were the rival successors Dromichaetes was ruler of the Getae on both sides of the lower Danube (present day Romania and Bulgaria) around 300 BC. In the 3rd century BC, colonies on the Dobrujan coast paid tribute to the basilei Zalmodegikos and Moskon, who probably ruled also northern Dobruja. "Basilissa" redirects here For the saint of this name see Julian and Basilissa. Moskon was a Getae king that ruled in the 3rd century BC the northern parts of Dobruja, probably being the head of a local tribal union which had close In the same century, Celts settled in the north of the region. Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts In 260 BC, Byzantion lost the war with Callatis and Histria for the control of Tomis. This article is about the city See also Byzantine Empire. Byzantium ( Greek: Βυζάντιον Latin: la BYZANTIVM At the end of the 3rd century BC and the beginning of the 2nd century BC, the Bastarnae settled in the area of the Danube Delta. The Bastarnae were an important ancient people of uncertain but probably mixed Germanic-Celtic-Sarmatian ethnic origin who lived between the Danube and the Dnieper (Strabo Geography Around 200 BC, the Thracian king Zoltes invaded the province several times, but was defeated by Rhemaxos, who became the protector of the Greek colonies. Zoltes was a chief of the southern Thracians, living in the Haemus mountains area Rhemaxos was an ancient king who ruled to the north of Danube around 200 BC and who was the protector of the Greek colonies in Dobruja, receiving

Around 100 BC King Mithridates VI of Pontus extended his authority over the Greek cities in Dobruja. See Mithridates for people and concepts with the same name Mithridates VI (Μιθριδάτης 132&ndash63 BC also known as Mithridates However, in 72–71 BC, during the Third Mithridatic War, these cities were occupied by the Roman proconsul of Macedonia, Marcus Terentius Varro Lucullus. The Third Mithridatic War ( 75 - 65 BC) was one of three Mithridatic Wars fought between Mithridates VI of Pontus and the Roman Republic The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Ancient Rome In the Roman Republic, a proconsul was a Promagistrate (like a Propraetor) who after serving as Consul, spent a year The Roman province of Macedonia was officially established in 146 BC, after the Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus defeated Andriscus of Macedon A foedus was signed between the Greek colonies and the Roman Empire, but in 62–61 BC the colonies revolted. Foederatus (pl foederati) is a Latin term whose definition and usage drifted in the time between the early Roman Republic and the The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Gaius Antonius Hybrida intervened, but was defeated by Getae and Bastarnae near Histria. Gaius Antonius Hybrida (flourished 2nd century BC & 1st century BC was a politician of the Roman Republic. After 55 BC the Dacians under King Burebista conquered Dobruja and all the Greek colonies on the coast, but their rule ended in 44 BC. The Dacians ( Lat Daci, Gr Dákai) were a Thracian people the ancient inhabitants of Dacia (located in the area Burebista, is widely considered to be the greatest king of Dacia.

Roman rule

In 28/29 BC Rholes, a Getic ruler from southern Dobruja, supported the proconsul of Macedonia, Marcus Licinius Crassus, in his action against the Bastarnae. The Getae ( Greek: Γέται singular Γέτης was the name given by the Greeks to several Thracian tribes that occupied the regions south of the Marcus Licinius Crassus ( Latin: M·LICINIVS·P·F·P·N·CRASSVS (ca The Bastarnae were an important ancient people of uncertain but probably mixed Germanic-Celtic-Sarmatian ethnic origin who lived between the Danube and the Dnieper (Strabo Geography Declared Socius et amicus Populi Romani by Octavianus,^[14] Rholes helped Crassus in conquering the states of Dapyx (in central Dobruja) and Zyraxes (in the north of the region). Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was Dapyx was a 1st century BC chieftain of a Getae tribe or a tribe union in Scythia Minor (nowadays in Dobruja) Zyraxes was a Getae king who ruled north Dobruja in the 1st century BC. ^[15] Dobruja became part of the client kingdom of the Odrysians, while the Greek cities on the coast came under direct rule of the governor of Macedonia. Client state is one of several terms used to describe the subordination of one state to a more powerful state in international affairs In 12 AD and 15 AD, Getic armies succeeded in conquering the cities of Aegyssus and Troesmis for a short time, but Odrysian king Rhoemetalces defeated them with the help of the Roman army. Tulcea ('tultʃe̯a Bulgarian, Russian, and Ukrainian: Тулча Tulcha; Turkish: Hora-Tepé or Tolçu Troesmis was an ancient town in Scythia Minor. It was situated in what is now Romania.

In 15 AD the Roman province of Moesia was created, but Dobruja, under the name Ripa Thraciae remained part of the Odrysian kingdom, while the Greek cities on the coast formed Praefectura orae maritimae. The Tropaeum Traiani is a monument in Adamclisi, Romania, built in 109 in then Moesia Inferior, to commemorate Roman Emperor 's Adamclisi (adamkli'si is a commune in Constanţa County, in the Dobrogea region of Romania. Moesia (Μοισία Moisía; Мизия Miziya; Moesia Мезија Mezija) was an ancient region and Roman province situated in the In 46 AD Thracia became a Roman province and the territories of present Dobruja were absorbed into the province of Moesia. The Geto-Dacians invaded the region several times in the 1st century AD, especially between 62 and 70. In the same period the base of the Roman Danube fleet (classis Flavia Moesica) was moved to Noviodunum. The Roman Navy ( Latin: Classis, lit "fleet" comprised the naval forces of the Roman state The praefectura was annexed to Moesia in 86 AD. In the same year Domitianus divided Moesia, Dobruja being included in the eastern part, Moesia Inferior. Domitianus (IMPERATOR CAESAR DOMITIANVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS "Imperator Caesar Domitianus Pious Fortunate Augustus" d

In the winter of 101–102 the Dacian king Decebalus led a coalition of Dacians, Carpians, Sarmatians and Burs in an attack against Moesia Inferior. Decebalus or "The Brave One" was a king of Dacia (originally named Diurpaneus &mdashruled the Dacians 87 – 106 and is famous for fighting three The Carpi or Carpians were a Dacian tribe that were originally located on the Eastern slopes of the Carpathian Mountains, in what is now Bacău County The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες The Burs were a Dacian tribe living in Dacia in the first and second centuries of the Common Era, with their capital city at Buridava The invading army was defeated by the Roman legions under Emperor Trajan on the Yantra river (later Nicopolis ad Istrum was founded there to commemorate the victory), and again near modern village of Adamclisi, in the southern part of Dobruja. Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus, commonly known as Trajan ( September 18 53 &ndash August 9 117) was a Roman Emperor who The Yantra (Янтра is a river in northern Bulgaria, a right tributary of the Danube. Adamclisi (adamkli'si is a commune in Constanţa County, in the Dobrogea region of Romania. The latter victory was commemorated by a monument, built in 109 on the spot and the founding of the city of Tropaeum. The Tropaeum Traiani is a monument in Adamclisi, Romania, built in 109 in then Moesia Inferior, to commemorate Roman Emperor 's After 105, Legio XI Claudia and Legio V Macedonica were moved to Dobruja, at Durostorum and Troesmis respectively. Legio XI Claudia Pia Fidelis ( faithful and loyal Claudian legion) was a Roman legion. Legio V Macedonica ("Macedonian" was a Roman legion. It was probably originally levied by Consul Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus and Silistra (Силистра, historically Bulgarian: Дръстър Drastar, ( and Romanian: Dârstor) is a Port city of northeastern

In 118 Hadrian intervened in the region to calm a Sarmatian rebellion. Publius Aelius Hadrianus (January 24 76 &ndash July 10 138 as emperor Imperator Caesar Divi Traiani filius Traianus Hadrianus Augustus, and Divus Hadrianus after In 170 Costoboci invaded Dobruja, attacking Libida, Ulmetum and Tropaeum. The Costoboci were a Dacian tribe which lived in the areas known today as Maramureş and south-western Ukraine. The province was generally stable and prosperous until the crisis of the Third Century, which led to the weakening of defences and numerous barbarian invasions. Crisis of the Third Century (or "Military Anarchy" or "Imperial Crisis" was the crumbling and near collapse of the Roman Empire between 235 In 248 a coalition of Goths, Carpians, Taifali, Bastarnae and Hasdingi, led by Argaithus and Guntheric devastated Dobruja. The Goths ( Gothic: Gothic usvg|14px|u]]Gothic asvg|14px|a]]Gothic s The Taifals, Taifali, Taifalae, Tayfals, or Theifali were a Barbarian people settled by the late Roman Empire in Poitou The Bastarnae were an important ancient people of uncertain but probably mixed Germanic-Celtic-Sarmatian ethnic origin who lived between the Danube and the Dnieper (Strabo Geography The Hasdingi were the southern tribes of the Vandals, an East Germanic tribe. ^[16] During the reign of Traianus Decius the province suffered greatly from the attack of Goths under King Cniva. Cniva ( Kniwa, meaning "knees" perhaps from a childhood nickname (flourished mid- 3rd century CE was the Gothic king who invaded the Roman ^[17] Barbarian attacks followed in 258, 263 and 267. In 269 a fleet of allied Goths, Heruli, Bastarnae and Sarmatians attacked the cities on the coast, including Tomis. The Heruli (spelled variously in Latin and Greek) were a nomadic Germanic people, who were subjugated by the Ostrogoths Huns and ^[18] In 272 Aurelianus defeated the Carpians north of the Danube and settled a part of them near Carsium. Lucius Domitius Aurelianus ( September 9, 214 or 215 &ndashSeptember or October 275 known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor (270&ndash275 Hârşova (also spelled Hîrşova; pronounced in Romanian: /'hɨr The same emperor put an end to the crisis in the Roman Empire, thus helping the reconstruction of the province.

During the reign of Diocletianus Dobruja became a separate province, Scythia, part of the Diocese of Thracia. Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus ( ca. December 22 244 The modern historian Timothy Barnes takes December 22 as his birthdate Scythia Minor, "Lesser Scythia" (Μικρά Σκυθία Mikrá Skythia) was in ancient times the region surrounded by the Danube at the north and In many rites of the Roman Catholic Church and in Anglican churches, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit administered by a Bishop. Its capital city was Tomis. Diocletianus also moved Legio II Herculia to Troesmis and Legio I Iovia to Noviodunum. In 331–332 Constantine the Great defeated the Goths who attacked the province. Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine Dobruja was devastated again by Ostrogoths in 384–386. The Ostrogoths (Ostrogothi or Austrogothi were a branch of the Goths, an East Germanic tribe that played a major role in the political events of the late Under the emperors Licinius, Julian the Apostate and Valens the cities of the region were repaired or rebuilt. For other Romans of this name see Licinius (gens. Valerius Licinianus Licinius (c Flavius Claudius Julianus, known also as Julian or Julian the Apostate (331 or 332 to 26 June 363) was Roman Emperor (Caesar This article is about the Roman Emperor For other people called Valens see Valens Flavius Julius Valens ( Latin: DOMINVS

Byzantine rule

After the division of the Roman Empire, Dobruja became part of the Eastern Roman Empire. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Between 513 and 520, the region participated in a revolt against Anastasius I. Flavius Anastasius (Φλάβιος Ἀναστάσιος or Anastasius I (Ἀναστάσιος Β΄ (c Its leader, Vitalianus, native of Zaldapa, in Southern Dobruja, defeated the Byzantine general Hypatius near Kaliakra. Hypatius (d 532 was a Byzantine noble of imperial descent who was positioned as commander in the east in the days of Justin I. Kaliakra (Калиакра historical names Thracian: Tirizis, Celigra Burun Capo Calacria Caliacra is a long and narrow headland in the Southern During Justin I's rule, Antes and Slavs invaded the region, but Germanus Justinus defeated them. Flavius Iustinus (c 450&ndash August 1, 527) known in English as Justin I, was an Byzantine Emperor (518&ndash527 who rose through the ranks Germanus (died 551 was a general of the Byzantine Empire and member of the Justinian Dynasty. In 529, the Gepid commander Mundus repelled a new invasion by Bulgars and Antes. The Gepids (Gepidae Gifðas ( Beowulf, Widsith) - possibly from * Gibiðos, "givers" or gepanta, see below were The Bulgars (also Bolgars or proto-Bulgarians) were a seminomadic people probably of Turkic descent originally from Central Asia, Kutrigurs and Avars invaded the region several times, until 561–562, when the Avars under Bayan were settled south of the Danube as foederati. The Caucasian Avars are a modern people of Caucasus, mainly of Dagestan. During the rule of Mauricius Tiberius, the Slavs devastated Dobruja, destroying the cities of Dorostolon, Zaldapa and Tropaeum. Flavius Mauricius Tiberius Augustus (Φλάβιος Μαυρίκιος Τιβέριος Αύγουστος Մավրիկ Mavrig; 539 &ndash November 27 In 591/593, Byzantine general Priscus tried to stop invasions, attacking and defeating the Slavs under Ardagast in the north of the province. In 602 during the mutiny of the Byzantine army in the Balkans, a large mass of Slavs crossed the Danube, settling south of the Danube. Dobruja remained under loose Byzantine control, and was reorganised during the reign of Constantine IV as Thema Scythia. Constantine IV ( Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Δ' Kōnstantinos IV) (652&ndash685 sometimes incorrectly called Pogonatos, "the Bearded" ^[19]

First Bulgarian Empire rule

The results of the archaeological researches indicate that Byzantine presence in Dobruja's mainland and on the banks of Danube lost weight in the end of the 6th century under the pressure of the Migration Period. The Migration Period, also called Barbarian Invasions, or sometimes Völkerwanderung ( German for "wandering of peoples" is the English name In the coastal fortifications on the southern bank of Danube latest Byzantine coin finds date from the time of the emperors Tiberius II Constantine (574-582) and Heraclius (610-641). Flavius Tiberius Constantinus Augustus or Tiberius II Constantine (c Heraclius, or Herakleios (Flavius Heraclius Augustus;) (c 575 - February 11, 641) was a Byzantine Emperor, who ruled the East ^[20] After that period all inland Byzantine cities were demolished and abandoned. ^[21] On the other hand, some of the earliest Slavic settlements to the south of Danube were discovered in Dobruja, near the villages of Popina, Gărvan, and Nova Cherna, and were dated to the end of the 6th and the beginning of the 7th centuries. ^[22] These lands became the main zone of compact Bulgar settlement in the end of 7th century. ^[23]

According to the peace treaty of 681, signed after the Bulgarian victory over Byzantines in the Battle of Ongala, Dobruja became part of the First Bulgarian Empire. Events By Place Byzantine Empire The Bulgars win the war with the Byzantine Empire; the latter signs a peace treaty which The Battle of Ongal took place in the summer of 680 in the Ongal area an unspecified location in South-Western Ukraine or North-Eastern Romania around The First Bulgarian Empire (Първo Българско царство Părvo Bălgarsko Tsarstvo) was a Medieval Bulgarian state founded in AD 632 ^[24] Shortly after, Bulgars founded near the southern border of Dobruja the city of Pliska, which became the first Bulgarian capital^[25] and rebuilt Madara as major Bulgarian pagan religious centre. The Bulgars (also Bolgars or proto-Bulgarians) were a seminomadic people probably of Turkic descent originally from Central Asia, For the ancient battle see Battle of Pliska Pliska (Плиска is the name of both the first capital of Danubian Bulgaria and a small ^[26] According to the Bulgarian Apocryphal Chronicle, from the 11th century, Bulgarian Tsar Ispor "accepted the Bulgarian tsardom", created "great cities, Drastar on the Danube", "great wall from Danube to the sea", "the city of Pliska" and "populated the lands of Karvuna". Asparuh or Isperih ( Bulgarian: Аспарух, Asparuh or Исперих, Isperih) was ruler of a Bulgar tribe Silistra (Силистра, historically Bulgarian: Дръстър Drastar, ( and Romanian: Dârstor) is a Port city of northeastern For the ancient battle see Battle of Pliska Pliska (Плиска is the name of both the first capital of Danubian Bulgaria and a small Kavarna (Каварна Cavarna Karvuna black diamond) is a Black Sea coastal town and seaside resort in the Dobruja region of northeastern ^[27] According to Bulgarian historians, during the 7th-10th centuries, the region was embraced by a large net of earthen and wooden strongholds and ramparts. ^[28] Around the end of the 8th century, wide building of new stone fortresses and defensive walls began. ^[29] This account is disputed by Romanian historians, who base their position on the construction system and archaeological evidence. Some of the ruined Byzantine fortresses were reconstructed as well (Kaliakra and Silistra in 8th century, Madara and Varna in 9th). ^[30] According to some authors, during the following three centuries of Bulgarian domination, Byzantines still controlled the Black Sea coast and the mouths of Danube, and for short periods, even some cities. ^[31] However, according to Bulgarian archaeologists, the last coins, considered a proof of Byzantine presence, date in Kaliakra from the time of Emperor Justin II (565-578),^[32] in Varna from the time of Emperor Heraclius (610-641)^[33] and in Tomis from Constantine IV's rule (668–685). Kaliakra (Калиакра historical names Thracian: Tirizis, Celigra Burun Capo Calacria Caliacra is a long and narrow headland in the Southern Flavius Iustinus (Iunior Augustus (c 520 - 578 was Eastern Roman emperor from 565 to 578 Varna (Варна is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv Heraclius, or Herakleios (Flavius Heraclius Augustus;) (c 575 - February 11, 641) was a Byzantine Emperor, who ruled the East Constantine IV ( Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Δ' Kōnstantinos IV) (652&ndash685 sometimes incorrectly called Pogonatos, "the Bearded" ^[34]

At the beginning of the 8th century, Justinian II visited Dobruja to ask Bulgarian Khan Tervel for military help. Justinian II (Ιουστινιανός Β΄ Ioustinianos II; 669&ndashDecember 711 known as Rinotmetos or Rhinotmetus (Ρινότμητος Tervel (Тервел also called Tarvel, or Terval, or Terbelis in some Byzantine sources was the ruler of the Bulgars at the beginning Khan Omurtag (815-831) built a "glorious home on Danube" and erected a mound in the middle of the distance between Pliska and his new building according to his inscription kept in SS. Forty Martyrs Church in Veliko Tarnovo. The SS Forty Martyrs Church (църква "Св Четиридесет мъченици" tsarkva "Sv Veliko Tarnovo (Велико Търново sometimes transliterated as Veliko Turnovo) is a city in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of The location of this edifice is unclear; the main theories place it at Silistra or at Păcuiul lui Soare. ^[35] Many early medieval Bulgar stone inscriptions were found in Dobruja, including historical narratives, inventories of armament or buildings and commemorative texts. ^[36] During this period Silistra became an important Bulgarian ecclesiastical centre - an episcopate after 865 and seat of the Bulgarian Patriarch at the end of 10th century. ^[37] In 895, Magyar tribes from Budjak invaded Dobruja and northeastern Bulgaria. Hungarians (or Magyars, magyarok are an Ethnic group primarily associated with Hungary. Budjak or Budzhak is a historical region in the Odessa Oblast (province of Ukraine. An old Slavic inscription, found at Mircea-Vodă, mentions Zhupan Dimitri (Дѣимитрѣ жѹпанѣ), a local feudal landlord in the south of the region in 943. ^[38]

Return of the Byzantine rule and late migrations. Second Bulgarian Empire and Mongol domination

On Nicephoros II Phocas demand, Sviatoslav I of Kiev occupied Dobruja in 968. Sviatoslav I of Kiev ( Old East Slavic: С~тославъ (Свąтославъ Игорєвичь ( Sventoslavŭ Igorevichǐ) Russian: ru Святослав He also moved the capital of Kievan Rus' to Pereyaslavets, in the north of the region. Kievan Rus′ (Ки́евская Русь romanised: Kievskaya Rus', rusʲ also written as Kyivan Rus′ (Ки́ївська Русь or Kievan Pereyaslavets (Переяславец East Slavic from or Preslavets (Преславец Bulgarian form was a trade city located at the mouth of the However, Byzantines under John I Tzimisces reconquered it in 971^[39] and included it in the Thema Μεσοποταμια της Δυσεον (Mesopotamia of the West). John I Tzimiskes or Tzimisces, (Ιωάννης Α΄ Τζιμισκής Iōannēs I Tzimiskēs; Հովհաննես Ա Չմշկիկ Hovhannes Ayp Chmshgig According to some historians soon after 976^[40] or in 986, the southern part of Dobruja was included in the Bulgarian state of Samuil, while the northern part remained under Byzantine rule, being reorganised in an autonomous klimata. The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian ^[41][42] According to other theories, Northern Dobruja was reconquered by Bulgarians as well. ^[43] In 1000, a Byzantine army commanded by Theodorokanos reconquered the whole Dobruja,^[44] organizing the region as Strategia of Dorostolon and, after 1020, as Thema Paristrion (Paradunavon). For the board game see Stratego. "Strategus" redirects here Silistra (Силистра, historically Bulgarian: Дръстър Drastar, ( and Romanian: Dârstor) is a Port city of northeastern To prevent mounted attacks from the north, the Byzantines constructed three ramparts from the Black Sea down to the Danube, in the 10th–11th centuries. Trajan's Wall ( Valul lui Traian in Romanian) is a complex of valla in Eastern Europe: in Romania, Moldova and Ukraine ^[45][46] However, according to the Bulgarian archaeologists and historians, these fortifications are earlier, and were erected by the First Bulgarian Empire in connection with the threat of Khazars' raids. "Kazar" redirects here for the Marvel Comics character see Ka-Zar; for the village in Azerbaijan see Xəzər. ^[47][48]

Beginning with the 10th century, Byzantines accepted the settling of small groups of Pechenegs in Dobruja. The Pechenegs or Patzinaks ( Turkish: Peçenekler, Hungarian: Besenyő, Greek: Patzinaki/Petsenegi or Πατζινάκοι/Πετσενέγοι/Πατζινακίται ^[49] In the spring of 1036, an invasion of the Pechenegs devastated large parts of the region,^[50] destroying the forts at Capidava and Dervent and burning the settlement in Dinogeţia. In 1046 the Byzantines accepted the settling of Pechenegs under Kegen in Paristrion as foederati. ^[51] They established some form of domination until 1059, when Isaac I Comnenus reconquered Dobruja. Isaac I Komnenos or Comnenus ( Greek: Ισαάκιος Α΄ Κομνηνός Isaakios I Komninos; Սահակ Ա Կոմնինոս Sahag Ayp Gomninos In 1064, the great invasion of the Uzes affected the region. The Oghuz (variously known as Ghuzz, Guozz, Kuz, Oguz, Oğuz, Okuz, Oufoi, Ouz, Ouzoi, In 1072–1074, when Nestor, the new strategus of Paristrion, came to Dristra, he found a ruler in rebellion there, Tatrys. In 1091, three autonomous, probably Pecheneg,^[52] rulers were mentioned in the Alexiad: Tatos (Τατοῦ) or Chalis (χαλῆ), in the area of Dristra (probably the same as Tatrys)^[53], and Sesthlav (Σεσθλάβου) and Satza (Σατζά) in the area of Vicina. The Alexiad (original Greek title: Αλεξιάς) is a Medieval biographical text written around the year 1148 by the Byzantine historian Silistra (Силистра, historically Bulgarian: Дръстър Drastar, ( and Romanian: Dârstor) is a Port city of northeastern ^[54]

Cumans came in Dobruja in 1094 and maintained an important role until the advent of the Ottoman Empire. Cumans (Кумани Byzantine: Kuman or Cuman, Kunok Turkic: Kumanlar) were a nomadic Turkic people who inhabited a The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish ^[55] In 1187 the Byzantines lost what is now Dobruja to the resorted Bulgarian Empire. ^[56] In 1241, the first Tatar groups, under Kadan, invaded Dobruja starting a century long history of turmoil in the region. Tatars ( Tatar: Tatarlar/Татарлар sometimes spelled Tartars, are a Turkic -speaking ethnic group or multiple ethnic groups ^[57] In 1263–1264, Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus gave permission to Sultan Kaykaus II to settle in the area with a group of Seljuk Turks from Anatolia. Michael VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus ( Greek: Μιχαήλ Η΄ Παλαιολόγος Mikhaēl VIII Palaiologos) (1223 &ndash December 11 Sultan (سلطان is an Islamic title with several historical meanings Kaykaus II or Kayka'us II ( Arabic / 'Izz al-Dīn Kaykā'ũs bin Kaykhusraw II Anatolia (Anadolu Ανατολία Anatolía) or Asia minor, comprising most of modern Turkey, is the geographic region bounded by the Black ^[58] A missionary Turkish mystic, Sarı Saltuk, was the spiritual leader of this group;^[59] his tomb in Babadag (which was named after him)^[60] is still a place of pilgrimage for the Muslims. Sari Saltik (Sarı Saltuk Ottoman Turkish: ota-Latn ''Ṣar{{Unicode ı̊}} Ṣalt{{Unicode ı̊}}q'' also referred as Sari Saltuk Baba or Dede) (d Babadag (historical name Babadağ is a town in Tulcea county, Romania, located on a small lake formed by the Taiţa river, in the densely wooded That happened during the campaign of Michael Glava Tarhaniotes against Bulgaria. ^[61] A part of these Turks returned to Anatolia in 1307, while those who remained became Christianised and adopted the name Gagauz. ^[62][63] In the 1265 the Bulgarian Emperor Constantine Tikh Asen hired 20,000 Tatar to cross the Danube and attack Byzantine Thrace. Constantine I ( Bulgarian: Константин I Konstantin I, called Константин Тих Konstantin Tih (Tikh which includes the shortened Thrace (Тракия Trakiya or "Trakija" or Trakia, Θράκη Thráki, Trakya is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe ^[64][65] On their way back the Tatars forced most of the Seldjuk Turks including their chief Sarı Saltuk to resettle in Kipchak (Cumania). ^[66][67] In the second part of the thirteenth century, the Turkic-Mongolian Golden Horde Empire continuously raided and plundered Dobruja. This article refers to the medieval Turkic state For the Irish rock band see The Golden Horde (band. ^[68] The incapability of the Bulgarian authorities to cope with the numerous raids became the main reason for the uprising of Ivailo (1277-1280) which broke out in eastern Bulgaria. Ivailo (Ивайло nicknamed Bărdokva ("radish" or "lettuce" or Lakhanas in Greek ("cabbage" was a rebel leader in Bulgaria ^[69] Ivailo's army defeated the Tatars who were forced to leave the Bulgarian territory^[70], then routed Constantin Tukh's army and Ivailo was crowned Emperor of Bulgaria. The war with the Tatar, however, raged - in 1278 after a new Tatar invasion in Dobruja Ivailo was forced to retreat to the strong fortress of Silistra in which he withstood a three-month siege. ^[71] In 1280 the Bulgarian nobility which feared the growing influence of the peasant Emperor organised a coup and Ivailo had to flee to his enemy the Tatar Nogai Khan who later killed him. Nogai Khan (died 1299 also called Kara Nogai (Black Nogai was a General and de facto ruler of the Golden Horde and a great-grandson of Genghis ^[72] In 1300 the new Khan of the Golden Horde Toqta ceded Bessarabia to Emperor Theodore Svetoslav. Tokhta ( Toqta, Tokhtai,or Tokhtogha) (Тохтога (? - c 1312 was a khan of the Golden Horde, son of Mengu-Timur Bessarabia ( Basarabia in Romanian, Бесарабія in Ukrainian, Бессарабия in Russian, Бесарабия in Bulgarian Theodore Svetoslav ( Bulgarian: Тодор Светослав Todor Svetoslav and also Теодор Светослав Teodor Svetoslav) ruled as emperor ^[73]

Autonomous Dobruja. The wars against the Ottomans

Main article: Principality of Karvuna

In 1325, the Ecumenical Patriarch nominated a certain Methodius Metropolitan of Varna and Carvona. The Principality of Karvuna (Добруджанско деспотство or Карвунско деспотство Ţara Cărvunei was a 14th-century quasi-independent state in the "Patriarch of Constantinople" redirects here For the institutional church itself see Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. ^[74] After this date, a local ruler, Balik/Balica,^[75] is mentioned in Southern Dobruja. In 1346, he supported John V Palaeologus in the dispute for the Byzantine throne with John VI Cantacuzenus by sending an army corps under his son Dobrotitsa/Dobrotici and his brother, Theodore, to help the mother of John Palaeologus, Anna of Savoy. John V Palaiologos or Palaeologus ( Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος, Iōannēs V Palaiologos) ( 18 June, 1332 &ndash John VI Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzene ( Greek: Ιωάννης ΣΤ΄ Καντακουζηνός Iōannēs VI Kantakouzēnos) (c Dobrotitsa (Добротица dɔˈbrɔtitsa Dobrotici or Dobrotiţă Τομπροτίτζας in contemporaneous Byzantine documents Dobrodicie in contemporaneous For his bravery, Dobrotitsa/Dobrotici received the title of strategus and married the daughter of megadux Apokaukos. The megas doux (μέγας δούξ " Grand Duke " was one of the highest positions in the hierarchy of the later Byzantine Empire. ^[76] After the reconciliation of the two pretenders, a territorial dispute broke out between the Dobrujan State and the Byzantine Empire for the port of Midia. ^[77] In 1347, on John V Palaeologus' demand, Emir Bahud-din Umur, Bey of Aydin, led a naval expedition against Balik/Balica, destroying Dobruja's seaports. Emir ( Arabic: ar أمير;, female أميرة; emira;) ( Farsi and Urdu: امیر) Bey is a Turkish title for "chieftain" traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups Aidın (Αϊδίνιο is a city in and the seat of Aydın Province in Turkey 's Aegean Region. Balik/Balica and Theodore died during the confrontations, Dobrotitsa/Dobrotici becoming the new ruler. ^[78]

Between 1352 and 1359, with the fall of Golden Horde rule in Northern Dobruja, a new state appeared, under Tatar prince Demetrius, who claimed to be the protector of the mouths of the Danube. Tatars ( Tatar: Tatarlar/Татарлар sometimes spelled Tartars, are a Turkic -speaking ethnic group or multiple ethnic groups ^[79]

In 1357 Dobrotitsa/Dobrotici was mentioned as a despot ruling over a large territory, including the fortresses of Varna, Kozeakos (near Obzor) and Emona. Varna (Варна is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv Obzor (Обзор Naulochos Tetranaulochos Latin: Naulochus, Tetranaulochus, or Templum Iovis) is a Town and seaside Emona (Aemon is a Village and seaside resort in southeast Bulgaria, situated in Obshtina Nessebar in Burgas Province. ^[80] In the same year, with the help of John V Palaeologus, he took Anhialos and Mesembria from Ivan Alexander, Tsar of Tarnovo. Pomorie (Поморие formerly known as Αγχίαλος Anchialos in Greek, Anchialus in Latin, Tuthom in Bulgar and Nesebar (ˈneseʙɑːr Bulgarian: Несебър Nesebăr, Thracian: Menebria Greek: Μεσημβρια Mesimvria, previously Ivan Alexander (Иван Александър transliterated Ivan Aleksandǎr; iˈvan alɛkˈsandɤr original spelling ІѠАНЪ АЛЄѮАНдРЪ Tsar csar and tzar redirect here For other uses see Tsar (disambiguation. Veliko Tarnovo (Велико Търново sometimes transliterated as Veliko Turnovo) is a city in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of In 1366, John V Palaeologus visited Rome and Buda, trying to gather support for a campaign in Dobruja, but on the way home was captured by Dobrotitsa/Dobrotici and was imprisoned at Varna. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Buda ( German: Ofen, Croatian: Budim, Slovak / Czech: Budín, Serbian: Будим or A crusade under Amadeus VI of Savoy, supported by Venice and Genoa, was initiated to free the Byzantine emperor. Amadeus VI ( January 4 1334 &ndash March 1 1383) surnamed the Green Count (Il Conte Verde was Count of Savoy from Venice ( Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venesia or Venexia) is a city in Northern Italy, the capital of the Genoa ( Genova, ˈdʒɛːnova in Italian; Zena in Genoese and Ligurian; Genua in Latin and archaically in English

After the crusaders conquered some Dobrujan forts, Dobrotitsa/Dobrotici freed John and negotiated peace, his daughter marrying the son of John Palaeologus, Michael. In 1368, after the death of Demetrius, he was recognised as ruler by Pangalia and other cities on the right bank of the Danube. Mangalia (man'galia Callatis Panglicara other historical names Pangalia, Tomisovara) is a city and a port on the Romanian coast of the In 1369, together with Vladislav I of Wallachia, Dobrotitsa/Dobrotici helped Prince Stratsimir to win back the throne of Vidin. Vladislav I (Владислав I of the Basarab dynasty, also known as Vlaicu-Vodă was a ruler of the Principality of Wallachia (an area in Ivan Sratsimir or Ivan Stratsimir (Иван Срацимир was emperor ( Tsar) of Bulgaria in Vidin from 1356 to 1397 Vidin (Видин is a town on the southern bank of the Danube in northwestern Bulgaria.

Between 1370 and 1375, allied with Venice, he challenged Genoese power in the Black Sea. Venice ( Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venesia or Venexia) is a city in Northern Italy, the capital of the The Most Serene Republic of Genoa (Repubblica di Genova was an independent state in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast from the 11th century In 1376, he tried to impose his son-in law, Michael, as Emperor of Trebizond, but achieved no success. The Empire of Trebizond ( was a Byzantine Greek successor state of the Byzantine Empire founded in 1204 as a result of the capture of Constantinople Dobrotitsa/Dobrotici supported John V Palaeologus against his son Andronicus IV Palaeologus. Andronikos IV Palaiologos or Andronicus IV Palaeologus ( Greek: Ανδρόνικος Δ' Παλαιολόγος Andronikos IV Paleologos, April 2 In 1379, the Dobrujan fleet participated in the blockade of Constantinople, fighting with the Genoese fleet. Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS

In 1386, Dobrotitsa/Dobrotici died and was succeeded by Ivanko/Ioankos, who in the same year accepted a peace with Murad I and in 1387 signed a commercial treaty with Genoa. Murad I (nick-named Hüdavendigâr - from Khodāvandgār - "the God-like One" (I Ivanko/Ioankos was killed in 1388 during the expedition of Grand Vizier Çandarli Ali Pasha against Tarnovo and Dristra. This is the list of Grand Viziers of the Ottoman Empire. See also Ottoman Empire Silistra (Силистра, historically Bulgarian: Дръстър Drastar, ( and Romanian: Dârstor) is a Port city of northeastern The expedition brought most of the Dobrujan forts under Turkish rule.

In 1388/1389 Dobruja (Terrae Dobrodicii - as mentioned in a document from 1390) and Dristra (Dârstor) came under the control of Mircea the Elder, ruler of Wallachia, who defeated the Grand Vizier. Mircea the Elder ( cel Bătrân; reigned 1386 – 1418 was one of the most important rulers of Wallachia. This article is about the region in what is now Southern Romania

Bayezid I conquered the southern part of the territory in 1393, attacking Mircea one year later, but without success. Bayezid I ( Ottoman: بايزيد الأول Turkish: Beyazıt, nicknamed Yıldırım (Ottoman ییلدیرم "the Thunderbolt" Moreover, in the spring of 1395 Mircea regained the lost Dobrujan territories, with the help of its Hungarian allies. Mircea the Elder ( cel Bătrân; reigned 1386 – 1418 was one of the most important rulers of Wallachia. Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic The third Ottoman occupation of Dobruja lasted from 1397 to 1404, although in 1401 Mircea heavily defeated an Ottoman army.

The defeat of Sultan Beyazid I by Timur Lenk (Tamerlane) at Ankara in 1402 opened a period of anarchy in the Ottoman Empire. Bayezid I ( Ottoman: بايزيد الأول Turkish: Beyazıt, nicknamed Yıldırım (Ottoman ییلدیرم "the Thunderbolt" Timur also written Emir Timur or Amir Temur ( Chagatai: تیمور - Tēmōr " Iron " (1336 – 19 February 1405 among Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after İstanbul. Mircea took advantage of it to organise a new anti-Ottoman campaign: in 1403, he occupied the Genovese fort of Kilia at the mouths of the Danube, thus being able, in 1404, to impose his authority on Dobruja. Chilia Veche (pronunciation /ki'lia 'veke/ meaning Older Chilia; Ukrainian: Stara Kilia; also formerly Licostomo, Kiliya Veki In 1416, Mircea supported the revolt against Sultan Mehmed I, led by Sheik Bedreddin in the area of Deliorman, in Southern Dobruja. The Ottoman Dynasty (or the Imperial House of Osman) ( Turkish: Osmanlı Hanedanı) ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1299 to 1922 beginning with Mehmed I Çelebi ( Ottoman: چلبی محمد IMehmet or Çelebi Mehmet) (1389 May 26 1421 Edirne, Turkey) was a sultan of the Sheikh Bedrettin ( 1359 - 1420) was a revolutionary theologian and charismatic preacher who led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in 1416. ^[81]

After his death in 1418, his son Mihail I fought against the amplified Ottoman attacks, eventually losing his life in a battle in 1420. Michael I (in Romanian, Mihail; died August 1420 was a Voivode (nobleman of the Principality of Wallachia (1418-1420 That year, the Sultan Mehmed I personally conducted the definitive conquest of Dobruja by the Turks. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish Wallachia kept only the mouths of the Danube, and not for long time. This article is about the region in what is now Southern Romania

In the late 14th century, German traveller Johann Schiltberger described these lands as follows:^[82] -

“

I was in three regions, and all three were called Bulgaria. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Johann ( Hans) Schiltberger ( May 9, 1381 &ndash c 1440 was a German traveller and Writer. [. . . ] The third Bulgaria is there, where the Danube flows into the sea. The Danube (In Donau from earlier Danuvius, Celtic *dānu, meaning "to flow run" Slovak and Polish Dunaj The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey Its capital is called Kaliakra.

”

Ottoman rule

Occupied by the Turks in 1420, the region remained under Ottoman control until the late 19th century. Initially, it was organised as an udj (border province), included in the sanjak of Silistra, part of the Vilayet of Rumelia. Sanjak and Sandjak (other variants sinjaq sanjaq) are the most common English transcriptions of the Turkish word sancak Rumelia or Rumeli ( Turkish: Rumeli ("Land of the Romans" from Rum: "Greek" "Roman" and El Later, during Murad II or Suleyman I, the sanjak of Silistra and surrounding territories became a separate Vilayet. Murad II ( June 1404 Amasya February 3, 1451, Edirne) ( Ottoman Turkish: مراد ثانى Murād-ı sānī Suleiman I (سليمان Sulaymān, Süleyman almost always Kanuni Sultan Süleyman) ( 6 November 1494 5/ 6 September 1566 Silistra Province ( Turkish: Silistre Eyaleti) sometimes called Özi Province was an Eyalet of the Ottoman Empire along ^[83] In 1555, a revolt led by the "false" (düzme) Mustafa, a pretender to the Turkish throne, broke out against Ottoman administration in Rumelia and rapidly spread to Dobruja, but was repressed by the beylerbey of Nigbolu. Rumelia or Rumeli ( Turkish: Rumeli ("Land of the Romans" from Rum: "Greek" "Roman" and El " Beylerbeyi " redirects here Beylerbey (from Beylerbeyi, Ottoman Turkish for " Bey of Beys" meaning "Commander Nikopol (Никопол historically Νικόπολις Nicopolis is a town in northern Bulgaria, part of Pleven Province, on the right bank of the Danube ^[84][85] In 1603 and 1612, the region suffered from the forays of Cossacks, who burnt down Isaķči and plundered Küstendje. Constanţa (pronunciation in Romanian: /kon'stanʦa/ historical names Tomis, Κωνστάντια or Constantia, Köstence The Russian empire occupied Dobruja several times during the Russo-Turkish Wars — in 1771–1774, 1790–1791, 1809–1810, 1829 and 1853. Russo-Turkish War may refer to one of the following conflicts between Imperial Russia and the Ottoman Empire: Russo-Turkish War (1568–1570 The most violent invasion was that of 1829, which depopulated numerous villages and towns. The Treaty of Adrianople of 1829 ceded the Danube Delta to the Russian Empire. The Peace Treaty of Adrianople (also called the Treaty of Edirne) concluded the Russo-Turkish War 1828-1829 between Russia and the Ottoman Empire The Danube Delta ( Romanian: Delta Dunării; Ukrainian: Дельта Дунаю Del'ta Dunaju) is the second largest delta The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya However, Russians were forced to return it to the Ottomans in 1856, after The Crimean War. The Crimean War, also known in Russia as the Eastern War (Восточная война Vostochnaya Vojna) (March 1854–February 1856 was fought In 1864 Dobruja was included in the vilayet of Tuna. The Danube Province (Tuna Vilayeti was a Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire from 1864 to 1878.

During Ottoman rule, groups of Turks, Arabs and Tatars settled in the region, the latter especially between 1512 and 1514. The Turkish people (Türk Halkı also known as " Turks " ( Türkler) are defined mainly as being speakers of Turkish as a First language The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding During the reign of Peter I of Russia and Catherine the Great, Lipovans immigrated in the region of the Danube Delta. Catherine II, called Catherine the Great (Екатерина II Великая Yekaterina II Velikaya;) reigned as Empress of Russia for 34 years Lipovans or Lippovans (Lipoveni Липовани Липоване липованци are the Old Believers, mostly of Russian ethnic origin who settled After the destruction of Zaporozhian Sich in 1775, Cossacks were settled in the area north of Lake Razim by the Turkish authorities (were they founded the Danubian Sich), but they were forced to leave Dobruja in 1828. Zaporizhian Sich (Запорізька Січ Zaporiz'ka Sich) original Slavonic name "Zaporizhska Sich'" was the center of the Dnieper Cossacks The Cossacks (Каза́ки́ Kazaki; Козаки́ Kozaki; Kozacy are a group of martial people living in the southern Steppe regions of Eastern The Danubian Sich (Задунайська Сiч Задунайская Сечь was a fortified settlement ( Sich) of Zaporozhian Cossacks who settled In the second part of the nineteenth century, Ruthenians from the Austrian Empire also settled in the Danube Delta. The term Ruthenians (Русини Rusyny) is a culturally loaded term and has different meanings according to the context in which it is used For the history of these states before 1804 see Holy Roman Empire, Habsburg Monarchy, and articles on each of the component countries. After the Crimean War, a large number of Tatars were forcibly driven away from Crimea, immigrating to then-Ottoman Dobruja and settling mainly in the Karasu Valley in the centre of the region and around Bābā Dāgh. The Crimean War, also known in Russia as the Eastern War (Восточная война Vostochnaya Vojna) (March 1854–February 1856 was fought Crimean Tatars (sg Qırımtatar, pl Qırımtatarlar) or Crimeans (sg Crimea (kraɪˈmiːə or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Крим Автономна Республіка Крим Avtonomna Respublika Krym; Крым Babadag (historical name Babadağ is a town in Tulcea county, Romania, located on a small lake formed by the Taiţa river, in the densely wooded In 1864, Cherkess fleeing from the Russian invasion of the Caucasus were settled in the wooded region near Bābā Dāgh. Circassians is a term derived from the Turkic Cherkess ( Çerkes) and is not the self-designation of any people The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East Germans from Bessarabia also founded colonies in Dobruja between 1840 and 1892. The Dobrujan Germans ( Germ. Dobrudschadeutsche) were an Ethnic German group within the larger category of Black Sea Germans, for over one Bessarabia ( Basarabia in Romanian, Бесарабія in Ukrainian, Бессарабия in Russian, Бесарабия in Bulgarian

According to Bulgarian historian Liubomir Miletich, most Bulgarians living in Dobruja in 1900 were nineteenth century settlers or their descendants. Lyubomir Miletich (Любомир Милетич ( 14 January 1863  – 1 June 1937) was a leading Bulgarian linguist ethnographer ^[86][87] In 1850, the scholar Ion Ionescu de la Brad, wrote in a study on Dobruja, ordered by the Ottoman government, that Bulgarians came to the region "in the last twenty year or so". Ion Ionescu de la Brad ( June 24, 1818 &ndash December 16, 1891) born Ion Isăcescu, was a Moldavian born Romanian ^[88] According to his study, there were 2,285 Bulgarian families (out of 8,194 Christian families) in the region,^[89] 1,194 of them in Northern Dobruja. ^[90] Liubomir Miletich puts the number of Bulgarian families in Northern Dobruja in the same year at 2,097. ^[91] According to the statistics of the Bulgarian Exarchate, before 1877 there were 9,324 Bulgarian families out of totally 12,364 Christian families in the Northern Dobruja. The Bulgarian Exarchate (Българска екзархия Bylgarska ekzarkhia) was the official name of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church before its Autocephaly ^[92] According to Russian knyaz Vladimir Cherkassky, chief of the Provisional Russian government in Bulgaria in 1877-1878, the Bulgarian population in Dobruja was larger than the Romanian one. Kniaz’ or knyaz is a word found in some Slavic languages, denoting a Nobility rank ^[93] However, count Shuvalov, the Russian representative to the Congress of Berlin, stated that Romania deserved Dobruja "more than anybody else, because of its population". See also Berlin Conference (1884-85 re Africa and Berlin Conference of 1954 (Cold War ^[94] In 1878, the statistics of the Russian governor of Dobruja, Bieloserkovitsch, showed a number of 4,750 Bulgarian "family chiefs" (out of 14,612 Christian family chiefs) in the northern half of the region. ^[90]

The Christian religious organisation of the region was put under the authority of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church by a firman of the Sultan, promulgated on February 28, 1870. The Bulgarian Exarchate (Българска екзархия Bylgarska ekzarkhia) was the official name of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church before its Autocephaly A firman is a royal mandate or decree issued by a sovereign in certain historical Islamic states including the Ottoman Empire, Mughal Empire, and Iran The Ottoman Dynasty (or the Imperial House of Osman) ( Turkish: Osmanlı Hanedanı) ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1299 to 1922 beginning with Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule Year 1870 ( MDCCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common ^[95] However, the Greeks and most Romanians in Northern Dobruja remained under the authority of the Greek Archdiocese of Tulča (founded in 1829). "Patriarch of Constantinople" redirects here For the institutional church itself see Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Tulcea ('tultʃe̯a Bulgarian, Russian, and Ukrainian: Тулча Tulcha; Turkish: Hora-Tepé or Tolçu For the game see 1829 (board game. Year 1829 ( MDCCCXXIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display ^[96][97].

Modern age

After the 1878 war, Russia received Northern Dobruja, but forced Romania to change a region partly overlapping to the so-called Southern Bessarabia with it, as Russia wanted a direct access to the Mouths of the Danube. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Budjak or Budzhak is a historical region in the Odessa Oblast (province of Ukraine. The Danube (In Donau from earlier Danuvius, Celtic *dānu, meaning "to flow run" Slovak and Polish Dunaj The newly established independent Bulgaria received the southern half of Dobruja in the Treaty of San Stefano, but, after its revision the same year in Treaty of Berlin, it kept a smaller part. The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian The Preliminary Treaty of San Stefano was a treaty between Russia and the Ottoman Empire signed at the end of the Russo-Turkish War 1877–78. The Treaty of Berlin was the final Act of the Congress of Berlin ( June 13 - July 13, 1878) by which the United Kingdom, Austria-Hungary In Northern Dobruja, Romanians were the plurality, but the population included a Bulgarian ethnic enclave in the northwest (around Babadag), as well as an important Muslim community (mostly Turks and Tatars) scattered around the region. Babadag (historical name Babadağ is a town in Tulcea county, Romania, located on a small lake formed by the Taiţa river, in the densely wooded At the advice of the French envoy, the Treaty of Berlin awarded a strip of land around the port of Mangalia (the orange area on the map) to Romania as well, since it contained a compact area of ethnic Romanians in its southeastern corner. Mangalia (man'galia Callatis Panglicara other historical names Pangalia, Tomisovara) is a city and a port on the Romanian coast of the This area was a strip of land that extended inland from the port of Mangalia up to the town of Silistra, which remained in Bulgaria due to its large Bulgarian population. Silistra (Силистра, historically Bulgarian: Дръстър Drastar, ( and Romanian: Dârstor) is a Port city of northeastern Subsequently, Romania attempted at taking over the town of Silistra. A new international commission in 1879 allowed Romania to occupy the fort looking over the city, Arab Tabia, however not the city itself.

At the beginning of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, most of Dobruja's population was composed of Turks and Tatars, but, during the war, a large part of the Muslim population was evacuated to Bulgaria and Turkey. The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 had its origins in a rise in nationalism in the Balkans as well as in the Russian goal of recovering territorial losses it had suffered ^[98] After 1878, the Romanian government encouraged Romanians from other regions to settle in Northern Dobruja and even accepted the return of some Muslim population displaced by the war. ^[99] According to Bulgarian historians, after 1878 the Romanian church authorities took control over all local churches, with the exception of two in the towns of Tulcea and Constanţa, which managed to keep their Bulgarian Slavonic liturgy. Year 1878 ( MDCCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common ^[100] However, between 1879 and 1900, 15 new Bulgarian churches were built in Northern Dobruja. ^[101] After 1880, Italians from Friuli and Veneto settled in Greci, Cataloi and Măcin in Northern Dobruja. The' Italian people' are a Southern European Ethnic group located primarily in Italy, Switzerland, France and by virtue of a wide-ranging Friuli ( Friulian: Veneto or Venetia ( Vèneto) is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Măcin (Maçin is a town in Tulcea County, Dobrogea, Romania. Most of them worked in the granite quarries in the Măcin Mountains, while some became farmers. ^[102] The Bulgarian authorities also encouraged the settling of ethnic Bulgarians on the territory of Southern Dobruja. ^[103]

In May 1913, the Great Powers awarded Silistra and the area in a 3 km radius around it to Romania, at the Saint Petersburg Conference. A great power is a Nation or State that has the ability to exert its influence on a global scale Saint Petersburg ( tr: Sankt-Peterburg,) is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River In August 1913, after the Second Balkan War, Bulgaria lost Southern Dobruja (Cadrilater) to Romania (See Treaty of Bucharest, 1913). The Second Balkan War was fought in 1913 between Bulgaria on one side and its First Balkan War allies Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro Southern Dobruja ( Южна Добруджа Yuzhna Dobrudzha in Bulgarian, Dobrogea de sud or Cadrilater in Romanian) The Treaty of Bucharest was concluded on August 10, 1913, by the delegates of Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro With Romania's entry in World War I on the side of France and Russia, the Central Powers occupied all of Dobruja and gave the Cadrilater, as well as the southern portion of Northern Dobruja, to Bulgaria in the Treaty of Bucharest of 1918. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The Central Powers ( German: "Mittelmächte" Hungarian: "Központi hatalmak" Turkish: "İttifak The Treaty of Bucharest was a Peace treaty which the German Empire forced Romania to sign on May 7, 1918, following This situation lasted only for a short period, as the Allied Powers emerged victorious at the end of the war and Romania regained the lost territories in the Treaty of Neuilly of 1919. The Entente Powers (from Triple Entente) were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine, dealing with Bulgaria for its role as one of the Central Powers in World War I, was signed on November 27 Between 1926 and 1938, about 30,000 Aromanians from Bulgaria, Macedonia and Greece were settled in Southern Dobruja. Aromanians (or Macedo-Rumans; in Aromanian they call themselves Armãnji, Rrãmãnji) are a people living throughout the southern Balkans Macedonia is a Geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe whose area was re-defined in the early 20th century

In 1923 the Internal Dobrujan Revolutionary Organisation (IDRO), a Bulgarian nationalist organisation, was established. The Internal Dobrujan Revolutionary Organisation (Вътрешна добруджанска революционна организация Organizaţia Internă Revoluţionară Dobrogeană Active in Southern Dobruja under different forms until 1940, the IDRO detachments fought against the widespread brigandage in the region, as well as the Romanian administration. Thus, while being considered "a terrorist organisation" by the Romanian authorities, it was regarded in Bulgaria as a liberation movement. In 1925, part of the Bulgarian revolutionary committees formed the Dobrujan Revolutionary Organisation (DRO), which later became subordinated to the Communist Party of Romania. The Romanian Communist Party ( Romanian: ro Partidul Comunist Român, PCR was a communist political party in Romania. In contrast with the IDRO, which fought for the inclusion of the region in the Bulgarian state, the DRO requested the independence of Dobruja and its inclusion in a projected Federative Republic of the Balkans. ^[104] DRO also used more peaceful means to attain its goals.

With the advent of World War II, Bulgaria regained Southern Dobruja in the September 1940 Axis-sponsored Treaty of Craiova despite Romanian negotiators' insistence that Balchik and other towns should remain in Romania. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Axis powers also known as the Axis alliance Axis nations Axis countries or sometimes just the Axis were those Countries The Treaty of Craiova (Крайовска спогодба Tratatul de la Craiova was signed on 7 September 1940 between the Kingdom of Bulgaria Balchik (Балчик Balçık Κρουνοι Krounoi, Διονυσοπολις Dionysopolis; Balcic is a Black Sea coastal Town and As part of the treaty, the Romanian inhabitants (Aromanian refugee-settlers, settlers from other regions of Romania and the Romanians indigenous to the region) were forced to leave the regained territory, while the Bulgarian minority in the north was in turn made to leave for Bulgaria in a population exchange. The Romanians (dated Rumanians or Roumanians; Romanian: români or historically and today rather seldom and only regional rumâni According to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is a person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there often to colonize the area Population transfer is the movement of a large group of people from one region to another by state policy or international authority most frequently on the basis of ethnicity or religion The post-war Paris Peace Treaties of 1947 reaffirmed the 1940 border. The Paris Peace Conference ( July 29 to October 15, 1946) resulted in the Paris Peace Treaties signed on February 10, 1947

In 1948 and again in 1961–1962, Bulgaria proposed a border rectification in the area of Silistra, consisting mainly in the transfer of a Romanian territory containing the water source of that city. Romania made an alternative proposal that did not involve a territorial change and, ultimately, no rectification took place. ^[105]

Demographic history

Northern Dobruja

Ethnicity	1880[106]	1899[106]	1913[107]	19301 [108]	1956[109]	1966[109]	1977[109]	1992[109]
All	139,671	258,242	380,430	437,131	593,659	702,461	863,348	1,019,766
Romanian	43,671 (31%)	118,919 (46%)	216,425 (56. 8%)	282,844 (64. 7%)	514,331 (86. 6%)	622,996 (88. 7%)	784,934 (90. 9%)	926,608 (90. 8%)
Bulgarian	24,915 (17%)	38,439 (14%)	51,149 (13. 4%)	42,070 (9. 6%)	749 (0. 13%)	524 (0. 07%)	415 (0. 05%)	311 (0. 03%)
Turkish	18,624 (13%)	12,146 (4%)	20,092 (5. 3%)	21,748 (5%)	11,994 (2%)	16,209 (2. 3%)	21,666 (2. 5%)	27,685 (2. 7%)
Tatar	29,476 (21%)	28,670 (11%)	21,350 (5. 6%)	15,546 (3. 6%)	20,239 (3. 4%)	21,939 (3. 1%)	22,875 (2. 65%)	24,185 (2. 4%)
Lipovan Russian	8,250 (6%)	12,801 (5%)	35,859 (9. 4%)	26,210 (6%)²	29,944 (5%)	30,509 (4. 35%)	24,098 (2. 8%)	26,154 (2. 6%)
Ruthenian (Ukrainian from 1956)	455 (0. 3%)	13,680 (5%)		33 (0. 01%)	7,025 (1. 18%)	5,154 (0. 73%)	2,639 (0. 3%)	4,101 (0. 4%)
Dobrujan Germans	2,461 (1. The Dobrujan Germans ( Germ. Dobrudschadeutsche) were an Ethnic German group within the larger category of Black Sea Germans, for over one 7%)	8,566 (3%)	7,697 (2%)	12,023 (2. 75%)	735 (0. 12%)	599 (0. 09%)	648 (0. 08%)	677 (0. 07%)
Greek	4,015 (2. 8%)	8,445 (3%)	9,999 (2. 6%)	7,743 (1. 8%)	1,399 (0. 24%)	908 (0. 13%)	635 (0. 07%)	1,230 (0. 12%)
Gypsies	702 (0. 5%)	2,252 (0. 87%)	3,263 (0. 9%)	3,831 (0,88%)	1,176 (0. 2%)	378 (0. 05%)	2,565 (0. 3%)	5,983 (0. 59%)

Southern Dobruja

Ethnicity	1910	19301[108]
All	282,007	378,344
Bulgarian	134,355 (47. 6%)	143,209 (37. 9%)
Romanian	6,348 (2. 3%)	77,728 (20. 5%)
Turkish	106,568 (37. 8%)	129,025 (34. 1%)
Tatar	11,718 (4. 2%)	6,546 (1. 7%)
Gypsies	12,192 (4. 3%)	7,615 (2%)

¹According to the 1926–1938 Romanian administrative division

²Only Russians. (Russians and Lipovans counted separately)

Area, population and cities

The entire Dobruja has an area of 23,100 km² and a population of rather more than 1. 3 million, of which just over two-thirds of the former and nearly three-quarters of the latter lie in the Romanian part.

Ethnicity	Dobruja		Northern Dobruja[110]		Southern Dobruja[111]
	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
All	1,328,860	100. Northern Dobruja (Dobrogea Северна Добруджа Severna Dobrudzha) is the part of Dobruja within the borders of Romania. Southern Dobruja ( Южна Добруджа Yuzhna Dobrudzha in Bulgarian, Dobrogea de sud or Cadrilater in Romanian) 00%	971,643	100. 00%	357,217	100. 00%
Romanian	884,745	66. 58%	883,620	90. 94%	5911	0. 17%1
Bulgarian	248,517	18. 70%	135	0. 01%	248,382	69. 53%
Turkish	104,572	7. 87%	27,580	2. 84%	76,992	21. 55%
Tatar	23,409	1. 76%	23,409	2. 41%	4,515	1. 26%
Roma	33,422	2. 52%	8,295	0. 85%	25,127	7. 03%
Russian	22,495	1. 69%	21,623	2. 23%	872	0. 24%
Ukrainian	1,571	0. 12%	1,465	0. 15%	106	0. 03%
Greek	2,326	0. 18%	2,270	0. 23%	56	0. 02%

¹ Including persons counted as Vlachs in Bulgarian 2001 Census

Major cities are Constanţa, Tulcea, Medgidia and Mangalia in Romania, and Dobrich and Silistra in Bulgaria. Vlachs is a blanket term covering several modern Latin peoples descending from the Latinised population in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe Constanţa (pronunciation in Romanian: /kon'stanʦa/ historical names Tomis, Κωνστάντια or Constantia, Köstence Tulcea ('tultʃe̯a Bulgarian, Russian, and Ukrainian: Тулча Tulcha; Turkish: Hora-Tepé or Tolçu Medgidia (medʤi'dia historical names Karasu or Carasu, Mecidiye or Megidie) is a city in Constanţa County, Dobruja, south-eastern Mangalia (man'galia Callatis Panglicara other historical names Pangalia, Tomisovara) is a city and a port on the Romanian coast of the Dobrich (Добрич Bazargic is a town in northeastern Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Dobrich Province. Silistra (Силистра, historically Bulgarian: Дръстър Drastar, ( and Romanian: Dârstor) is a Port city of northeastern

Notes

References

• Strabo (1903). Strabo ( Greek: Στράβων 63/64 BC – ca AD 24 was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher. "Book VII", in Hans Claude Hamilton; W. Falconer: The Geography of Strabo. London: George Bell & Sons. OCLC 250411. The OCLC Online Computer Library Center is according to its website a "nonprofit membership computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purpose Retrieved on 2007-04-29. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1429 - Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orleans.  
• Dănescu, Grigore (1903). Dobrogea (La Dobroudja). Étude de Géographie physique et ethnographique (in French). Bucarest: Imprimerie de l'Indépendance Roumaine. OCLC 10596414. The OCLC Online Computer Library Center is according to its website a "nonprofit membership computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purpose  
• Wittek, Paul (1952). "Yazijioghlu 'Ali on the Christian Turks of the Dobruja". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 14 (3): 639–668. Cambridge University Press]] on behalf of School of Oriental and African Studies. The School of Oriental and African Studies (commonly abbreviated to " SOAS " pronounced (so as or (so az is a constituent college of the University of  
• Barnea, Ion; Ştefănescu, Ştefan (1971). Bizantini, romani şi bulgari la Dunărea de Jos, Din Istoria Dobrogei, v. 3 (in Romanian). Bucureşti: Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste România. OCLC 1113905. The OCLC Online Computer Library Center is according to its website a "nonprofit membership computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purpose  
• Rădulescu, Adrian; Bitoleanu, Ion (1979). Istoria românilor dintre Dunăre şi Mare: Dobrogea (in Romanian). Bucureşti: Editura Ştiinţifică şi Enciclopedică. OCLC 5832576. The OCLC Online Computer Library Center is according to its website a "nonprofit membership computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purpose  
• Rădulescu, Adrian; Bitoleanu, Ion (1998). Istoria Dobrogei (in Romanian). Constanţa: Editura Ex Ponto. ISBN 973-9385-32-X.  
• Mărculeţ, Vasile (2003). "Asupra organizării teritoriilor bizantine de la Dunărea de Jos în secolele X-XII: thema Mesopotamia Apusului, strategatul Dristrei, thema Paristrion – Paradunavon", in Dobre, Manuela: Istorie şi ideologie (in Romanian). Bucureşti: Editura Universităţii din Bucureşti. ISBN 973-575-658-7. Retrieved on 2007-04-29. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1429 - Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orleans.  
• Hitchins, Keith (2004). Romania 1866–1947, II (in Romanian), Bucureşti: Humanitas. ISBN 973-50-0551-4.  

---

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic