Bucovina – historic region from Northern Romania; it was part of the historic principality of Moldavia until the Austrians annexed it in the XVIII century (when it was renamed “Bukovina”).
Prince of Moldavia Grigore III opposed the annexation and was soon assassinated following a secret deal between Austrians and Ottomans. His funeral stone says: “Branch of the famous Ghiculeşti family, from which
I, Gregorie, Noble lord of the Dacians,
Born in piety from ancestors such as them,
My body is now covered by this adorned stone,
Being kidnapped by death before my time,
But now- in heavenly places I live”
During the Austrian occupation, the region was colonized with Ruthenians (Ukrainains), Jews (from Poland), Germans and Poles of Galicia. The authorities offered them fertile land and construction materials, no taxes and exemption from military service. The Romanians were removed from administration and replaced with Jews and Germans, who had higher privileges than all others.
In 1918 after the fall of Austro-Hungarian empire, Bukovina became part of Greater Romania.
Historical provinces of Romania before USSR occupation
In 1939, under the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact (secret agreement between Stalin and Hitler), the northern half of Bucovina (together with Bassarabia – today the country of Moldova) were ceased to USSR. It was briefly liberated by the Romanian army before the Red Army re-occupied it. Before the Soviet invasion, the Nazis “repatriated” ethnic Germans living in Bukovina in order to protect them from the secretly agreed Soviet invasion. After the Soviet 1940 invasion of northern Bukovina – deportations, executions and other violations occurred similar to those in Bessarabia. The Soviet oppression and communist threat lead to the formation of partisan groups hidden in the mountains – read about them here.
After 1991, northern Bucovina (which had been part of Soviet Ukraine) became part of the independent state of Ukraine, which lead to permanent division of the historic region of Bucovina, which unlike Bessarabia (today’s country of Moldova), was almost completely absorbed and Slavicized.
Below is the southern half of historic Bukovina, located in Romania.
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Prislop
traditional house Bucovina
In 1862, emperor Franz Joseph I upon arriving in the newly autonomous state of Bukovina, described it in the following words: “Part of the old Dacia, the land was called during the reign local lords the Moldova Upper Country, and then Bukovina. Inhabited by Dacians and then the colony of Trajan, it was traversed during the migrations by the Goths, Gepids, Huns, Avars, Magyars, Tartars and nations who have left only traces of terror and destruction. For almost a millennium, the local people have had to save their lives, customs and language. “
Stephen the Great of Moldavia grave at Putna monastery
traditional Bucovina painted Easter eggs
Heroes military cemetery (WW1)
traditional houses Bucovina
Bucovina shepherd dog (ciobanesc de Bucovina) – dog native to the region
Romania Dacia 