The Connection between Romanians and Ancient Italy: An Analysis
H1: The Romanian Connection to Ancient Italy
H2: Historical Context
Do Romanians consider Italy their ancient homeland? The answer is a clear, no. While Romanians may feel a cultural and linguistic connection to Italy due to the historical influence of the Roman Empire, they do not regard Italy as their ancestral homeland. Instead, they view Romania, particularly the region of Dacia, as their true ancestral land. This connection is rooted in the Roman Empire's conquest of Dacia in the early 2nd century AD, which led to significant Romanization of the local population.
The Romanian language, a Romance language, is derived from Latin, making it a natural extension of the Roman influence. However, the modern identity of Romanians is closely tied to Romania itself, with its own distinct history and culture.
H2: Romanian Heritage and Myths
It is a common belief amongst Romanian families that the Romanian ethnicity evolved from stories about Rome told at the fireplace by their ancestors. While it is true that many Romanians have heard the saying 'We came from Rome' ('De la Roma ne tragem' in Romanian), this phrase is often viewed as an idealization of an ancestral homeland, similar to the idea of a Garden of Eden. It is a fantasy rather than a factual statement about their origins.
Nevertheless, this myth plays a significant role in Romanian culture and identity. Many older Romanians, like the author, still hold on to these stories as a way to connect with their heritage. However, as the author notes, these statements are more about a cultural ideal than a historical fact.
H2: The Cradle of the Romanian Nation
The cradle of the Romanian nation is firmly located on the current territory of Romania, not in modern Italy. The Romanian people, their language, ethnicity, culture, and national identity are overwhelmingly 80% of Latin-Roman origin, with around 20% coming from the original ancient Dacian inhabitants, and the non-Latin Slavic and Balkan people surrounding Romania and Moldova on all sides.
The Romanian connection to Ancient Italy, however, is significant. Ancient Italy is an important starting point of their ancestral heritage and national origins as a people. For modern Romanians, this connection is not just to Italy but to Spain and Portugal as well, due to the shared Latin heritage. This is exemplified by the significant influence of the Spanish language in Romania, particularly in the last 30 years, as a result of the popularity of TV programs and popular music from both Spain and Latin America.
H2: Historical Details and Military Conquests
Ancient Dacia was conquered by the Romans under the leadership of the military general and later Emperor Trajan. Trajan was born and raised in the Iberian Roman Province of Hispania (modern-day Spain and Portugal), and most of his troops and legions were recruited locally from this province. This custom of Roman Generals recruiting and organizing their armies at their home base ensured a high percentage of Iberian Roman soldiers, who later settled in the new provincial territory, bringing their distinct Iberian version of the Latin language and culture into contact with the local Dacian culture.
This cultural and ethnic union between the Iberian Romans and Dacians helped create today's Romanian and Moldovan Latin language, ethnicity, and identity. The strong connection to Italy, Spain, and Portugal is further cemented by this historical union.
H3: Reasserting Latin-Roman Heritage
With the fall of Communism in 1989, Romanians and Moldovans have been actively reconnecting with their Latin-Roman heritage. This is particularly evident in the strong popularity and influence of the Spanish language in both Romania and Moldova, as well as closer ties to the Spanish-speaking world, including Latin America. This reconnection to their Latin heritage is a vital part of their cultural identity.
The Romanian people's strong connection to Ancient Italy and the relationships with other Latin-speaking nations in Western Europe and the Iberian Peninsula are crucial in shaping their identity. These connections are not just historical but also cultural and linguistic, reinforcing the Romanian people's sense of belonging to a larger Latin family.