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| 1878, July 13 |
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| The TREATY OF BERLIN (See June 13–July 13) recognized the full independence of Romania, but the Romanians were obliged to cede Bessarabia to Russia in return for the much less desirable Dobrudja. By article XLIV of the Berlin Treaty, the Romanian government was obliged to promise protection to the Jews, of whom there were many in Moldavia. With British and French pressure, Romania amended its constitution to allow non-Christians to become Romanian citizens under strict conditions, but, since only Romanians could own land, little changed. The European great powers accepted this, however, and recognized Romanian independence in February 1880. Anti-Semitism became a mainstay of Romanian politics. | 1 |
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| 1881, May 23 |
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| PRINCE CHARLES was proclaimed king. | 2 |
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| 1883, Oct. 30 |
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| ALLIANCE BETWEEN ROMANIA AND AUSTRIA, acceded to by Germany and Italy. This continued in effect until 1914, but was kept a strict secret by the king, so that only a few chosen ministers were ever told of it. The alliance was the result of Romanian fear of Russia, but it failed to overcome the basic antagonism between Romania and Hungary over Transylvania. | 3 |
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| 1885 |
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| In an effort to build trade and industry, the government established protectionist measures and encouraged foreign investment, especially in the Cimpina-Ploiesti oil fields. But industrialization remained limited; in 1901 Romania counted only 37,000 workers in 600 enterprises of more than 25 employees. | 4 |
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| 1888, April |
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| A serious agrarian insurrection occurred over the government's failure to face the vital land question. | 5 |
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| 1893, Jan. 10 |
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| Prince Ferdinand married Princess Marie of Edinburgh. | 6 |
| Built on the growth of workers' circles since the 1880s, the Romanian Social-Democratic Party was founded. | 7 |
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| 1900–1 |
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| Tension in relations with Bulgaria arose from conflicting aspirations in Macedonia and the murder of several Romanians by Macedonian revolutionaries. | 8 |
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| 1905–11 |
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| A rupture of relations with Greece resulted from the friction over the treatment of Kutzo-Vlachs in Macedonia by Greek villagers. Large numbers of Greeks were expelled from Romania. | 9 |
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| 1907, March–April |
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| A great insurrection of peasants in Moldavia had to be put down by military forces. Martial law was proclaimed throughout the country. | 10 |
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| 1913, May 7 |
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| Agreement was reached with Bulgaria by which the latter was to cede Silistria as compensation for gains made in the Balkan Wars. The Romanian government demanded more. | 11 |
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| July 10 |
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| ROMANIA DECLARED WAR ON BULGARIA, joining Serbia and Greece in the Second Balkan War (See June 29–July 30). | 12 |
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