History of Bucharest
A legend says that Bucharest was founded by a shepherd named Bucur, who built a settlement amid the Vlasiei forest. But the history of Bucharest seems to begin 150.000 years ago, because archaeological excavations revealed the existence of old prehistoric settlements on the city’s location. Bucharest began as a fort on the Dâmboviţa River and it was recorded as a "citadel on the Dâmboviţa" river in 1368. The name of the city as we all know it today appeared for the first time in the history of Bucharest in a document issued from the chancellery of voivode Vlad Ţepeş (the Impaler) dating from 1459, September 20th.
The Bucharest location on the trade routes across the Walachian Plain between the Carpathian Mountains and the Danube River stimulated the development of the city. In the 17th century, for the first time in the history of Bucharest, the city became the main economic center of Walachia and the official capital of Walachia in 1659.
The rule of Şerban Cantacuzino (1678-1688) was an important moment in the history of Bucharest because it was the period in which important buildings were risen: the voivodal houses in the Zlătari district, Măgureanu and Cotroceni churches, the great Inn "Şerban Voda" (demolished in 1890, now the National Bank of Romania). During the rule of Constantin Brâncoveanu (1688-1714) Calea Victoriei changed its face because of the new constructions and the increasing number of artisans.
In the 18th century, the Fanariotes, Greek origin rulers appointed by the Ottoman Empire, took the control of Walachia. The "Fanariotes’ epoch" in the history of Bucharest ended in 1821 with the people’s revolt conducted by the national hero Tudor Vladimirescu. Bucharest was in that period one of the few cities from Eastern Europe with palaces and mansions where guests played blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, baccarat and other games of chance.
In the 19th century, the history of Bucharest was marked by many changes. The number and variety of the manufactures increased and a new administrative structure was formed between 1806 and 1812. The "Manuc" Inn (1808) and the "Philantropy" Hospital (1812) were built in that period. The next important year in the Bucharest chronology is 1862. Bucharest was proclaimed the capital of the Romanian state, a result of the union between Walachian and Moldavian principalities.
9 May 1877 is an important day in the history of Bucharest because it’s the Independence Day of Romania. After achieving the independence against the Turkish occupation, Bucharest entered in an economical development stage. In 1896 the first electrical tramway was running from Obor to the Cotroceni Avenue and the first cinema was opened.
In the beginning of the 20th century, electric bulbs and petrol lamps lit Bucharest’s streets. After World War I, Bucharest became the capital of a greatly enlarged Romania with the Transylvanian region. The 1930s represented for the history of Bucharest a period of rapid urban development and due to this, Bucharest was called the "Little Paris". Romania sided with Germany in the World War II and Bucharest was damaged by Allied air raids. After the war the centre of Bucharest was rebuilt and new industrial and residential districts were laid out.
In 1947 the Communists came to power and Bucharest became the capital of the new Socialist Republic. Communist rule interrupted Bucharest's cosmopolitan days. The historic part of the city was destroyed and replaced by the Communist-style buildings, particularly high-rise apartment blocks. On March 4th, 1977 a strong earthquake destroyed many buildings in the centre of Bucharest and killed about 1.500 people.
In December, 1989, the communist era (the so called “golden epoch”) ended after the revolution that started in Timişoara and very quickly extended to Bucharest. This is the most recent event in the history of Bucharest and also a very important one because it represents the beginning of democracy after years of one of the most brutal communist dictatorships in the world.
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The Coat of arms of Bucharest was created during the rule of Alexandru Ioan Cuza and features an eagle (the symbol of Wallachia) with a cross on its beak. On its chest it has a shield with the image of Bucharest’s patron, Saint Demetrius.
