THE BEGINNINGS OF THE NATIONAL ARMY: THE UNIFICATION OF THE ARMED FORCES UNDER THE REIGN OF ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA
THE BEGINNINGS OF THE NATIONAL ARMY: THE UNIFICATION OF THE ARMED FORCES UNDER THE REIGN OF ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA

Author(s): Ionuț-Alexandru LUNGU
Subject(s): History, Military history, Political history
Published by: Carol I National Defence University Publishing House
Keywords: Historic; Union; Modernism; Evolutions; Laws
Summary/Abstract: The origins of the Romanian National Army lie in the process of unifying the armed forces of Moldavia and Wallachia under the reign of Alexandru Ioan Cuza. His election as ruler of both principalities in 1859 marked the first step toward the creation of a unified state, making the consolidation of a national army a crucial priority for the stability and defense of the new political entity. During a period of profound change, Cuza and his team of reformers initiated essential measures to modernize and organize the army. These reforms included the standardization of military structures, the introduction of compulsory military service, and the equipping of troops with modern weaponry, aligning them with European standards. Furthermore, the unification of the armed forces was not merely an administrative step but also a declaration of sovereignty and self-determination for Romanians in the face of the great powers. Through these measures, Alexandru Ioan Cuza laid the foundation for an army capable of supporting the consolidation of the Romanian state and ensuring national defense, creating the conditions for Romania's future military and political successes.

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