Barbu Catargiu
Encyclopedia
Barbu Catargiu was a conservative Romania
n journalist and politician. He was the first Prime Minister of Romania
in 1862 until he was assassinated on 20 June that year. He was a staunch defender of the great estates of the boyars, and notably originated the Conservative doctrine that "feudalism
in Romania had never existed".
for a short time, and was a member of the Obsteasca Assembly of Wallachia. An opponent of violence and armed revolution, he resumed his world travels during the Revolutions of 1848
, working primarily as a journalist and making a documentary.
Catargiu was appointed to the position of Minister of Finances by Alexander John Cuza
. He quickly gained acclaim for his oratorical skills, and became the focal point of the Conservative Party. He did very little to actually organize the Party, instead depending on his own charisma and ideals to give the party focus. Cuza, despite not agreeing with the Conservative doctrine and even seeing Catargiu as an adversary of sorts, recognized his abilities and the power of his followers and chose Catargiu as Prime Minister of the newly formed union between Wallachia and Moldavia.
On 15 February 1862, Catargiu was sworn in as the first Prime Minister of Romania, ruling from Bucharest
. As Prime Minister, Catargiu hoped to reorganize and simplify the administration. He formed four administrative divisions, two in what had been Wallachia and two in Moldavia
. He placed the four divisions under the supervision of a Minister of the Interior, and unified the Financial and Judicial Departments under the central government. Arguably the most important act of his rule was his order to begin a railroad in Moldavia that would link the two provinces and greatly aided unification. He also continued his support for the "old order" and claimed that large estates were historically sanctioned and were solely the property of the boyars. He also clamped down on rioting in the cities, censored the press, and refused to allow large assemblies to meet. He denied the right of the people to meet on the Bucharest "Field of Liberty" to commemorate the Revolution of 1848, an act which garnered him much animosity.
was never apprehended, despite the efforts of the police force. The killing was the only political assassination of the century, and left the Conservative Party without a strong leader or sense of direction. They quickly lost power, as Catargiu was replaced by Nicolae Creţulescu
, a much more progressive politician.
Despite Catargiu's relative unpopularity, his memory was celebrated by the Romanians. A statue of him was placed near the Metropolitan Tower
, close to where he was killed. It stood until 1984.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n journalist and politician. He was the first Prime Minister of Romania
Prime Minister of Romania
The Prime Minister of Romania is the head of the Government of Romania. Initially, the office was styled President of the Council of Ministers , when the term "Government" included more than the Cabinet, and the Cabinet was called The Council of Ministers...
in 1862 until he was assassinated on 20 June that year. He was a staunch defender of the great estates of the boyars, and notably originated the Conservative doctrine that "feudalism
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
in Romania had never existed".
Early life
Catargiu was born on 26 October 1807 to Stephen Catargiu, a political activist and Stanca Varescu. He lived abroad in Paris from 1825 to 1834, where he studied Law, History, and Philosophy. He returned to WallachiaWallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
for a short time, and was a member of the Obsteasca Assembly of Wallachia. An opponent of violence and armed revolution, he resumed his world travels during the Revolutions of 1848
Revolutions of 1848
The European Revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the Spring of Nations, Springtime of the Peoples or the Year of Revolution, were a series of political upheavals throughout Europe in 1848. It was the first Europe-wide collapse of traditional authority, but within a year reactionary...
, working primarily as a journalist and making a documentary.
Political life
After his return to Romania, Catargiu entered political life as a firm Conservative. He believed that evolution, rather than violent revolution was the best way to modernize the Government, and would give the fledgling Romania the best chance at unity. He also advocated an Aristocratic Republic as the best form of governance, clearly believing in guarding the power of the boyars.Catargiu was appointed to the position of Minister of Finances by Alexander John Cuza
Alexander John Cuza
Alexander John Cuza was a Moldavian-born Romanian politician who ruled as the first Domnitor of the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia between 1859 and 1866.-Early life:...
. He quickly gained acclaim for his oratorical skills, and became the focal point of the Conservative Party. He did very little to actually organize the Party, instead depending on his own charisma and ideals to give the party focus. Cuza, despite not agreeing with the Conservative doctrine and even seeing Catargiu as an adversary of sorts, recognized his abilities and the power of his followers and chose Catargiu as Prime Minister of the newly formed union between Wallachia and Moldavia.
On 15 February 1862, Catargiu was sworn in as the first Prime Minister of Romania, ruling from Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. As Prime Minister, Catargiu hoped to reorganize and simplify the administration. He formed four administrative divisions, two in what had been Wallachia and two in Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
. He placed the four divisions under the supervision of a Minister of the Interior, and unified the Financial and Judicial Departments under the central government. Arguably the most important act of his rule was his order to begin a railroad in Moldavia that would link the two provinces and greatly aided unification. He also continued his support for the "old order" and claimed that large estates were historically sanctioned and were solely the property of the boyars. He also clamped down on rioting in the cities, censored the press, and refused to allow large assemblies to meet. He denied the right of the people to meet on the Bucharest "Field of Liberty" to commemorate the Revolution of 1848, an act which garnered him much animosity.
Assassination
One week after the "Field of Liberty" Incident, on 20 June 1862, Catargiu was shot and killed at close range when leaving a Parliamentary meeting. The assassinAssassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
was never apprehended, despite the efforts of the police force. The killing was the only political assassination of the century, and left the Conservative Party without a strong leader or sense of direction. They quickly lost power, as Catargiu was replaced by Nicolae Creţulescu
Nicolae Cretulescu
Nicolae Crețulescu was a Wallachian-born Romanian politician and physician. He served three terms as Prime Minister of Romania: from 1862 to 1863, again from 1865 to 1866, and finally in 1867. He was elected to the Romanian Academy....
, a much more progressive politician.
Despite Catargiu's relative unpopularity, his memory was celebrated by the Romanians. A statue of him was placed near the Metropolitan Tower
Dealul Mitropoliei
Dealul Mitropoliei , also called Dealul Patriarhiei or "Patriarchate Hill", is a small hill in Bucharest, Romania and an important historic, cultural, architectural, religious and touristic point in the national capital...
, close to where he was killed. It stood until 1984.
1862 Cabinet
During his premiership Catargiu's cabinet consisted of:- Constantin Brăloiou/Dimitrie CorneaDimitrie CorneaDimitrie Cornea was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from April 4, 1876 until April 26, 1876 during the existence of United Principalities.-References:...
(JusticeMinistry of Justice (Romania)The Ministry of Justice of Romania is one of the fifteen ministries of the Romanian Government. It administers the judicial system.The current minister of justice is Cătălin Predoiu, an independent.-External links:* *...
) - Alexandru Moruzi/Grigore Balş/Alexandru Catargi/Theodor Ghica (FinanceMinistry of Public Finance (Romania)The Ministry of Public Finance of Romania is one of the fifteen ministries of the Government of Romania.The minister's seat is currently held by the Democratic Liberal Party's Gheorghe Ialomiţeanu.The following agencies are subordinated to the Minister:...
) - Ion GhicaIon GhicaIon Ghica was a Romanian revolutionary, mathematician, diplomat and twice Prime Minister of Romania . He was a full member of the Romanian Academy and its president for four times...
(War) - Apostol ArsacheApostol ArsacheApostol Arsache or Apostolos Arsakis was a Greek-Romanian politician and philanthropist, born in Northern Epirus. In the Cabinet of Barbu Catargiu , he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and following Catargiu's assassination on 20 June, Arsache briefly served as interim Prime Minister of...
(Foreign Affairs) - Barbu Catargiu/Dimitrie Cornea/Alexandru Florescu (Public Works)
- Barbu Catargiu]/Apostol Arsache (Interior)
- Grigore Balş/Barbu BelluBarbu BelluBarbu Bellu was a Romanian baron, minister of culture, and minister of justice. Bellu, the most famous cemetery in Romania, sits on a plot of land donated by Barbu Bellu to the local administration....
(Religion and Public Instruction) - Apostol Arsache/Alexandru Florescu (Control)
Further reading
- Hitchins, Keith. 1996. The Romanians 1774-1866. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- Jelavich, Barbara. 1984. Russia and the Formation of the Romanian National State 1821-1878. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Riker, T.W. 1971. The Making of Roumania. New York: Arno Press & The New York Times.
- Seton Watson, Robert William. 1963. Hamden, Conn: Archon Books.
- Todorova, Marii︠a︡ Nikolaeva. 2004. New York: NYU Press.