La société roumaine à la lumière des rapports consulaires français de Bucarest et de Iassy, pendant les années antérieures à l’union des Principautés (1856-1859)

Abstract

During the 1856-1859 period, the Romanian society was clearly dominated by great expectations, stimulated by the favourable international perspectives for achieving the national Romanian aspirations shared by the population in Moldavia and Walachia. Both the general European and local conditions made France the aim of these expectations. France itself accepted to support the Romanians and trusted them. In a practical manner this made necessary for the French leaders to know much better the Romanian partner, the society and its perspectives. The Romanian energies and chances had to be more closely evaluated in the context of European politics. From this new perspective the French consular despatches became instrumental for the policy makers in Paris. But they also remain a rich source of historical informations judging from both French and Romanian angles, as to their reciprocal approaches.