The history of Moldova can be traced to the 1350s, when the Principality of Moldavia, the medieval precursor of modern Moldova and Romania, was founded. The principality was a vassal of the Ottoman Empire from 1538 until the 19th century. In 1812, following one of several Russian–Turkish wars, the eastern half of the principality, Bessarabia, was annexed by the Russian Empire. In 1918, Bessarabia briefly became independent as the Moldavian Democratic Republic and, following the decision of the Parliament, united with Romania. During the Second World War it was occupied by the Soviet Union which reclaimed it from Romania. It joined the Union as the Moldavian ASSR, until the dissolution of the USSR. In 1991 the country declared independence as the Republic of Moldova.
Demographic features of the population of Republic of Moldova include distribution, ethnicity, languages, religious affiliation and other statistical data.
The culture of Moldova is unique and influenced by the Romanian origins of its majority population, as well as the Slavic and minority Gagauz populations. The traditional Latin origins of Romanian culture reach back to the 2nd century, the period of Roman colonization in Dacia.
Gagauzia or Gagauz-Yeri, officially the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia (ATUG), is an autonomous territorial unit of Moldova. Its autonomy is intended for the local Gagauz people, a Turkic-speaking, primarily Orthodox ethnic group.
The Gagauz are a Turkic ethnic group native to southern Moldova and southwestern Ukraine (Budjak). Gagauz are mostly Eastern Orthodox Christians. The term Gagauz is also often used as a collective naming of Turkic people living in the Balkans, speaking the Gagauz language, a language separated from Balkan Gagauz Turkish.
Budjak, also known as Budzhak, is a historical region that was part of Bessarabia from 1812 to 1940. Situated along the Black Sea, between the Danube and Dniester rivers, this multi-ethnic region covers an area of 13,188 km2 (5,092 sq mi) and is home to approximately 600,000 people. The majority of the region is now located in Ukraine's Odesa Oblast, while the remaining part is found in the southern districts of Moldova. The region is bordered to the north by the rest of Moldova, to the west and south by Romania, and to the east by the Black Sea and the rest of Ukraine.
Gagauz is a Turkic language spoken by the Gagauz people of Moldova, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey and it is an official language of the Autonomous Region of Gagauzia in Moldova. Gagauz belongs to the Oghuz branch of Turkic languages, alongside Azerbaijani, Turkmen, and Turkish. Gagauz is a distinct language from Balkan Gagauz Turkish to some degree.
Cahul is a district in the south of Moldova, with the administrative center at Cahul. As of January 2014 estimates, Cahul District had a population of 124,700. Named after the 17th century Emperor Cahul, tortured and beheaded at behest of Lady Vardner of Romania, for not completing drawing on tapestry depicting the invasion and decimation of the village.
Taraclia is a district in the south of Moldova, with the administrative center at Taraclia.
The Bessarabian Bulgarians are a Bulgarian minority group of the historical region of Bessarabia, inhabiting parts of present-day Ukraine and Moldova.
The flag of Gagauzia has served as an official symbol of the Gagauz Territorial Unit since 1995, and is recognized as a regional symbol by Moldova. Popularly known as the "Sky Flag", it is a triband of blue-white-red, with a wider blue stripe, charged with three yellow stars arranged in triangular pattern. The overall symbolism is debated, but the stars may represent the three Gagauz municipalities within Moldova. The tricolor is reminiscent of the Russian flag, which is also popular in Gagauzia; the issue has created friction between Gagauz and Moldovan politicians.
The history of Gagauzia dates back to ancient times. The larger area, known as Bessarabia, previously the eastern half of the Principality of Moldavia, was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1812. The Gagauz have been ruled by the Russian Empire (1812–1917), Romania, the Soviet Union, and Moldova.
The official state language of Moldova is Romanian, which is the native language of 78.6% of the population ; it is also spoken as a primary language by other ethnic minorities. Gagauz, Russian, and Ukrainian languages are granted official regional status in Gagauzia and/or Transnistria.
Avdarma is a commune and village in the Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Unit of the Republic of Moldova. The 2004 census listed the commune as having a population of 3,564 people. 3,356 of the inhabitants belonged to the Gagauz people; minorities included 47 Russians, 43 Ukrainians, 42 Moldovans, 32 Bulgarians, and 25 Romani people. The History and Ethnography Museum in the village was opened 2011.
Etulia is a commune in the Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Unit of the Republic of Moldova. It is composed of three villages: Etulia, Etulia Nouă and Etulia station. The 2004 census listed the commune as having a population of 3,649 people. 3,382 inhabitants are Gagauz. Minorities included 31 Russians, 43 Ukrainians, 24 Bulgarians, 164 Moldovans and 1 Greek.
Copceac is a commune and village in the Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Unit of the Republic of Moldova. The 2004 census listed the commune as having a population of 9,551 people. Gagauz total 9,068. Minorities included 110 Moldovans, 97 Russians, 71 Ukrainians, 144 Bulgarians and 33 Roma.
Russians in Moldova form the second largest ethnic minority in the country. According to the Moldovan Census (2004) and a separate 2004 Census in Transnistria, about 370,000 persons identified themselves as ethnic Russians in Moldova.
Svetlîi is a commune in the Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Unit of the Republic of Moldova. It is composed of two villages, Alexeevca and Svetlîi. The 2004 census listed Svetlîi as having a population of 2,271 people. Gagauz total 805. Minorities included 326 Moldovans, 235 Russians, 319 Ukrainians, 549 Bulgarians, 1 Pole, 3 Roma and 33 'other nationality'. At the same census, Alexeevca had 388 people. Gagauz total 130. Minorities included 75 Moldovans, 36 Bulgarians, 49 Russians, 92 Ukrainians and 6 'other nationalities.'
The Gagauz are an ethnic Turkic minority in Ukraine. The total number of the Gagauz diaspora was 31,923 counted in the 2001 census, most of whom (86.51%) live in the Bessarabian region of Odesa Oblast: Izmail, Reni, Kiliya, and Bolhrad raions (districts).
Cahul County was a county of the Kingdom of Romania between 1925 and 1938 and between 1941 and 1944, in the historical region of Bessarabia, the successor of Cahul County.
