ROMANIAN CULTURAL CENTRES FROM EUROPE

Abstract

The Romanian Spiritual Values have always been into Europeans' public eye because of the documentary researches. In the same time the Romanian Cultural World would have liked to be recognized in Europe bringing its contribution to achieving some cultural centers in the period between wars. It is the period when Romania expressed itself strongly from the political and civilization point of view establishing its stability role in the South-East of Europe. The intellectuals consider that Romania should be recognized from the cultural point of view in order to support the information changes and European harmony. In 1911, an initiative is taken to open a Culture Institute at Bucharest dedicated to the south-east european issues. Those who took the initiative were Nicolae Iorga, Vasile Pârvan and G. Murgoci, in 1914 and their goal was to study this part of Europe taking into account the old traditions and Romanian present interests. The Romanian Researchers have considered an important connection to Italy because of both countries' latin root. The first attempt of establishing such institution took place in 1914, but because of the war, the idea was abandoned. There were new attempts in 1917and 1918. In 1920, Nicolae Iorga, as a deputy, proposed a law to found Romanian Superior Schools: one of Archeological Studies and the other of History and Filology and Belle Arte at Rome and Paris. Nicolae Iorga had a great role in the scientifique activity of the Romanian School from Paris, the Institute from Albany from Saranda, Casa Romena from Venice.

Headnote

Abstract: The Romanian Spiritual Values have always been into Europeans' public eye because of the documentary researches. In the same time the Romanian Cultural World would have liked to be recognized in Europe bringing its contribution to achieving some cultural centers in the period between wars. It is the period when Romania expressed itself strongly from the political and civilization point of view establishing its stability role in the South-East of Europe. The intellectuals consider that Romania should be recognized from the cultural point of view in order to support the information changes and European harmony. In 1911, an initiative is taken to open a Culture Institute at Bucharest dedicated to the south-east european issues. Those who took the initiative were Nicolae Iorga, Vasile Pârvan and G. Murgoci, in 1914 and their goal was to study this part of Europe taking into account the old traditions and Romanian present interests. The Romanian Researchers have considered an important connection to Italy because of both countries' latin root. The first attempt of establishing such institution took place in 1914, but because of the war, the idea was abandoned. There were new attempts in 1917and 1918. In 1920, Nicolae Iorga, as a deputy, proposed a law to found Romanian Superior Schools: one of Archeological Studies and the other of History and Filology and Belle Arte at Rome and Paris. Nicolae Iorga had a great role in the scientifique activity of the Romanian School from Paris, the Institute from Albany from Saranda, Casa Romena from Venice.

Keywords: institute, Paris, Rome, Paris, Venice, Saranda

The Romanian Spiritual Values have always been into Europeans' public eye because of the documentary researches. In the same time the Romanian Cultural World would have liked to be recognized in Europe bringing its contibution to achieving some cultural centres in the period between wars. It is the period when Romania expressed itself strongly from the political and civilization point of view establishing its stability role in the South-East of Europe. The intelectuals consider that Romania should be recognized from the cultural point of view in order to support the information changes and European harmony.

THE SOUTH-EAST EUROPEAN INSTITUTE FROM BUCHAREST

In 1911, an initiative is taken to open a Culture Institute at Bucharest dedicated to the south-east european issues. Those who took the initiative were Nicolae Iorga, Vasile Pârvan and G. Murgoci, in 1914 and their goal was to study this part of Europe taking into account the old traditions and Romanian present interests. This institution will deal with the scientific activity of those regions of south-east and those nearby. The activity of the institute will be courses, conferences, balkanian language lessons publications as mean of information for Romanian diplomacy from this area. It is also printed "Bulletin de l'Institut pour l'étude l'Europe sudorientale". The Institute will be involved in the latin-balkanian research proving the unity of South-East Europe.

THE ROMANIAN SCHOOL FROM ROME

The Romanian Researchers have considered an important connection to Italy because of both countries' latin root. The first attempt of establishing such institution took place in 1914, but because of the war, the idea was abandoned.

There were new attempts in 1917 and 1918. In 1920, Nicolae Iorga, as a deputy, proposed a law to found 2 Romanian Superior Schools: one of Archeological Studies and the other of History and Filology and Belle Arte at Rome and Paris.3

Thus the law 4285 on October 1920 came into being and The Accademia di Romania to Roma is founded known as Romanian Academic Institute from Rome or the Romanian School from Rome. Through royal decree on 22nd December 1921, Vasile Pârvan is named manager and would insist on obtaining a land to build a cultural settlement. Finally, a land is obtained, but the lack of money delayed the beginning of construction. The one, which supported it, was the Bank of Romania, which since 20 November 1924 made a contract with Petre Antonescu, well-known architect, the promoter of national style between wars and who, also, was the rector of Architecture School from Bucharest.

Although there were some problems from Italian part connecting architecture, placement etc. On the 20th of January 1928, they began to build it and a lot of important people are present such as: Nicolae Titulescu, the External Ministry of Romania, the Manager of Romanian National Bank, the Prime Minister of Italy, Benito Mussolini, and other men of culture and political ones. The Romanian National Bank donated the building of Romanian School from Valle Giulia. The building is achieved in classical style, being surrounded by terraces and alleys. The Italian government president was also interested in achieving this. Emil Panaitescu was the Manager of Romanian School from Rome at that time and he was to Mussolini in 1931, and the French newspaper Le Temps from January 1931 mentioned that Mussolini nimself donated 50.000 Italian liras and more books. He also insisted on being at the inauguration on the 10th of January 1933.

Vasile Parvan, Emil Panaitescu, Nicolae Iorga, Ion Bianu and others had an important role in supporting the Romanian culture.At this school, a lot of specialists were educated in the field of Romanian Archeology, Antique History, Arts History, Classical Filology and Achives. Between 1933-1935, there were educated other future well-known historians among whom: the I. I. Russu, D. Tudor, D. Bodiu, N. Corivan, D. Berciu, Emil Condurachi, Ion Bianu, Mihai Berza, Constantin Daicoviciu, Aurel Decei, Radu Vulpe, Grigore Florescu, Mihail Macrea, Alexandru Marcu, Bucur Mitrea, Dionisie H. Pippidi, Dinu Adamesteanu etc.

Some of them continued their activity in Italy and others in some other countries or Romania. The Romanian School from Rome made researches at the Vatican Archies, the Institute de Propaganda Fide, Fond Borghese, The State Archives from Venice, Genova, Pisa, Padova etc. They published Diplomatorum Italicum, a periodical that contains evidence from Italian Archives and Ephemeris Daco-Romana, The Romanian School year book, with Roman Archeological Studies and Antique History. The school used to organize conferences, taking part a lot of well-known Italian members of different institutions from the capital. Because of its highly scientific activity, The Romanian School of Rome was considered one of the cultural institutions with a great activity in the field of culture. In the same time, it developed cultural connections with other capitals of Europe.

THE ROMANIAN SCHOOL FROM PARIS

The Romanian School from Paris was founded due to Nicolae Iorga. He was supported by a large number of deputies. The President was Duliu Zamfirescu, who brought the initiative. The existence of a Romanian Centre of Culture was one of the man of science's wishes. The Project was voted on the 23th of August 1920.

Iorga also supported the foundation of other Romanian schools in Rome and Paris. The two schools was to come into being on the 1st October 1921. So, on the 18th of January 1921, The Romanian School from Paris came into being. On the 7th of January, Iorga inaugurated the lectures from Sorbona. The Romanian School had its headquarters Fontenay-aux-Roses. On the 1st of July 1922, the Romanian School from Paris is inaugurated and all the professors from Sorbona participated. All the historians and artists from that period and members of this school.

Nicolae Iorga will have conferences together with some other men of science at that time. The two schools , one from Paris and the other from Rome contributed to evaluate the Romanian documents from libraries, archives and had an important role to promote the cultural life of Romania in the world. The men of culture and science; historians, philologists and archeologists contributed to the consolidation of the Latin spirit of these two countries.

THE ROMANIAN HOUSE FROM VENICE

The connections of Romanian Countries with Venice dated from hundreds of years, but were more intense beginning with the XIXth century. Nicolae Iorga visited the town in 1890. He stayed in Italy 2 months with a scholarship and published his impresions in "The New Magazine".

He had already published 35 letters by 1896, which were exchanged among the members of Alexandru Mircea Family, who lived at Venice at that time. He made some reseraches at the Venice Archives and found some document, which he published in a book "Gli ospetti romeni di Venezia". In 1914, Iorga published "Chestiunea Marii Mediterane, Venice and The Black Sea", "Venezia e la Penisola dei Balcani", 5 Conferences about Venice". Thus he thought about founding an institution for young researchers to the view of developing these activities. Iorga's ideas couldn't be put into practice because of the political events at that time.

Yet, that year of 1928, the lawyer Bombardella, Romanian consul at Venice and Ernest Marin, a musician from Romanian Army bought a part of the building from Campo Santa Fosca. On 29 January 1929, the contract is signed.The National Bank of Romania had also had a great contribution. The building was to host researchers, students, who were to study the Archives from Venice, and as Iorga used to say "the cultivated travellers capable of respecting the House and honour the country". Thus building is in fact the Correr Palace, built by Cautarini family and in the XVIth century is Correr's property, the family, who founded the Civico Museum from San Marco Square. From the construction point of view, the building has two stories and is almost the same as other buildings from near the church Santa Frosca finished in 1700. The Palace has 2 buildung parts. One is from the XVIth century and the other from XVIIIth century.

The part from Campo Santa Fosca is accomplished by the architect Visentini, made of stone as the buildings from XVIIth century were built. The XIXth century brought about a series of changes. Thus, the ground floor is adapted to commercial areas and other floor are all fashioned keeping the XIVth century brand. This was the first Venetian Palace belonging to another country. It has 25 rooms. Casa Romena from Venice is officially opened on the 2nd of April 1930 in the presence of Nicolae Iorga and other cultural personalities from 2 countries. The importance of the event is always announced by the media. He mentioned once that "here once there were goods full of foreign richness". Of all 25 rooms, Iorga had an apartement that he used for receptions, meetings etc. The assassination of Iorga in 1940, the political events that followed both in Romania and Europe, influenced the cultural activity negativelly and this institution had financial difficulties.

The building belonged to the South-East European Institute until 1948 when it passed under the authority of Romanian State and the last manager Anna Potop is obliged to leave the building. Then the building began to destroy and all the valuable things dissapeared. Towards `70 and `80, some tried to repair it. The Italian authorities tried to support the projet of rebuilding the palace. The founds were aproved in 1988 and the Romanian specialists began the workings in 1984. The Restauration was difficult because all the walls and ceilings of the palace were getting mouldy. At the first storey, there was a room for the exhibition and conferences, a library, a lecture room and other areas for cultural destination. During the restauration,they looked for the fresca "The Deification of a Warman" by the Venetian painter Gianbattista Tiepolo.

THE ROMANIAN INSTITUTE FROM ALBANY

Nicolae Iorga success brought to Balkanian historiography important men and appreciation. Albanian people regarded Iorga as a great friend and defender of the freedom of Balkanian people. The Albanian king and the President of Ministry Council and the Ministry of Romania at Tirana, Vasile Stoica decided to give Iorga a house with a garden on the coast Adriatic Sea, near Santi Quaranta- Saranda in front of Corfu island. The first telegram sent from Tirana nr.614 on the 24th August 1931 was registered with the nr. 49779 on the 25th August 1931.It was addressed to Ministry Ghica and signed by Vasile Stoica. Another telegram is sent from Tirana nr. 628 on 31 August 1931 and mentioned that Vasile Stoica postponed the visit to Santi Quaranta. It signed by Vasile Stoica. Another telegram is addressed to Ghica nr.237 from Tirana signed by V. Stoica on the 24th April 1932 and given property to Iorga the place from Saranda.Vasile Stoica sends a new telegram nr.236 on the 25th April 1932 to the Royal Ministry of External Affairs nr.22742 on the 25th April 1932 addressed to Nicolae Iorga who was at that time the President of Ministry Council. The telegram is decaded by Negulescu and Bilciurescu.

The great interest given to this part of Balkanian Peninsula in 1934 made the opportunity for a new law to create a scientifique mission in Albania with different aimes. This mission was to go deeply under the knowledge of all the unities of this area. This law was voted both by the Senate and the Deputy Assembly. Iorga gave an idyllic description of the location from Santi Quaranta which he donated on the 13th of August 1934.He named Dumitru Berciu to go to Santi Quaranta as soon as the institute is ready to begin his scientifique activity. In 1935 the Romanian Archeological College is founded at Bucharest. The members are not satisfied with Iorga's ideea of founding an Insitute in Albany.

The conditions are known by the Romanian State and the building constructions were to begin soon.So Dumitru Berciu couldn't go to Saranda in the summer of 1936 being in Viena finishing his studies. Iorga proposed Vlad Banateanu23 to see the evolution of the construction.On the 28th of April 1936 Iorga annonnced D.Berciu that he was to be sent the money by the Ministry of External Affairs to begin a small building.The reprezentatives of Albanian government agreed to achieving a cultural Romanian settlement in Albania but the reprezentatives of Italy embassy at Tirana oposed. Professor D. Berciu was very diplomatic and made an agreement with the Albanian government. D. Berciu came back from Viena and Iorga congratulated him for his results. In 1937 berciu left for Albania to begin the construction of the building.The materials are brought from Romania. Thus the Institute goal was about the byzantine culture and folklore. The Building was settled on two teraces near the Sea. On the first terace was the building itself. The entrance was 5 arches and 4 pillars.In front of it there was a garden.

Nicolae Iorga had a great role in the scientifique activity of the Institute. As soon as the construction are began the acheological research began too and went on that of linguistique, etnography, folklore and history. One of its assistants was Ilie Chiafazezi the manager of an Albanian school from Corita-Corcea. He spoke Romanian and he contributed to achieving a library in Saranda. He was a Romanian translator and knew all the manuscripts from Albanian monasteries, churches and libraries. His cooperation was precious. He published an interesting material on the churches' inscriptions from Moscopole. The documents were discovered in the Library Saint Peter from Bitcuchi, churches from Metropoly from Corita, documents from Prodrom Moscopole, the manuscript of Cavalioti from 1743 discovered in 1936. The article published by Ilie Chiafazezi was entitled "What did Moscopole represent for the Romanians"? In 1939 the National Library from Tirana discovered a manuscript of Aromanian origin, a Dhidhahia linguistic monument. In 1957 Chiafazezi sent to the linguistic Institute a lot of photocopies of certain manuscripts after the on from 1939 wich was to be studied in Romania under the name of Aromanian Missal.

At the beginning of 1939 a law was proposed to found the scientifique mission in Albany from 1934.26The law contained 2 articles. The proposal was D. Berciu's and noticed by the the historian N. Iorga. In a report from 25 of February 1939 of N Lahovary to Gr. Gafencu, External Ministry, the private discussion in related regarding the Romanian Institute from Albany. On the 7th of April 1939 Albany is atacked by the fascist Italy and occupied in the same month. Victor Emanuel the IIIrd became the king of Albany. The Institute was almost ready at that time. The location and the building was in Romanian property. The events that followed, the assassination of Nicolae Iorga, made that the new government from that time abolish the institute. The Romanian state lost both the money spent to build the construction and also the rights obtained from the Albanian government. To avoid unpleasant situations it is recommended to come to the old situation. The animosities between Italy and Greece from Saranda didn't bring about major distructions of the Insitute. During the war the Institute was a hospital. Yet a bomb dropped nearly and the terrace on the right was destroyed. All these evidences are presented by D. Berciu in a statement below.

It was re-established in 1942 by Antonescu, and D. Berciu is named first secretary and then manager. In 1942 D. Berciu went to Albany, through Vienne-Rome-Bari-Bari-Tirana-Saranda- during the war. He wanted to see what the building looked like. He asked Romanian Legation from Rome to have the necessary support to accomplish his mission. Because of poor travelling, D. Berciu sent to Bucharest a cable to prolong his journey with another 10 days. The cable informed the External Ministry Affairs about this. When being in Albany, Berciu sow the building and place and made an agreement with the general commander of the Italian military garrison.

Then he came back through Yugoslavia-via Bitolia - Belgrad. There were difficult conditions. There is a statement at the National Cultural Ministry and a copy of it at the Archives. It is addressed to Ioan Petrovici, a minister at that time. At the archives there are some letters between the two governments, Romanian and Italian, regarding the cultural agreement in prescriving the spiritual and cultural values. There also was a proposal law regarding the re-establishing the activity at Romanian Institute from Santi- Quaranta, Albany.

After 1944 nothing is mentioned about the Romanian Institute from Albany. After 1990 there were articles in Romanian media about this Institute. The authorities allowed everybody to check the Archives regarding the activity of the Institute. The Romanian State brought into law the regaining the building and the place of the Institute. The re-establishing of the Romanian Institute corresponded to N. Iorga's vision of collaboration between the Romanian men of science and others. Translated by Daniela Ursalas

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

[1] Nicolae Iorga La place des Roumain dans l'histoire universelles, 3.vol., Bucuresti,1935, vol. I, p.9.

[2] George Lazarescu, Scoala Româna din Roma, Bucuresti, 1996, p. 11.

[3] Ibidem, p. 14.

[4] Tanase Bujduveanu, Institutul Român din Albania, L'Institut Roumain D'Albanie, The Romanian Institute from Albany, Constanta, 2010, passim.

[5] Petre Antonescu, Cladiri si studii, vol. 1, Bucuresti, 1913, passim.

[6] Cristian Paunescu, Ctitorii ale Bancii Nationale a României în Italia, în "Magazin Istoric", an. XXXII, nr. 2 (571), Bucuresti, 1998, p. 65-67.

[7] idem, Cladiri, constructii, proiectii si studii, Bucuresti, 1963, p. 24-26, plansele XXXII, XXXIII, XXXIV, XXXV.

[8] Emil Panaitescu, Audienta de la Mussolini, în "Magazin Istoric", an. XXX, nr. 12 (357), Bucuresti, 1996, p. 29-30.

[9] Ioan Lacusta, Pagini de istorie academica, 28 februarie 1931. Mussolini sustine Scoala Româna din Roma, în "Magazin Istoric", an. XXX, nr.12 (357), Bucuresti, 1996, p. 28-31.

[10] Cristian Paunescu, Accademia di Romania - 80 de ani. O vârsta venerabila, în "Magazin Istoric", an. XXXVII, nr. 3 (432), Bucuresti, 2003, p. 90-91.

[11] *** "Monitorul Oficial", nr. 167/31 octombrie 1920, p. 5894 - 5895.

[12] Nicolae Iorga, Pagini alese, Bucuresti, 1985, p. 173.

[13] Petre Turlea, Scoala Româna din Franta, Bucuresti, 1994, passim.

[14] idem, Scoala Româna din Franta în amintirile unora dintre membrii sai, în "Tomis", octombrie, Constanta, 2004, p. 72- 74.

[15] idem, Scoala Româna din Franta în amintirile fostilor sai elevi, în "Tomis", noiembrie, Constanta, 2004, p. 36- 38.

[16] Nicolae Iorga, O viata de om, Bucuresti, 1976, p. 599.

[17]idem, Amintiri din Italia, Bucuresti, 1895, p. 61-118.

[18]*** "Dosarele Istoriei", VI, 6, Bucuresti, 2001, p. 6.

[19] Atanasie Popescu, Un focar românesc de cultura renascut: Palatul Correr, în "Magazin Istoric", an. XXIV, nr. 6, Bucuresti, 1990, p. 35.

[20] Gheorghe Zbuchea, Iorga si lumea sud-est europeana, în "Dosarele Istoriei", an.VI, nr. 6, Bucuresti, 2001, p.39-41.

[21] Dumitru Berciu, Marturii inedite despre activitatea profesorului Nicolae Iorga privind înfiintarea unor centre culturale în Peninsula Balcanica.Institutul Român din Albania, în "Anuarul Albanezul", 401, Bucuresti, 1996, p.101-103.

[22] Tanase Bujduveanu, Un institut român în Albania, în "Balcanii si Europa", nr.51, Bucuresti, 2005, p.30.

[23] Vlad Banateanu, Educatia poporului în alte tari. Scoala si educatia poporului în Albania, în " Boabe de grâu", an. IV, nr.8, Bucuresti, 1933, p. 495-512.

[24] Ilie M.Chiafazezi, Inscriptiile bisericilor din Moscopole.Ce a fost Moscopole pentru români.Urme de arta românesti în Albania, în "Buletinul Comisiunii Monumentelor Istorice", an.XXI, fasc.97,, Asezamântul Tipografic "Datina Româneasca", Valenii de Munte, 1938, p.134-142.

[25] Ioan Scurtu, Românii din afara granitelor României de azi, în "Dosarele Istoriei", an. III, nr. 6, Bucuresti, 1998, p.1-6.

[26] Mircea Popescu, Nicolae Iorga si problema aromâneasca, în "Noul Album Macedo-Român", vol.I, Institutul Român de Cercetari. Biblioteca Româna, Freiburg, 1959, p.270-271.

[27] Roxana Ichim, Soarta trista a unui Institut Român, în "Balcanii si Europa", nr.108-109, Bucuresti, 2010, p.13.