According to the

2021 Romanian census The 2021 Romanian census () was a census held in Romania between 1 February and 31 July 2022, with the reference day for the census data set at 1 December 2021. The census was supposed to be done in 2021, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 ...

, 2,137

Poles Pole or poles may refer to: People *Poles (people), another term for Polish people, from the country of Poland * Pole (surname), including a list of people with the name * Pole (musician) (Stefan Betke, born 1967), German electronic music artist ...

live in Romania, mainly in the villages of

Suceava County Suceava County () is a county (') of Romania. Most of its territory lies in the southern part of the Historical regions of Romania, historical region of Bukovina, while the remainder forms part of Western Moldavia proper. The county seat and the ...

(). There are three exclusively Polish villages, as follows: ''Nowy Sołoniec'' (

Solonețu Nou Cacica (, ) is a commune in Suceava County, in the historical region of Bukovina, northeastern Romania. The commune is located in the central part of the county, from the town of Gura Humorului, from the city of Rădăuți, and from the count ...

), ''Plesza'' ( Pleșa), and ''Pojana Mikuli'' ( Poiana Micului), as well a significant Polish presence in ''Kaczyca'' (

Cacica Cacica (, ) is a commune in Suceava County, in the historical region of Bukovina, northeastern Romania. The commune is located in the central part of the county, from the town of Gura Humorului, from the city of Rădăuți, and from the coun ...

) and ''Paltynosa'' (

Păltinoasa Păltinoasa () is a commune located in Suceava County, in the historical region of Bukovina, northeastern Romania. It is composed of two villages, namely Capu Codrului () and Păltinoasa. Administration and local politics Communal council ...

). There is also a relatively sizable number of ethnic Poles living in the county seat,

Suceava Suceava () is a Municipiu, city in northeastern Romania. The seat of Suceava County, it is situated in the Historical regions of Romania, historical regions of Bukovina and Western Moldavia, Moldavia, northeastern Romania. It is the largest urban ...

(). Poles in Romania form an officially recognised

national minority National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...

, having one seat in the

Chamber of Deputies The chamber of deputies is the lower house in many bicameral legislatures and the sole house in some unicameral legislatures. Description Historically, French Chamber of Deputies was the lower house of the French Parliament during the Bourb ...

(currently held by the

Union of Poles of Romania The Union of Poles of Romania (, UPR; ), or Dom Polski, is an ethnic minority political party in Romania representing the Polish community. History The UPR was registered on 16 March 1990. Xenia Grabska-Stoica was the first president of ...

) and access to Polish elementary schools and cultural centres (known as "Polish Houses" or "Dom Polski" in Polish).

History

Biserica Preasfanta Inima a lui Isus din Poiana Micului

The first Poles settled in

Moldavia Moldavia (, or ; in Romanian Cyrillic alphabet, Romanian Cyrillic: or ) is a historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester River. An initially in ...

in the times of Casimir III (specifically during the

Late Middle Ages The late Middle Ages or late medieval period was the Periodization, period of History of Europe, European history lasting from 1300 to 1500 AD. The late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern period ( ...

). Most of the Poles immigrating after 1774 were looking for work. So it was that Polish miners from

Bochnia Bochnia is a town on the river Raba in southern Poland, administrative seat of Bochnia County in Lesser Poland Voivodeship. The town lies approximately halfway between Tarnów (east) and the regional capital Kraków (west). Bochnia is most noted ...

and

Wieliczka Wieliczka (German: ''Groß Salze'', Latin: ''Magnum Sal'') is a historic town in southern Poland, situated within the Kraków metropolitan area in Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999. The town was initially founded in 1290 by Premislaus II of P ...

were brought to salt mines in Cacica. Another wave of Polish immigration arrived in

Bukovina Bukovina or ; ; ; ; , ; see also other languages. is a historical region at the crossroads of Central and Eastern Europe. It is located on the northern slopes of the central Eastern Carpathians and the adjoining plains, today divided betwe ...

in the early 19th century, when the region was a

crownland Crown land, also known as royal domain, is a territorial area belonging to the monarch, who personifies the Crown. It is the equivalent of an entailed estate and passes with the monarchy, being inseparable from it. Today, in Commonwealth realm ...

of the

Austro-Hungarian Empire Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military and diplomatic alliance, it consist ...

, as was a significant portion of present-day southern Poland (see:

Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria The Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, also known as Austrian Galicia or colloquially Austrian Poland, was a constituent possession of the Habsburg monarchy in the historical region of Galicia (Eastern Europe), Galicia in Eastern Europe. The Cr ...

). Around 1803, Polish highlanders from

Čadca Čadca (; until 1918 Čatca, Czača, , ) is a district town in northern Slovakia, near the border with Poland and the Czech Republic. Etymology The name is derived from a word ''čad'' (smoke, soot; Proto-Slavic: ''čadъ'', Slovak/ Czech: ''ča ...

() settled in ''Treblecz'' ( Tereblecea, now in

Chernivtsi Raion Chernivtsi Raion () is a raion (district) of Chernivtsi Oblast, Ukraine. It was created on 18 July 2020 as part of the reform of administrative divisions of Ukraine. Most of its territory is located in the historical region of Bukovina, while the ...

Chernivtsi Oblast Chernivtsi Oblast (), also referred to as Chernivechchyna (), is an oblast (province) in western Ukraine, consisting of the northern parts of the historical regions of Bukovina and Bessarabia. It has an international border with Romania and Moldo ...

Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...

) by

Siret Siret (; ; ; ; ) is a town, municipality and former Latin bishopric in Suceava County, northeastern Romania. It is situated in the historical region of Bukovina. Siret is the 11th largest urban settlement in the county, with a population of 6,708 ...

, in ''Stara Huta Krasna'' and in ''Kaliczanka'' and again in 1814 to 1819, this time settling in ''Hliboka'' ( Adâncata) and ''Tereszna''. Nowy Sołoniec was settled in 1834, Plesza in 1835, and Pojana Mikuli in 1842. At that time, it must be mentioned that Bukovina was a very attractive region of the

Austrian Empire The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a Multinational state, multinational European Great Powers, great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the Habsburg monarchy, realms of the Habsburgs. Duri ...

to live in thanks to Austria's policy not to conscript recruits into its army from there (service in the Austrian army at that time was for a 14-year term). Furthermore, Bukovina was free from

serfdom Serfdom was the status of many peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to manorialism and similar systems. It was a condition of debt bondage and indentured servitude with similarities to and differences from slavery. It developed du ...

, primarily attracting immigrants of

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

(who later formed the basis of the Bukovina German community of the region),

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

, and also Czecho- Slovak origin but also Polish ethnicity and even

Russian Russian(s) may refer to: *Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *A citizen of Russia *Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages *''The Russians'', a b ...

and

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

. There were probably other waves of migration from Poland after the

November November is the eleventh and penultimate month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 30 days. November was the ninth month of the calendar of Romulus . November retained its name (from the Latin ''novem'' meaning " ...

and

Kraków Uprising The Kraków Uprising ( Polish: ''powstanie krakowskie'', ''rewolucja krakowska''; German: ''Krakauer Aufstand''; Russian: ''краковское восстание'') of 1846 was an attempt, led by Polish insurgents such as Jan Tyssowski and ...

s, but most Poles were from peasant families relocated there by the Empire's authorities after they participated in the

Jakub Szela Jakub Szela (was born 14 July 1787, Smarżowa, in Galicia - died 21 April 1860, Dealul Ederii, in Bukovina, now Romania) was a Polish leader of a peasant uprising against the Polish gentry in Galicia in 1846; directed against manorial property ...

insurrection. During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Lucjan Skupiewski, Polish physician born in

Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

, was the organizer and manager of all hospitals for the wounded in the

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...

area. After the war, he stayed in Romania, and was the deputy deputy mayor of Bucharest and senator for the Polish minority. Following the restoration of independent Poland, since 1919, many Poles left

for Poland. Four Polish newspapers were issued in Romania in the interbellum (''Gazeta Polska'', ''Głos Ludu'', ''Głos Prawdy'', ''Kurier Polski w Rumunii''). The largest urban concentrations of Poles in Romania were

Cernăuți Chernivtsi (, ; , ;, , see also #Names, other names) is a city in southwestern Ukraine on the upper course of the Prut River. Formerly the capital of the historic region of Bukovina, which is now divided between Romania and Ukraine, Chernivt ...

(with 8,986 people), Bucharest (1,650),

Chișinău Chișinău ( , , ; formerly known as Kishinev) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Moldova, largest city of Moldova. The city is Moldova's main industrial and commercial centre, and is located in the middle of the coun ...

(1,436), Sadagura (1,333), Storojineț (1,017) and

Bălți Bălți () is a city in Moldova. It is the second-largest city in terms of population, area and economic importance, after Chișinău. The city holds the status of municipiu. Sometimes called "the northern capital", it is a major industrial, cu ...

(981), according to the 1930 Romanian census. The Polonia Cernăuți Polish

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

club was active in Cernăuți, and was one of the top teams in the region of Bukovina, winning several regional championships and reaching the quarterfinals of the national Romanian championships three times. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, a portion of northern and eastern Romania was annexed by the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

, including the

, Storojineț and

counties, which were home to sizeable Polish populations of 15,243, 7,985 and 3,165 people, respectively, according to the 1930 Romanian census. After the war, many Poles from the sizeable Polish communities in Bukovina and

Lupeni Lupeni (; German: ''Schylwolfsbach'', Hungarian: ''Lupény'') is a mining city in the Jiu Valley in Hunedoara County, Romania, in the historical region of Transylvania. It is one of the oldest and largest cities in the Jiu Valley. It is located ...

were repatriated to Poland.

Communes with the highest Polish population percentage

Map of Poles in Suceava County and Southern Bukovina

— 20.04% **

Mănăstirea Humorului Mănăstirea Humorului () is a Communes of Romania, commune located in Suceava County, in the Historical regions of Romania, historical region of Bukovina, northeastern Romania. It is composed of three villages, namely: Mănăstirea Humorului, Ple ...

— 19.3% **

Mușenița Mușenița is a commune located in Suceava County, Bukovina, northeastern Romania. It is composed of five villages, namely: Baineț (the commune center), Climăuți, Mușenița, Vășcăuți, and Vicșani. The commune is located in the northeas ...

— 4.06% ** Moara — 3.23% **

— 1.14%

Notable Polish Romanians

Ciprian Porumbescu Ciprian Porumbescu (; born Cyprian Gołęmbiowski on 14 October 1853 – 6 June 1883) was a Romanian composer born in Șipotele Sucevei in Bucovina. He was among the most celebrated Romanian composers of his time; his popular works include ...

, composer * Marian Kielec, footballer *

Corneliu Zelea Codreanu Corneliu Zelea Codreanu (; 13 September 1899 – 30 November 1938), born Corneliu Zelinski and commonly known as Corneliu Codreanu, was a far-right Romanian politician, the founder and charismatic leader of the Iron Guard or ''The Legion of ...

, politician, founder of the

Iron Guard The Iron Guard () was a Romanian militant revolutionary nationalism, revolutionary Clerical fascism, religious fascist Political movement, movement and political party founded in 1927 by Corneliu Zelea Codreanu as the Legion of the Archangel M ...

* Ioan Gyuri Pascu (partly Polish), musician, actor, and comedian *

Octavian Smigelschi Octavian or Octav Smigelschi (last name also Smigelski, Smighelschi, Szmigelszki, or Szmigelschi; ; 21 March 1866 – 10 November 1912) was an Austria-Hungary, Austro-Hungarian painter and printmaker, one of the leading Romanians, culturally ...

(partly Polish), painter * Stefan Norris (born in Poland; subsequently settled in Romania), art director *

Mărgărita Miller-Verghy Mărgărita Miller-Verghy (; first name also Margareta, surname also Miller-Verghi, Miller-Vergy; full name also Marg. M-V.; January 1, 1865 – December 31, 1953) was a Romanian socialite and author, also known as a schoolteacher, journalist, crit ...

, author, journalist, critic, and translator *

Wojciech Weiss Wojciech Weiss (4 May 1875 – 7 December 1950) was a prominent Polish painter and draughtsman of the Young Poland movement. Weiss was born in Bukovina to a Polish family in exile of Stanisław Weiss and Maria Kopaczyńska. He gave up mu ...

, painter * Leonard Mociulschi, major general * Henri Cihoski, lieutenant-general * Robert Sadowski, international footballer * Michał Belina Czechowski, Seventh-Day Adventist preacher *

Ghervazen Longher Ghervazen Longher ( Polish: ''Gerwazy Longher'', born January 3, 1972) is a Romanian politician, and a political leader of the Polish minority in Romania. He has been a member of the Chamber of Deputies since 2004. Longher was born in Cacica, Suc ...

, politician *

Adolf Zytogorski Adolf Żytogórski (or Adolph Zytogorski, , later known as John Hanstein) ( – 28 February 1882) was a Polish-British chess master and translator. Biography Details of Zytogorski's early life are sparse. He is usually said to have been born ...

(born in Romania; moved to Poland then England), chess master and translator * Tytus Czerkawski, politician * Izydor Kopernicki, physician * Iosif Malinovski, Roman Catholic vicar and publisher * Gustaw Otręba, physician * Witold Rola Piekarski, cartoonist and academic * Feliks Wierciński, Roman Catholic priest and schoolteacher

Gallery

File:Biserica Preasfanta Inima a lui Isus din Poiana Micului1.jpg,

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Polish people, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken * Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin ...

Romanian Romanian may refer to: *anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Romania **Romanians, an ethnic group **Romanian language, a Romance language ***Romanian dialects, variants of the Romanian language **Romanian cuisine, traditional ...

bilingual sign at the entrance in the village of Poiana Micului () File:Plesza (Rumunia), Pleșa 12.jpg, Romanian-Polish bilingual sign at the entrance in the village of Pleșa () File:Plesza, Dom Polski.jpg, The Polish House () in Pleșa () File:Casa Polonă din Suceava.jpg, The Polish House in Suceava (), built at the round of the 20th century (more specifically between 1903 and 1907) File:Rum-Polo.JPG, Polish newspaper in Romania File:Cacica salt mine01.jpg, The salt mine in Cacica (), Suceava county, southern Bukovina File:Rumunia, Kaczyka, kościół rzymskokatolicki DSCF7626.jpg, Roman Catholic basilica in Cacica File:Plesza (Rumunia), Pleșa 01.jpg, View from the village of Pleșa () File:Plesza (Rumunia), Pleșa 14.jpg, View from the village of Pleșa () File:Nowy Sołoniec (Rumunia), Solonețu Nou 09.jpg, View from Solonețu Nou () File:Vicsani1, Suceava.JPG, Vicșani ()

References

External links

Map of Polish villages in Romania
*
Polonia w Rumunii
*
Polscy uchodźcy w Rumunii 1939–1947. Dokumenty z Narodowych Archiwów Rumunii / Refugiații polonezi în România 1939–1947. Documente din Arhivele Naționale ale României, t. 1, cz. 1 i 2The Polish organization in Romania

Polish minority in Cacica - Romania (archive)
{{Portal bar, Poland, Romania Bukovina Ethnic groups in Romania

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...