Bukovina

BUKOVINA, a small province of Rumania situated at the junction of the Polish, Czechoslovak and Rumanian frontiers at the northernmost point of Rumania. It also adjoins Bessarabia and so is near the Russian frontier. Until 1918 it was a crown land of Austria which it had become in 1849. Originally it had been a principality of Moldavia under Turkish control. It was occu pied by Russia in 1769 and by Austria in 1774 to whom it was finally ceded by Turkey in 1775.

It

is inhabited mainly by Rumanians and Ruthenians, and by minorities of Germans and Poles. The capital is Czernowitz (Cernauti) which lies upon the main railway-line that joins Bucha rest with Lemberg (Lwow). Bukovina contains some very remarkable examples of Rumanian art and architecture in the shape of the monasteries of Sucevita and Voronetz, which, with many of the churches of the province, have the unique peculiarity of being almost wholly covered with paintings on the outside. Heavy eaves protect much of the painting from the weather. The population of Bukovina numbers with a density larger than in any other part of Rumania. Cernauti is the third largest city of Rumania; pop. 111,122; and has a university with three faculties, founded in 1875.

History.—The Bukovina was most probably inhabited by Ruthenian tribes from an early date. Later, it formed part of the Principality of Moldavia, whose ancient capital, Suceava, was in this province. As such, it was long under Turkish suzerainty. It was occupied by Russia in 1769, and by Austria in 1774, to whom it was ceded by Turkey in the following year. Up to 1849 it formed part of Galicia (q.v.), being then created a separate crown land. Under Austrian rule many Germans were settled in the province, which made great progress, and was considered a model for the rest of Austria for the harmony which reigned among the different nationalities. On the collapse of the Austro Hungarian Monarchy, the last governor, Count Etzdorf, handed over the province to the Ruthenes (Oct. 23, 1918) . Four days later, representatives of the Rumanians met at Cernowitz and pro claimed a Constituent Assembly which voted the union of the province within its historic boundaries with Rumania. The Assembly then appealed to the Rumanian Government at Jassy for Rumanian troops, which entered Cernowitz on Nov. II, 1918.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.-Bidermann,

Die Bukovina unter der oesterreichBibliography.-Bidermann, Die Bukovina unter der oesterreich- ischen Verwaltung, 1775-1875 (Lemberg, 1876) ; R. F. Kaindl, Ge schichte der Deutschen in den Karpathenlandern (Gotha, igo6) .