Between Scylla and Charybdis

Abstract

Between Scylla and Charybdis: The Political Journey of Dimitrie Moldovan during 1861–1867 The main goal of this essay is to present the political activity carried out between 1860 and 1867 by Dimitrie Moldovan, one of the most prominent figures in the Romanian national movement. Profoundly divided between his loyalty as a Romanian official at the Habsburg Court and his people’s efforts in the struggle for political and religious freedom, Moldovan finds himself in the position of giving advice to both Catholic and Orthodox leaders of Transylvania, but also to other members of the Romanian elite. His main goal was to give a sense of unity of action, regardless of religious dissent and personal interests. The paper comprises two parts. First of all, based on a comprehensive literature, the historical context in which Moldovan carried out most of his political activity will be established. After that, by bringing forward some new evidence from the National Archives, we shall attempt to present his personal and public ties with some of the most important political figures of his time.