Romanian Heroines from Dreamland, Women Whose Stories Made History

Dreamland, Patricia Furstenberg, Inspired by Astonishing Women from Romania’s Past too

History is often told through the stories of kings, rulers or warriors, yet behind these grand narratives are countless women whose lives shaped the country in profound and often unsung ways. We saw the surprising ways in which medieval Romanian queens shaped history, what strange laws defined women’s lives and what their life entailed.

But what about the unknown women from Romania’s prehistory, the classical era, and even modern times? The commoners who might not have held thrones or led armies but played pivotal roles in preserving traditions, influencing culture and driving change? You can read about them in my book Dreamland, which honors the legacies of these remarkable women whose impact, though often quiet, echoes through the pages of Romania’s history. Yo can discover a few of them here, on Women’s History Month.

15/03/202515/03/2025

Daring Queens and Their Surprising Influences in Medieval Romania

Elisabeta Regina Romaniei Peles statue queen

The great halls of Wallachia’s courts echoed with the deep voices of rulers, their boyars and foreign envoys hammering out treaties, forging alliances and, more often than not, deciding the fates of women before they were old enough to understand their worth beyond the ink of a marriage contract. In Moldavia, daughters of noble houses were bartered like fine silks, their marriages securing fragile truces with the Poles, the Hungarians, the upcoming Russians and even Sultans. In Transylvania, a land where Saxon merchants, Székelys warriors and Hungarian lords vied for influence, the Romanians or Vlachs out of the way, noblewomen walked a careful line between tradition and opportunity, sometimes inheriting estates or trading privileges—but always within the confines set by men.

08/03/202515/03/2025

Medieval Women Haunted by Startling Laws in the Romanian Lands

In medieval Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania, the concept of the “perfect woman”, be it a daughter, a wife or a queen, was shaped by both startling secular and religious laws that dictated nearly every aspect of her life. These laws not only defined what women could own or where they could go, but they also controlled whom they could marry and under what circumstances. The image of the ideal woman presented by these laws wasn’t necessarily based on her desires or individuality but was a reflection of society’s expectations, framed by the intertwined forces of religion and politics.

05/03/202515/03/2025

Daughters, Wives, and Queens: Medieval Women in Romania’s History

Exploring the status of women in medieval Romania, across Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania this Women’s History Month reveals a complex picture shaped by diverse historical sources, legal systems, religious influences and, not lastly, legends. Each region presented a distinct profile of women with gender playing a crucial role in shaping their access to knowledge, societal perceptions and, of course, power.

29/11/202429/11/2024

Whispers of Superstition in a Transylvanian Night, Saint Andrew

I’ve prepared a short narrative for the Night of Saint Andrew that explores the deeply ingrained superstitions of Transylvanian culture. The gates between this world and the realm of the dead are said to open on Saint Andrew’s night in Romania. It is thought that restless spirits, also referred to as strigoi, moroi, or vampires, haunt communities, cause problems for the living, and engage in other mischievous activities. On this fateful night, the past and present converge in this tale of superstition, bravery, and encounters with the unknown, all set against the enigmatic and legendary background of Transylvania.

Read now on Romania Insider: Stories from readers: Romanian-born author explores Saint Andrew’s night superstitions in a special story. Enjoy!