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SUMMARY
The process of modernization of Romania’s army,
which started during the rule of
Domnitor
Alexandru
Ioan Cuza and continued under
Domnitor
Carol I (who
later became king, in 1881), required the adoption of
various forms of organization of the officers’ranks with
the goal of improving their social life outside barracks.
Therefore, the institution of “military club” came to
existence, in the shape of a private, self-financed and
self-administered association of the officer corps. The
military club was considered to be the perfect place
where the officers couldmeet in their spare time to dis-
cuss issues regarding doctrine and strategy, play vari-
ous sports (including fencing, which was highly fash-
ionable at that time), expand their knowledge at the
library, learn foreign languages, etc. The social aspect
was of outmost importance, the military clubs having
the role of interface between army and civil society.
The idea of establishing military clubs in the garri-
sons of the Romanian army first appeared in the 1880s,
before the War of Independence. Therefore, by Deci-
sion no. 15 of March 7, 1875, the Ministry announced
that a military club could not be established without
its prior consent. The military clubs were administered
by a commission comprising three to seven members,
who were elected by the officers in the garrison, their
financial activity being controlled every three months
by the head of the division intendance.
The Military Club of Bucharest was established
during a tumultuous period for Romania, South-East-
ern Europe being shaken yet again by the two century
old “oriental crisis”. In 1875, Bosnia and Herzegovina
rebelled and, in the following year, Serbia and Mon-
tenegro waged war against the Ottoman Empire.
The Russian Empire, eager to avenge its defeat in the
“Crimean War” (1853-1856), not only stirred, but also
intervened into these disputes.
In such a tensioned context, the officers from the
Bucharest garrison decided to establish the Military
Club, its statutes – representing the birth certificate
– being adopted on December 15, 1876. The statutes
stated that the institution was to be “a public estab-
lishment for gatherings” meant to “not only entertain
the officers, but to educate them, as well”. Also, the
Military Club was meant to stimulate and develop the
officers’ personal dignity and military prestige in the
social life. It is also worth mentioning that the new in-
stitution was placed under the patronage of
Domnitor
Carol I.
Despite the tough conditions Romania found it-
self into, the officers’ Military Club in Bucharest had
a major cultural initiative, by launching, in February
1877, the “Army Review”, one of the first military pub-
lications, which represented not only an information
channel, but also a tribune for debates.
