Mihail Kogălniceanu's Masonic Insignias / The History of Romania in One Object

The next episode in the Romanian history saga takes us to the heart of the 19th century when a "golden generation" of politicians, forged in the liberal revolutions of 1848, began to develop and conceptualize the idea of bringing together all Romanian provinces in one, unified state. A prominent leader of this group of true founders of modern Romania was Mihail Kogălniceanu who, like most of his fellow reformers, was a Mason initiated and trained in the radical, republican lodges of France. Here is his story and his world. Text by historian and curator Mihaela-Petronela Tudose of Moldavia's History Museum in Iași. Video presentation by historian Ioan Iațcu. Film by Mihai Neagu.

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Mihaela-Petronela Tudose graduated from the Faculty of History at The “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași in 1994 and in 2011 she completed an MA in Patrimony and Cultural Tourism. She is currently a curator and expert in movable cultural heritage at the “Mihail Kogălniceanu” Memorial Museum, part of Moldavia's History Museum. Her interests cover urban history (especially the history of the city of Iași), memorial history and museum pedagogy. Since 2003 she has organized several exhibitions, symposia, and educational workshops.

Ioan Iațcu is a curator at Moldavia's History Museum within "Moldova" National Museum Complex in Iași. He is a specialist in Late Antiquity and dedicated a series of volumes and scientific studies to this historical period, with a foscus on religious constructions, architectural sculpture and parietal painting. Dr. Iațcu curated numerous historical and anthropological exhibitions among which we mention “The Art of Pilgrimage. Christian Objects in the Eastern and South-Eastern Carpathian Space (4th-16th centuries)” and “Olfactive. Spices, Resins, Perfumes and Scents from Antiquity to the Modern Age."

Our online series THE HISTORY OF ROMANIA IN ONE OBJECT, developed in partnership with some of the most important history museums in the country, evokes decisive epochs in Romania's past starting from artifacts or vestiges with powerful symbolic, representative value.