Constructing the Other: Images of the Bulgarians in Romanian Memoirs of the Balkan and First World Wars

The article examines the construction of the image of Bulgarians in Romanian war memoirs from the Balkan Wars and World War I. Romania’s intervention in the Second Balkan War in 1913 and the subsequent annexation of Southern Dobruja, followed by the events of World War I, severely strained relations and gave rise to enduring negative representations of the “other.” Bulgarians are frequently portrayed as primitive and cruel, often described in derogatory terms. Yet, some Romanian memoirists, such as Mihail Sadoveanu and Gheorghe Topîrceanu, provide a more nuanced perspective, depicting Bulgarians—both soldiers and civilians—with traits of humanity, hospitality, and empathy. These accounts reveal an “invisible solidarity” that transcends ethnic and cultural boundaries, showing that human kindness can persist even in the midst of armed conflict. Ultimately, these varied narratives serve not merely as historical records but as powerful cultural instruments for shaping national identity and legitimizing wartime actions, while also contributing to the creation of national myths and collective memory. In parallel, Bulgarian war memoirs—particularly those of Yordan Yovkov and Anton Strashimirov—construct a mirror image of Romanians as aggressors, occupiers, and perpetrators of “barbaric measures.”