An Example of Settlement in the 19th Century Ottoman Domain: Arap Villages in Dobrudja

Abstract

This article deals with the 1843 settlement on Dobrudja Plain of Arabs who had first arrived in Damascus from Egypt and then transferred to Istanbul. After the Ottoman-Russian War of 1877-78, an independent Romanian state was created, and Dobrudja was incorporated into this new state. At first, it is difficult today to consider the interesting subject of Arab settlers in Romania, about which there is not enough information in the existing literature.

Settling Arabs in Dobrudja towards the middle of the 19th century was an example of successful micro-settlement thanks to the decisive policies and support of the Ottoman government which found a strong response among the Arab settlers and created a strong Ottomanist feeling among them. This is discernible in their response in hurrying to the front voluntarily during World War I in order to defend their “old” country.