Proclamation of Islaz

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The Proclamation of Islaz (Romanian: Proclamaţia de la Islaz) was the program adopted on June 9, 1848 by Romanian revolutionaries. It was written by Ion Heliade Rădulescu. On June 11, under pressure from the masses, Domnitor Gheorghe Bibescu was forced to accept the terms of the proclamation and recognise the provisional revolutionary government.

[edit] Provisions

The Proclamation of Islaz has the form and value of a constitutional act. The 21 provisions were:

1. Administrative and legislative independence of the Romanian people, based on the treaties of Mircea and Vlad the fifth, without interference from foreign powers.

2. Equality of political rights.

3. General contribution.

4. General assembly composed of representatives of all social classes.

5. A Responsible Lord elected from any social class, for a five year term . (1)

6. Reduction of bureaucracy - eradication of all means of corruption.

7. Accountability of all ministers and all officials for the function they exercise . (2)

8. Absolute freedom of the press.

9. Any reward comes from the Motherland through its representatives, and not from the Lord.

10. The right of each county to choose its own leaders , right which follows from the right of the country to choose it's Lord.

11. National guard.

12. Emancipation of dedicated monasteries. (3)

13. Emancipation of landless peasants which become owners with due monetary compensation.

14. Freeing of the gypsies with due monetary compensation.

15.Romanian representative at Constantinopole. (4)

16.Equal and full instructions for all Romanians of both sexes .

17. The abolishment of the ranks of nobility which have no function.

18. The abolishment of the degrading punishment of beating.

19. The abolishment, in fact and in law, of the punishment of death.

20. Penitentiaries where the criminals may cleanse their sins and come out improved.

21. Emancipation of the Israelites and political wrights for all compatriots of other religions.

22. Immediate summoning of an extraordinary constituency general assembly elected to represent all the interests or trades of the nation, which will be obliged to write the constitution of the country on the basis of these 21 articles decreed by the Romanian People.

(1) The Lord was the supreme leader of the country

(2) Ministers of the government

(3) Monasteries dedicated to the patriarchy of Istanbul

(4) Constantinopole alternative name for Istanbul

The location of Islaz (now in Teleorman County, then in Romanaţi County) was a small port on the Danube with some commercial significance, which, unlike the ports of Turnu Măgurele, Giurgiu and Calafat, was not under the direct control of the Turks.

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