Conversion to Christian Orthodoxy as a Means to Naturalization. Two Cases and Their Distinct Fates: Lazăr Şăineanu and Constantin Dobrogeanu-Gherea
Conversion to Christian Orthodoxy as a Means to Naturalization. Two Cases and Their Distinct Fates: Lazăr Şăineanu and Constantin Dobrogeanu-Gherea

Summary/Abstract: Although art. 7 of the Constitution of 1866 was modified in 1879, when the interdiction according to which „[o]nly foreigners of Christian religion can become naturalized” was formally abolished, its spirit remained alive and continued to operate for four more decades. Nevertheless, the conversion to Orthodoxy did not guarantee the success of the naturaliza - tion drive. Two paradigmatic cases stand as proof: those of Constantin Dobrogeanu-Gherea and Lazăr Şăineanu. While the attempt of the former proved successful, the latter’s endeavor ended in bitter failure. The present paper tries to unveil the reasons — both individual and social — which led to different (to a certain extent, at least) outcomes in the two cases.

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