Southern Bessarabia or South Bessarabia () is a territory of Bessarabia which, as a result of the Crimean War, was returned to the Moldavian Principality in 1856. As a result of the unification of the latter with Wallachia, these lands became part of United Principalities of Moldova and Wallachia.

In 1878, despite opposition from Romania, the Berlin Treaty, which followed the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), transferred this region back to the Russian Empire (which reintegrated it into the Bessarabia Governorate).

The transfer of the territory took place in October 1878. From 13 to 18 October, Russia took over Southern Bessarabia while the Romanian officials withdrew.Frederick Kellogg, Purdue University Press, 1995, The Road to Romanian Independence, p. 191 In 1918 Southern Bessarabia yet again became part of the Kingdom of Romania for the following 22 years (1918–1940) and again between 1941 and 1944.

Administrative divisions The area of the region was and covered 3 counties: Cahul County Bolgrad County Ismail County

Gallery

See also Budjak Romanian War of Independence Administrative divisions of Moldavia Administrative divisions of Romania

References

Ion Nistor, Istoria Basarabiei, edit. Humanitas, București, 1991