Romanian Bucureti
City (pop., 1997: 2,057,512), capital of Romania.
Excavations have revealed evidence of prehistoric settlement. The site gained importance when the rulers of Walachia moved there in the 14th century. Moldavia , and Bucharest became the capital of the new Romanian state in 1862. Occupied by the Soviet army after World War II, it came under communist control. During the 1980s it was the scene of political demonstrations against the government of {{link=Ceausescu, Nicolae">Nicolae Ceausescu that resulted in his overthrow and execution.