The beginnings of Freemasonry in the
Danubian Principalities of
Moldavia and
Wallachia (which would unite to form
Romania in 1859) date to the 18th century and the activities of the humanist scholar Anton Maria del Chiaro, secretary to
voivodes Constantin Brâncoveanu (ruled Wallachia 1688-1714) and
Constantine Mavrocordatos (alternately ruled both domains between 1730 and 1769). In 1734 or 1737, del Chiaro founded the first
Masonic Lodge in the Principalities at
Galati. Shortly thereafter, Mavrocordat founded a lodge at
Iasi while ruler of Moldavia. During the same period in
Transylvania, known Freemasons included László and
János Kemény, Count
Gabriel Bethlen and Baron
Samuel von Brukenthal. In 1753 lodges were set up at
Kronstadt,
Hermannstadt and at the military garrisons of
Sepsiszentgyörgy and
Csíkszereda. On 23 February 1783
Horea, who led
a peasant revolt the following year, gave a Romanian-language speech at the True Understanding Lodge in
Vienna, in which he used a series of Masonic symbols (it is highly likely that he was initiated). In 1795, by imperial decree, Masonic activity was outlawed in the
Habsburg empire, including Transylvania. In Wallachia, the first lodge was very likely established by Jean Louis Carra, secretary to
voivode Grigore III Ghica (October 1768-November 1769).