Famous Romanian Poets

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 1 
Ovid
(Poet)
Ovid
5
Birthdate: March 20, 0043
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sulmo, Italy, Roman Republic
Died: 0017 AD

Roman poet Publius Ovidius Naso, better known as Ovid, lived during the rule of Augustus. He is held at par with Latin legends Virgil and Horace. Remembered for his mythological masterpiece the Metamorphoses, a 15-book Latin poem, he spent his final years exiled in a city on the Black Sea.

 2 
Mihai Eminescu
(The National Poet of Romania and a Major Figure of Romanticism)
Mihai Eminescu
5
Birthdate: January 15, 1850
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Botoșani, Romania
Died: June 15, 1889

Considered the national poet of Romania, Mihai Eminescu was a major figure of Romanticism in Romanian literature. Starting as an editor for the paper Timpul, he later penned iconic poems such as Luceafărul, or The Evening Star, and stories such as Sărmanul Dionis and Cezara. He, unfortunately, died in a mental asylum.

 3 
Paul Celan
(One of the Most Important and Influential German-Language Poets of the Post-Second World War Era)
Paul Celan
9
Birthdate: November 23, 1920
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Chernivtsi, Ukraine
Died: April 20, 1970

Paul Celan was a Romanian-born poet who wrote in the German language. One of the most important and influential German-language poets of the post-Second World War era, Celan was awarded the Bremen Literature Prize and the Georg Büchner Prize in 1958 and 1960 respectively. Paul Celan is also remembered for his work as a translator.

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 4 
Ion Creanga
(Romanian Author Who Was a Prominent Member of the Junimea Literary Society)
Ion Creanga
3
Birthdate: March 1, 1837
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Târgu Neamț, Moldavia
Died: December 31, 1889

Romanian author Ion Creanga is best remembered for his pioneering contribution to children’s literature, Childhood Memories. He was associated with the Romanian literary society Junimea and the realist art movement. He also enriched the folklore of Romania, drawing on the fairy tales of his land.

 5 
Ion Luca Caragiale
(Romanian Playwright, Poet, and Short Story Writer Known for His Satirical Works)
Ion Luca Caragiale
3
Birthdate: January 30, 1852
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: I. L. Caragiale, Romania
Died: June 9, 1912

Romanian playwright, author, and poet Ion Luca Caragiale was known for his biting satire and parody. A Stormy Night and A Lost Letter are 2 of his best-known dramatic works. At various times, he had also been a journalist, a civil servant, and a restaurateur.

 6 
Lucian Blaga
(Romanian Poet, Philosopher, Poetry Translator, Playwright, and Novelist)
Lucian Blaga
3
Birthdate: May 9, 1895
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Lancram, Alba, Romania
Died: May 6, 1961

Lucian Blaga was a Romanian poet, philosopher, poetry translator, playwright, and novelist. He was also associated with the University of Cluj, where he worked as a professor of cultural philosophy. Over the course of his career, Lucian Blaga was honored with several prestigious awards, such as the Hamagiu Award and a nomination for the Nobel Prize for Literature.

 7 
Mircea Cărtărescu
(Prominent Romanian Novelist, Poet, and Short Story Writer)
Mircea Cărtărescu
5
Birthdate: June 1, 1956
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bucharest, Romania

One of Romania’s most prominent novelists, short story writers, and poets, Mircea Cărtărescu is best known for his novels such as Travesti and Nostalgia. He has previously been a Writers' Union of Romania writer-in-residence and has also taught at the universities of Bucharest, Amsterdam, and Stuttgart.

 8 
Irving Layton
(Canadian Poet)
Irving Layton
3
Birthdate: March 12, 1912
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Targu Neamt, Romania
Died: January 4, 2006
The Romanian-born Canadian poet Irving Layton did not start writing poems formally until he reached his 30s. He was a talented lyricist he considered himself a "romantic with a sense of irony." Known for his honest, outspoken, flamboyant and frank writing, Layton was nominated for the Nobel Prize for literature in 1982 and 1983.
 9 
Tudor Arghezi
(Romanian Author and Poet Known for Enriching Romanian Children's Literature)
Tudor Arghezi
3
Birthdate: May 21, 1880
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bucharest, Romania
Died: July 14, 1967

Romanian author Ion N. Theodorescu, better known as Tudor Arghezi, is remembered for his contribution to Romanian children’s literature and for introducing a new lyric poetry form. He was a leading figure of Poporanism and Symbolism in Romania. The novel Wooden Icons and the poetry collection Suitable Words remain 2 of his best-known works.

 10 
Nichita Stănescu
(Romanian Poet and Essayist Who Was Nominated for the Nobel Prize)
Nichita Stănescu
3
Birthdate: March 31, 1933
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ploiești, Romania
Died: December 13, 1983

Herder Prize-winning Romanian poet and essayist Nichita Stănescu was also nominated for the Nobel Prize. Best known for his work 11 Elegies, he was a Communist at heart and lived most of his live in poverty. He was posthumously made a member of The Romanian Academy.

 11 
Corneliu Vadim Tudor
(Member of the European Parliament for Romania (2009 - 2014))
Corneliu Vadim Tudor
5
Birthdate: November 28, 1949
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bucharest, Romania
Died: September 14, 2015

Known for his extremist views, Romanian politician Corneliu Vadim Tudor established the Romania Mare Party and became known as one of the most significant figures of Romanian politics following the Romanian Revolution. An author and journalist, too, he served as the court poet to dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

 12 
Octavian Goga
(37th Prime Minister of Romania (1937 - 1938))
Octavian Goga
3
Birthdate: April 1, 1881
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Rășinari, Sibiu County, Romania
Died: May 7, 1938

Right-wing Romanian politician Octavian Goga was a significant part of the Romanian nationalistic movement and the Romanian National Party. He later formed the National Christian Party and led Romania as its prime minister. He was a talented poet, playwright, and journalist, too, and penned works such as The Olt River.

 13 
Isidore Isou
(Romanian-born French Novelist and Artist Who Founded an Art and Literary Movement Called 'Lettrism')
Isidore Isou
2
Birthdate: January 29, 1925
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Botoşani, Romania
Died: July 28, 2007

Isidore Isou was a Romanian-born French novelist, dramaturge, poet, visual artist, film director, and economist. He is credited with founding an art and literary movement called Lettrism, which owed inspiration to Surrealism and Dadaism. Isidore Isou is best remembered for his revolutionary 1951 movie, Traité de Bave et d'Eternité.

 14 
Anna de Noailles
(Writer)
Anna de Noailles
2
Birthdate: November 15, 1876
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: April 30, 1933
 15 
Marcel Janco
(Romanian-Israeli Visual Artist and Architect & the Co-Founder of 'Dadaism')
Marcel Janco
3
Birthdate: May 24, 1895
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bucharest, Romania
Died: April 21, 1984

Widely remembered as the co-inventor of Dadaism and a pioneering figure of Constructivism, Marcel Janco was a Romanian-Israeli visual artist and architect. He is also said to have contributed to the "bishop dress" characteristic of Dadaism. He also established the Israeli art colony Ein Hod and founded the avant-garde magazine Contimporanul.

 16 
George Bacovia
(Poet)
George Bacovia
2
Birthdate: September 17, 1881
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bacău, Romania
Died: May 22, 1957
 17 
Veronica Micle
(Poet)
Veronica Micle
2
Birthdate: April 22, 1850
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Năsăud, Romania
Died: August 3, 1889
 18 
Ana Blandiana
(Poet)
Ana Blandiana
4
Birthdate: March 25, 1942
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Timișoara, Romania
 19 
Adrian Păunescu
(Writer)
Adrian Păunescu
4
Birthdate: July 20, 1943
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Copăceni, Sîngerei, Moldova
Died: November 5, 2010
 20 
Dora d'Istria
(Writer)
Dora d'Istria
2
Birthdate: January 22, 1828
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Bucharest, Romania
Died: November 17, 1888
 21 
Benjamin Fondane
(Romanian and French Poet, Critic, and Philosopher Associated with Surrealism, Neoromanticism, and Symbolism)
Benjamin Fondane
2
Birthdate: November 14, 1898
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Iași, Romania
Died: October 2, 1944

Romanian and French poet, philosopher, and critic Benjamin Fondane was primarily associated with surrealism and symbolism. He was also a major figure of Jewish existentialism and neoromanticism, and penned a few avant-garde plays, too. Deported from France by the Nazis and sent to Auschwitz, he died in a gas chamber at age 45.

 22 
Anton Pann
(Composer, Poet)
Anton Pann
0
Birthdate: 1790 AD
Birthplace: Sliven, Bulgaria
Died: November 2, 1854
 23 
Iulia Hasdeu
(Poet)
Iulia Hasdeu
0
Birthdate: November 14, 1869
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Bucharest, Romania
Died: September 29, 1888
 24 
Pacuvius
(Poet)
Pacuvius
1
Birthdate: 0220 AD
Birthplace: Brundisium, Italy
Died: 0130 AD
 25 
Păstorel Teodoreanu
(Linguist, Lawyer)
Păstorel Teodoreanu
1
Birthdate: July 30, 1894
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Dorohoi
Died: March 17, 1964
 26 
Corippus
(Roman Poet)
Corippus
1
Birthplace: Africa
 27 
Ștefan Baciu
(Linguist, Poet, Diplomat, Literary historian, Translator, Literary critic, Journalist, Biographer)
Ștefan Baciu
1
Birthdate: October 29, 1918
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Brașov
Died: January 6, 1993
 28 
Geza Szocs
(Poet)
Geza Szocs
1
Birthdate: August 21, 1953
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Târgu Mureș, Romania
Died: November 5, 2020

A significant pillar of Hungarian poetry, Geza Szocs was known for his disregard for conventions. He also worked as journalist in Geneva and later served as Hungary’s Secretary of State for Culture and the president of the Hungarian PEN Club. He died of COVID-19 complications in 2020.

 29 
Linda Maria Baros
(Poet)
Linda Maria Baros
0
Birthdate: August 6, 1981
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bucharest
 30 
Alecu Donici
(Poet)
Alecu Donici
1
Birthdate: January 19, 1806
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Donici, Orhei, Romania
Died: January 21, 1865
 31 
Nicolae Constantin Batzaria
(Politician, Writer)
Nicolae Constantin Batzaria
0
Birthdate: November 20, 1874
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Krushevo, North Macedonia
Died: January 28, 1952
 32 
Ovid Densusianu
(Poet)
Ovid Densusianu
0
Birthdate: December 29, 1873
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Făgăraş, Romania
Died: June 9, 1938
 33 
Nicolae Davidescu
(Poet)
Nicolae Davidescu
0
Birthdate: October 24, 1888
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Romania
Died: June 12, 1954
 34 
Liviu Deleanu
(Poet)
Liviu Deleanu
0
Birthdate: February 12, 1911
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Iași, Romania
Died: May 12, 1967
 35 
Simion Ghimpu
(Writer)
Simion Ghimpu
0
Birthdate: May 24, 1939
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Colonita, Moldova
Died: July 27, 2010