Mihai Eminescu

1850, January 15 Is born in Botosani, the seventh of the eleven children of Gheorghe and Raluca Eminovici. Is baptised in Uspenia church, near his home, in the city centre. The house, today disappeared, was from his mother dowry. His father Gheorghe had the rank of collector of duties on spirits and worked as bailiff on an estate from Dumbraveni (on the way to Suceava).

1850-1856 Mihai spends his childhood in Botosani and, of course, travels with his parents in a carriage to Durnesti estate, on the way to Prut river, taken on lease, to Agafton, Bucecea, Catamaresti, Cucorani etc.

1856-1858 Charming childhood in Ipotesti, together with his many brothers and sisters. Eminovici family, buy the estate with 4000 ducats, demolish the old house and build a new manor. Mihai was surrounded by his 4 brothers: Serban, Niculae, Iorgu and Ilie (he was his friend in funny games). His sisters Ruxandra and Maria had died as children. But other 4 children are born after Mihai: Aglae, Harieta, Matei and Vasile, the last will die very young.

1858-1860 After learning to classes at home, his father takes him abroad, in Bucovina, than in Austro-Hungarian empire, to Cernauti. In the passport is written that Mihai has 8 years, "black hair, black eyes, suited nose and darkish face". In the III and IV class he is in "National-Hauptschule" (a Greek-oriental primary school). He lives at Aron Pumnul (teacher and revolutionist from Transylvania), friend of his father. The other brothers are in gymnasium. Mihai learns well enough, but the military program and home sick determines him to run away, on foot, till Ipotesti. Whipped by his father is obliged to go back to Cernauti.

1860, in September The father brings his boys to Cernauti again. Mihai is at "K.K. ober-Gymnasium".

1860-1863 Goes to gymnasium. Good results in the first class ("excellent" at Romanian language, "very good" at history), but in the second class he goes like a crawfish, neglecting mathematics and Latin language, repeats the class. Runs away again to Ipotesti, is whipped again by his father, who takes him tied up to Cernauti. Repeats the second class but after Easter (1863) he is no longer in the class register.

1864 Attired by the theatre, Mihai joins the troop Fanny Tardini-Vladicescu which arrives at Hotel Moldavie in Cernauti. He is the prompter of the troop and goes with it on tour to Brasov. Mihai has been fascinated by the beauty of the actress Fanny Tardini. In the autumn is copyist in Botosani county administration till March 1865.

1865-1866 Mihai has another chance to continue his high school studies in Cernauti, privately. He takes care of Aron Pumnul's library. But in January, at only 16 years, is devastated by the death, just near him, of the teacher. Cries heavily, knowing that spiritually is the adoptive son of Aron Pumnul. In the evening he reads to his colleague Stefanelii the poem "La moartea lui Aron Pumnul" (At Aron Pumnul's death), composed in the same day. Is his first creation, published in booklet of homage dedicated to this occasion: Lacramioarele invataceilor gimnazisti din Cernauti la moartea preaiubitului lor profesor Aron Pumnul (Lilies-of-the-valley of the pupil from Cernauti gymnasium at the death of their beloved teacher Aron Pumnul). He signs M. Eminoviciu, privatist. In Ipotesti he has his first love. Casandra Elena is the daughter of Gheorghe Alupului older than Mihai. She is like a white flower of sweet cherry tree. They are walking by the waterside, by the forest, to the enchanted lake. Later, Mihai finds out that the 19 years old girl was taken by the flying spirit, dieing of dropsy. Sad, he evokes her in: De-as avea, Din strainatate, Mortua est (in the begining titled Elena), Aveam o muza or Floare albastra. Sends the poem "De-as avea" to the review Familia, of Iosif Vulcan, who publishes it immediately (March 1866), changing his name from Eminovici to Eminescu. He travels a lot on foot to Blaj ("little Rome", about which Aron Pumnul had spoked to him). With his boots torn and a perse on his back (with some books and copy book in which he have gathered some folklore), Mihai goes down the Hula hill to Blaj ("abode of the Romanian spirit"), he tries to take him exams, but do not succeed, not having learning conditions. Earns money, sleeps in an attic, eats plums with black bread and washes himself in Tarnava river (he is a good swimmer). Reads avidly the books from the gymnasium, write lyrics in parks. His money from Ipotesti dot not come in time, and he goes to Sibiu, in the search of his brother Neculai, but he was gone to Timisoara. Is autumn and he is in misery with bare feet. A theolog buys him some shoes. His passport has expired, helped by Popa Bratu from Rasinari (the grandfather of O. Goga poet) crosses the Austro-Hungarian border clandestinely to his country Romania, through the mountains. Crosses Oltenia and Muntenia attired by Bucharest.

1867-1869 Is in Giurgiu - water-side worker. Become prompter in Iorgu Caragiale's itinerant troop who's nephew, Ion Luca Caragiale, he will meet later. Together with the troop of Mihai Pascaly he makes a tour to Lugoj, Sibiu, Arad, Oravita, Buzias. He is employed, with Mihai Pascaly's help, as prompter and copyist at the National Theatre from Bucharest. Goes on a new tour with the troop Pascaly, to Galati, Iasi, Cernauti and Botosani, where is retained by his father and sent in autumn to study abroad. In September with his brother Serban goes to Praga, to the Carolina University. On October 2 is in Wien.

1869-1872 In the capital of the Habsburgic empire is student at the University. Because he does not have the diploma from finishing high school he is and "extraordinary student" not an ordinary one. He takes courses of philosophy, law, economy, Romanic languages, anatomy etc. He write a lot.

1870 Collaborates at the review Convorbiri literare from Iasi with the poem Venere si Madona. In the summer I. Negruzzi