In the given article is called into question the notion of mentality and several factors that have led to changes in the mentality of the nobility of Bessarabia after the annexation of the province in 1812 to the Russian Empire are examined.

As with the annexation of territory between the Prut and Dniester to the Russian Empire, the mentality of the natives, especially the Moldavian boyars, held a series of changes. One of the basic factors that influenced the evolution Bessarabian landlord’s mentality in the 19th century is linked to the new system of domination established in the province. Conditions of dominance include, in turn, a complex of mini-factors:

• After the annexation of Bessarabia to the Russian Empire the territory is torn from a particular socio-economic and political system and forcibly engaged in another system – the Russian, painful process that occurred and was felt by all social categories – including the boyars;

• People suffered extraordinary large losses from Russo-Turkish wars of the 19th century, passing through the country, but also the permanent stationing of Russian occupation army, aristocratic elite was destroyed, assimilated or marginalized.

• Gradually changes occur into the property system. Moldavian boyars had to strait, to sell some properties, to diminish its rights, to lose the privileges of another time, to limit their tastes, to obey and to recognize the new regime of domination;

• The affirmation of local boyars in the frame of Russian nobility (dvoreanstvo) happened quite difficult. They had to confirm not only the nobility, relatives, Boyar titles, but the right to land property they owned up to annexation; To preserve their rights and privileges the boyars had to learn Russian, to relate with new-comers, to make studies in educational institutions of Russia, to accept positions in county and regional institutions and, thus, to participate in promoting national-colonial policy of the Empire in newly annexed territory, which in from mental-emotional point of view influenced negatively the national spirit.

• Boyars lost former times economic control in the region, because the Russian imperial administration used all the revenue for own service and needs.

All these factors have brought to that after 1812 the nobility of Bessarabia was divided into two camps: Russophile less numerous, but strong with support from the Russian government and the Moldovan national conservative who opposed: did not learn Russian and respected the customs and old laws of the country. Namely the latter were those who kept the torch alight among Moldovans discontent, because in their hearts the more difficult was the suppression, the more progenitor blood throbbed, making a wall of resistance against the regime of Tsarist rule.