In different periods of history the Gagauz people lived under the rule of different countries: until the end of the 18th century in the Ottoman Empire; until 1918 under the authority of the Russian Empire, then until 1944 as a part of the Kingdom of Romania, from 1944 to 1990 as a member of the USSR, and, finally, as a part of Sovereign Moldova. It is obvious that each period left its mark in the development of the Gagauz identity. The geopolitical situation, powerful countries leaders’ political views, some historians’ conclusions, etc. exacerbated the identity development. All these have mostly influenced the development of the Gagauz language, which was included in the list of endangered languages in 2010. This article also focuses on favourable conditions for identity development as well as on the role of the people contributing to this process.