Carasova
Encyclopedia
Carașova is a commune
in Caraș-Severin County
, Romania
. It is known especially for its geographical placement and for the origin of its Croatian inhabitants, the Krashovani
. The population of the commune numbered 3,260 people at the 2002 census. The commune is composed of three villages: Carașova, Iabalcea (Jabalče; Krassóalmás) and Nermed (Neremić; Nermed).
, at a distance of 15 kilometers from Reşiţa
. It is found in a mountainous area, near the entrance to the Semenic-Cheile Carașului National Park
.
According to the 2002 census in Romania, the population of Carașova municipality comprises 84.60% Croats
, 4.96% others (presumably declared Krashovani
), 4.47% Roma, 4.41% Romanians
, etc. http://www.edrc.ro/recensamant.jsp?regiune_id=1832&judet_id=1909&localitate_id=1930
Most of the ethnic Krashovani declared themselves as Croats in this census, although in the past they mostly were declaring themselves as Krashovani.
and Croatian
being used as working languages on public signage and in administration, education and justice.
Bozorad, Krassowcz - 1535, Crassowcz - 1550, Crasso - 1597, Karasevo - 1690-1700, Karasova - 1717, etc.).
Due to the citadel built nearby, Carașova was in the past an important administrative, political and religious centre. In 1333, Carașova was the headquarters of a Roman Catholic
diocese
which appears to have existed since 1285, but ceased to exist after the events of 1537, and was restored only in 1860, to be disbanded again in 1913.
In various documents of early 18th century, such as the census of 1690-1700 and the conscription of 1717, Carașova was mentioned as having 400 houses, being one of the largest settlements in the area between the Tisa
, Mureș
and the Danube
, being surpassed only by Timişoara
and Caransebeş
.
In the mid-18th century, according to the administrative organization prior to the Military Frontier
of 1768, Caraşova was part of the Vršac
county and it was the capital of the administrative circle with the same name which included 32 towns, including Reşiţa
, Dognecea
, Bocşa
, and here were located an administrative office, an Eastern Orthodox
church, and Roman Catholic church.
, which are named by the Banat Romanians
cârşoveni, caraşoveni, cotcoreţi and cocoşi, while the Croats call themselves Krašovani, Karašovani, Karaševci.
Until 1989, most of the people called themselves caraşoveni and their language caraşoveană and considered themselves a people distinct to the other Slavic peoples around the area, such as Serbian, Croatian or Bulgarian.
After 1989, due to some political, economic, social and cultural factors, the vast majority started identifying themselves as Croats
, while a few still continued to call themselves Krašovani. Today, many Krashovani chose the Croatian ethnicity, partly due to the attention given to them by the Croatian state
(which also awards them the Croatian citizenship).
Communes of Romania
A commune is the lowest level of administrative subdivision in Romania. There are 2686 communes in Romania. The commune is the rural subdivision of a county .There is no clear restriction on the population of a commune, even though when a commune...
in Caraș-Severin County
Caras-Severin County
Caraș-Severin is a county of Romania, in the historical region of Banat and few villages in Transylvania, with the county seat at Reșița.-Demographics:The county is part of the Danube-Kris-Mureș-Tisza euroregion....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. It is known especially for its geographical placement and for the origin of its Croatian inhabitants, the Krashovani
Krashovani
The Krashovani are a South Slavic people indigenous to Caraşova and other nearby locations in...
. The population of the commune numbered 3,260 people at the 2002 census. The commune is composed of three villages: Carașova, Iabalcea (Jabalče; Krassóalmás) and Nermed (Neremić; Nermed).
Location
Caraşova is located in Caraș-Severin County, in the historical region of BanatBanat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...
, at a distance of 15 kilometers from Reşiţa
Resita
' is a city in western Romania and the capital of Caraş-Severin County, in the Banat region. Its 2004 population was 83,985.- Etymology :The name of Reşiţa, might comes from the Latin recitia, meaning "cold spring", as the great historian Nicolae Iorga once suggested, presuming that the Romans...
. It is found in a mountainous area, near the entrance to the Semenic-Cheile Carașului National Park
Semenic
Semenic is a national park and ski resort in the region of Banat, Romania.-Etymology:The semenic is actually a rare flower growing in the wilderness of the mountains...
.
Demographics
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
, 4.96% others (presumably declared Krashovani
Krashovani
The Krashovani are a South Slavic people indigenous to Caraşova and other nearby locations in...
), 4.47% Roma, 4.41% Romanians
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
, etc. http://www.edrc.ro/recensamant.jsp?regiune_id=1832&judet_id=1909&localitate_id=1930
Most of the ethnic Krashovani declared themselves as Croats in this census, although in the past they mostly were declaring themselves as Krashovani.
Language
The commune is officially bilingual, with both RomanianRomanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
and Croatian
Croatian language
Croatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
being used as working languages on public signage and in administration, education and justice.
History
The first time attested in 1333 under the name of Karasow. Other similar names were later used, depending on which administration used them (Nog Carassou and Kyskarassou - 1358, led by the knyazKnyaz
Kniaz, knyaz or knez is a Slavic title found in most Slavic languages, denoting a royal nobility rank. It is usually translated into English as either Prince or less commonly as Duke....
Bozorad, Krassowcz - 1535, Crassowcz - 1550, Crasso - 1597, Karasevo - 1690-1700, Karasova - 1717, etc.).
Due to the citadel built nearby, Carașova was in the past an important administrative, political and religious centre. In 1333, Carașova was the headquarters of a Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
which appears to have existed since 1285, but ceased to exist after the events of 1537, and was restored only in 1860, to be disbanded again in 1913.
In various documents of early 18th century, such as the census of 1690-1700 and the conscription of 1717, Carașova was mentioned as having 400 houses, being one of the largest settlements in the area between the Tisa
Tisá
Tisá is a village and municipality in Ústí nad Labem District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic.The municipality covers an area of , and has a population of 786 ....
, Mureș
Mures River
The Mureș is an approximately 761 km long river in Eastern Europe. It originates in the Hășmașu Mare Range in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains, Romania, and joins the Tisza river at Szeged in southeastern Hungary....
and the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
, being surpassed only by Timişoara
Timisoara
Timișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with an estimated population of 311,586 inhabitants , and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the...
and Caransebeş
Caransebes
Caransebeş is a city in Caraş-Severin County, part of the Banat region in southwestern Romania. It is located at the confluence of the river Timiş with the river Sebeş, the latter coming from the Ţarcu Mountains. To the west, it is in direct contact with the Banat hills...
.
In the mid-18th century, according to the administrative organization prior to the Military Frontier
Military Frontier
The Military Frontier was a borderland of Habsburg Austria and later the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which acted as the cordon sanitaire against incursions from the Ottoman Empire...
of 1768, Caraşova was part of the Vršac
Vršac
Vršac is a town and municipality located in Serbia. In 2002 the town's total population was 36,623, while Vršac municipality had 54,369 inhabitants. Vršac is located in the Banat region, in the Vojvodina province of Serbia. It is part of the South Banat District.-Name:The name Vršac is of Serbian...
county and it was the capital of the administrative circle with the same name which included 32 towns, including Reşiţa
Resita
' is a city in western Romania and the capital of Caraş-Severin County, in the Banat region. Its 2004 population was 83,985.- Etymology :The name of Reşiţa, might comes from the Latin recitia, meaning "cold spring", as the great historian Nicolae Iorga once suggested, presuming that the Romans...
, Dognecea
Dognecea
Dognecea is a commune in Caraş-Severin County, western Romania with a population of 2,044 people. It is composed of two villages, Calina and Dognecea.-References:...
, Bocşa
Bocsa
Bocşa is a town in Caraş-Severin County, in southwestern Romania, with a population of 19,023 in 2002....
, and here were located an administrative office, an Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
church, and Roman Catholic church.
Krashovani
Most of the people of Caraşova are KrashovaniKrashovani
The Krashovani are a South Slavic people indigenous to Caraşova and other nearby locations in...
, which are named by the Banat Romanians
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
cârşoveni, caraşoveni, cotcoreţi and cocoşi, while the Croats call themselves Krašovani, Karašovani, Karaševci.
Until 1989, most of the people called themselves caraşoveni and their language caraşoveană and considered themselves a people distinct to the other Slavic peoples around the area, such as Serbian, Croatian or Bulgarian.
After 1989, due to some political, economic, social and cultural factors, the vast majority started identifying themselves as Croats
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
, while a few still continued to call themselves Krašovani. Today, many Krashovani chose the Croatian ethnicity, partly due to the attention given to them by the Croatian state
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
(which also awards them the Croatian citizenship).