Râșnov Citadel
Encyclopedia
Râșnov Citadel is a historic monument and landmark in Romania
. It is situated in Râşnov
, Brașov County
, in the immediate vicinity of Brașov
.
The citadel
was built as part of a defence
system for the Transylvania
n village
s exposed to outside invasion
s. A decisive aspect for building the citadel on the actual location was the route of the invading armies
which were coming from the Bran
pass and were passing through Râșnov, on their way to Burzenland
. The only chance of survival for the inhabitants of the area, inclusively from Cristian
and Ghimbav
was the refuge inside the citadel. Compelled to stay there for decade
s, the people of Râșnov and the nearby villages turned the fortification into a dwelling.
research revealed the existence of fortification
traces on the citadel hill since prehistoric
and Dacian
times.
The medieval
citadel of today is considered to be built between 1221 and 1225, during the rule of Teutonic Knights
in Burzenland, although there is no evidence in this respect.
In 1335, during a Tatar
incursion that ravage Burzenland, Râșnov and Brașovia
are the only citadels remained unconquered. This is also the first documentary attestation of the fortification.
In 1421 takes place the first siege
of an Ottoman
army on the citadel.
In 1600, Michael the Brave along with his troops and his wife, Lady Stanca, retreat here after the defeat of Mirăslău.
The citadel is conquered only once, during the rule of prince Gabriel Báthory, in 1612. The fall was caused by the lack of water due to the discovery of the path to a secret spring
by the enemy
troops.
Because of the lack of an interior source of water, between 1623 and 1642 takes place the excavation of a fountain of 146 metres (479 ft).
In 1718 the citadel is partially destroyed by a fire and in 1802 is damaged by an earthquake
.
In 1821 refugees from Wallachia
(the resurgent movement leaded by Tudor Vladimirescu
) retreat to the citadel.
Between 1848-1849, because the locality is being crossed by the Hungarian
revolutionists and the Austrian imperial
troops, the villagers retreat to the citadel. This is the last mission of the citadel as a place of refugee and defence.
In 1850, due to the political
situation and the diminution of the citadel's defensive role, the fortification is abandoned, becoming a ruin
. There was only one guard left who had to announce the outbreak of fires by tooling a bell.
Because of the two world war
s and the set up of the communist regime
in Romania, the citadel is restored for the first time barley in the years 1955-1956.
soil, in 1623.
The legend around the fountain says that during a siege, the inhabitants of the citadel made two Turkish
prisoners dig a fountain in the middle of the citadel in order to regain their freedom. The captives dug for 17 years, during which time they wrote verses
from Quran on the fountain's walls which can be seen even today. The fate
of the prisoners isn't doubtless, some saying that they've been released, and others that they've been killed.
The fountain was used until 1850 because of a broken wheel
that caused its abandonment.
The elders
from Râșnov believe that deep in the fountain lies a treasure
old of at least 300 years. However, recently alpinists
have narrowly explored the fountain, without finding any trace of it.
style, similar to the ordinary houses of the time and adapted to the fortification requirements. The peasants used stones and bricks
for building the walls
, and woods
for making the gates
and platforms. The towers and walls are covered with roof tiles
for preventing the fires from besiegers. The walls are 5 metres (16.4 ft) high and the widest part is constituted by the South wall which in some areas is 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) thick.
The citadel is composed by two courts
. The exterior court is located in front of the eastern wall, edged by a fortified wall and fitted with a square tower. The interior court represents the inhabitable area, having a better protection by walls and towers.
From South, West and North the citadel is limited by sharp cliffs of about 150 metres (492.1 ft), very hard to climb. The whole superior precinct
is defended by exterior towers gathered in northern flank and western corner. The eastern side of the citadel was more vulnerable from the point of view of natural obstacles because its u-shape. To boost its defence capacity, the citadel owns in this sector the heaviest fortifications.
The eastern, western and northern sides are protected by a continuous gallery with two ante forts and seven towers. There are only two towers on the southern side which is more abrupt.
The interior courtyard is paved with narrow paths made of stone, which ribbon among the tile-roofed houses. Inside there have been conserved the ruins of a school
, a chapel
and over thirty houses fated to refuge the villagers and their assets.
which briefly presents slices from the local history
, area's habits and craft
s, and also gathers pieces and weapons from the inhabitants past. The exhibition contains the following sections: document photocopies, weapons, tools, stamps and period objects.
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 situated in Râşnov
Râsnov
Râşnov is a town in Braşov County, Romania with a population of under 16,000.It is located at about 15 km from the city of Braşov and about the same distance from Bran, on the road that links Wallachia and Transylvania....
, Brașov County
Brasov County
Brașov ; ) is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, with the capital city at Brașov. The county incorporates within its boundaries most of the Medieval "lands" Burzenland and Făgăraș Land.-Demographics:...
, in the immediate vicinity of Brașov
Brasov
Brașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
.
The citadel
Citadel
A citadel is a fortress for protecting a town, sometimes incorporating a castle. The term derives from the same Latin root as the word "city", civis, meaning citizen....
was built as part of a defence
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
system for the Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
n village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
s exposed to outside invasion
Invasion
An invasion is a military offensive consisting of all, or large parts of the armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of either conquering, liberating or re-establishing control or authority over a...
s. A decisive aspect for building the citadel on the actual location was the route of the invading armies
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
which were coming from the Bran
Bran, Brasov
Bran is a commune in Braşov County, Romania. It lies at 30 km from the city of Braşov and is composed of five villages: Bran, Poarta, Predeluţ, Şimon and Sohodol...
pass and were passing through Râșnov, on their way to Burzenland
Burzenland
The Burzenland is a historic and ethnographic area in southeastern Transylvania, Romania with a mixed population...
. The only chance of survival for the inhabitants of the area, inclusively from Cristian
Cristian, Brasov
Cristian is a commune in Braşov County, Romania. It is composed of a single village, Cristian.At the 2002 census, 95.3% of inhabitants were Romanians, 2.9% Transylvanian Saxons and 1.8% Hungarians. 93.1% were Romanian Orthodox, 2.6% Lutheran, 1.7% Christian Evangelical, 0.8% Reformed and 0.5%...
and Ghimbav
Ghimbav
Ghimbav is a town in Braşov County, Transylvania, central Romania. It is located in the centre of Romania, 5 miles west of Braşov.-History:The town was first mentioned in a letter written in 1420 by King Sigismund of Luxembourg...
was the refuge inside the citadel. Compelled to stay there for decade
Decade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
s, the people of Râșnov and the nearby villages turned the fortification into a dwelling.
History
ArchaeologicalArchaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
research revealed the existence of fortification
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
traces on the citadel hill since prehistoric
Prehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
and Dacian
Dacians
The Dacians were an Indo-European people, very close or part of the Thracians. Dacians were the ancient inhabitants of Dacia...
times.
The medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
citadel of today is considered to be built between 1221 and 1225, during the rule of Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
in Burzenland, although there is no evidence in this respect.
In 1335, during a Tatar
Tatars
Tatars are a Turkic speaking ethnic group , numbering roughly 7 million.The majority of Tatars live in the Russian Federation, with a population of around 5.5 million, about 2 million of which in the republic of Tatarstan.Significant minority populations are found in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,...
incursion that ravage Burzenland, Râșnov and Brașovia
Brașovia Citadel
Brașovia Citadel was a fortification located on the top of Tâmpa mountain in Brașov, Romania. It was demolished until the beginning of 1455 from the order of Iancu de Hunedoara....
are the only citadels remained unconquered. This is also the first documentary attestation of the fortification.
In 1421 takes place the first siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
of an Ottoman
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
army on the citadel.
In 1600, Michael the Brave along with his troops and his wife, Lady Stanca, retreat here after the defeat of Mirăslău.
The citadel is conquered only once, during the rule of prince Gabriel Báthory, in 1612. The fall was caused by the lack of water due to the discovery of the path to a secret spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
by the enemy
Enemy
An enemy or foe is a being that is seen as forcefully adverse or threatening. The term is usually used within the greater context of war, to denote an opposing group as a threat.Enemy or Enemies may refer to:-Literature:...
troops.
Because of the lack of an interior source of water, between 1623 and 1642 takes place the excavation of a fountain of 146 metres (479 ft).
In 1718 the citadel is partially destroyed by a fire and in 1802 is damaged by an earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
.
In 1821 refugees from Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
(the resurgent movement leaded by Tudor Vladimirescu
Tudor Vladimirescu
Tudor Vladimirescu was a Wallachian Romanian revolutionary hero, the leader of the Wallachian uprising of 1821 and of the Pandur militia. He is also known as Tudor din Vladimiri or — occasionally — as Domnul Tudor .-Background:Tudor was born in Vladimiri, Gorj County in a family of landed peasants...
) retreat to the citadel.
Between 1848-1849, because the locality is being crossed by the Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
revolutionists and the Austrian imperial
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
troops, the villagers retreat to the citadel. This is the last mission of the citadel as a place of refugee and defence.
In 1850, due to the political
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
situation and the diminution of the citadel's defensive role, the fortification is abandoned, becoming a ruin
Ruins
Ruins are the remains of human-made architecture: structures that were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete disrepair, due to lack of maintenance or deliberate acts of destruction...
. There was only one guard left who had to announce the outbreak of fires by tooling a bell.
Because of the two world war
World war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
s and the set up of the communist regime
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
in Romania, the citadel is restored for the first time barley in the years 1955-1956.
The fountain legend
The absence of an internal water source leads to the limitation of a long term resistance. Because of this lack, it has been decided to start the digging of a fountain in the rockyRock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
soil, in 1623.
The legend around the fountain says that during a siege, the inhabitants of the citadel made two Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
prisoners dig a fountain in the middle of the citadel in order to regain their freedom. The captives dug for 17 years, during which time they wrote verses
Ayah
Ayah or Aayah is the Arabic word for sign or proof:"These are the Ayat of Allah, which We recite to you with truth...
from Quran on the fountain's walls which can be seen even today. The fate
Destiny
Destiny or fate refers to a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual...
of the prisoners isn't doubtless, some saying that they've been released, and others that they've been killed.
The fountain was used until 1850 because of a broken wheel
Wheel
A wheel is a device that allows heavy objects to be moved easily through rotating on an axle through its center, facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load, or performing labor in machines. Common examples found in transport applications. A wheel, together with an axle,...
that caused its abandonment.
The elders
Old age
Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle...
from Râșnov believe that deep in the fountain lies a treasure
Treasure
Treasure is a concentration of riches, often one which is considered lost or forgotten until being rediscovered...
old of at least 300 years. However, recently alpinists
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
have narrowly explored the fountain, without finding any trace of it.
Architecture
The citadel has a simple architectonicArchitecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
style, similar to the ordinary houses of the time and adapted to the fortification requirements. The peasants used stones and bricks
Bricks
Bricks may refer to:* Brick, an artificial stone made by forming clay into rectangular blocks* Brick , a slang term for a device that cannot function due to internal failure...
for building the walls
Walls
- Other uses :*Wall's , a company that makes ice cream*Wall's sausages, a British sausage brand*Walls, an episode of Power Rangers S.P.D.- Music :*Walls EP, a 2005 album by The Red Paintings*Walls , 2007...
, and woods
Woods
Woods is a common surname of English and Irish origin.-A:* Alan Woods * Albert Woods* Albert H. Woods* Aubrey Woods* Ayiesha Woods-B:* Bambi Woods* Barbara Alyn Woods* Belita Woods* Ben Woods, rugby union player* Bill Woods...
for making the gates
Gates
-Places:*Gates, British Columbia, a rural community in British Columbia, Canada**Gates River, a river in British Columbia, Canada**Gates Valley, a valley in British Columbia, Canada*Gates, New York, a US town in Monroe County, New York...
and platforms. The towers and walls are covered with roof tiles
Tile
A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass. Tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls, showers, or other objects such as tabletops...
for preventing the fires from besiegers. The walls are 5 metres (16.4 ft) high and the widest part is constituted by the South wall which in some areas is 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) thick.
The citadel is composed by two courts
Courtyard
A court or courtyard is an enclosed area, often a space enclosed by a building that is open to the sky. These areas in inns and public buildings were often the primary meeting places for some purposes, leading to the other meanings of court....
. The exterior court is located in front of the eastern wall, edged by a fortified wall and fitted with a square tower. The interior court represents the inhabitable area, having a better protection by walls and towers.
From South, West and North the citadel is limited by sharp cliffs of about 150 metres (492.1 ft), very hard to climb. The whole superior precinct
Precinct
A precinct is a space enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building, or by an arbitrary and imaginary line drawn around it. The term has several different uses...
is defended by exterior towers gathered in northern flank and western corner. The eastern side of the citadel was more vulnerable from the point of view of natural obstacles because its u-shape. To boost its defence capacity, the citadel owns in this sector the heaviest fortifications.
The eastern, western and northern sides are protected by a continuous gallery with two ante forts and seven towers. There are only two towers on the southern side which is more abrupt.
The interior courtyard is paved with narrow paths made of stone, which ribbon among the tile-roofed houses. Inside there have been conserved the ruins of a school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
, a chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
and over thirty houses fated to refuge the villagers and their assets.
The feudal art museum
Inside the citadel there is a museumMuseum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
which briefly presents slices from the local history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, area's habits and craft
Craft
A craft is a branch of a profession that requires some particular kind of skilled work. In historical sense, particularly as pertinent to the Medieval history and earlier, the term is usually applied towards people occupied in small-scale production of goods.-Development from the past until...
s, and also gathers pieces and weapons from the inhabitants past. The exhibition contains the following sections: document photocopies, weapons, tools, stamps and period objects.