Turda
Encyclopedia
Turda (ˈturda; ; ; historical name: Potaissa) is a city and Municipality in Cluj County
, Romania
, situated on the Arieş River
.
under the name Patavissa or Potaissa (most frequently confirmed). It was conquered by the Romans
, between AD 101 and 106
, during the rule of Trajan
, together with parts of Decebal's Dacia
.
The name Potaissa is first recorded on a Roman milliarium discovered in 1758 in the nearby Aiton
commune.
Milliarium of Aiton
is an ancient Roman milestone dating from 108 AD, shortly after the Roman conquest of Dacia, and showing the construction of the road from Potaissa to Napoca, by demand of the Emperor Trajan. It indicates the distance of ten thousand feet (P.M.X.) to Potaissa. This is the first epigraphical attestation of the settlements of Potaissa and Napoca
in Roman Dacia
.
The complete inscription is: "Imp(erator)/ Caesar Nerva/ Traianus Aug(ustus)/ Germ(anicus) Dacicus/ pontif(ex) maxim(us)/ (sic) pot(estate) XII co(n)s(ul) V/ imp(erator) VI p(ater) p(atriae) fecit/ per coh(ortem) I Fl(aviam) Vlp(iam)/ Hisp(anam) mil(liariam) c(ivium) R(omanorum) eq(uitatam)/ a Potaissa Napo/cam / m(ilia) p(assuum) X". It was recorded in the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum
, vol.III, the 1627, Berlin, 1863.
This milliarium is an attestation of the road known to be built by Cohors I Hispanorum miliaria.
The castrum established was named Potaissa too and became a municipium
, then a colonia
. Potaissa was the basecamp of the Legio V Macedonica
from 166 to 274.
The Potaissa salt mines were worked in the area since prehistoric times.
conquest, the Turda salt mines
were first mentioned in 1075. They were closed in 1932 but have recently been reopened for tourism.
Saxons
settled in the area in the 11th century. The town was destroyed during the Tartar invasion in 1241-1242. Andrew III of Hungary gave royal privileges to the settlement. These privileges were later confirmed by the Angevins of Hungary.
The Hungarian Diet was held here in 1467, by Matthias Corvinus. Later, in the 16th century, Turda was often the residence of the Transylvania
n Diet
, too. The 1558 Diet of Turda declared free practice of both the Catholic
and Lutheran
religions. In 1563 the Diet also accepted the Calvinist religion, and in 1568 it extended freedom to all religions, declaring that "It is not allowed to anybody to intimidate anybody with captivity or expelling for his religion" – a freedom unusual in medieval Europe. This Edict of Turda
is the first attempt at legislating general religious freedom in Christian Europe (though its legal effectiveness was limited).
In 1609 Gabriel Báthori
granted new privileges to Turda. These were confirmed later by Gabriel Bethlen
.
In the battle of Turda, Ahmed Pasha defeated George II Rákóczi
in 1659.
took place here, between German
and Hungarian forces on one side and Soviet
and Romanian forces on the other. It was the largest battle fought in Transylvania during World War II
.
from 2002 there were 55,887 people living within the city.
Of this population, 84.88% are ethnic Romanians
, while 10.05% are ethnic Hungarians, 4.83% ethnic Roma and 0.4% others.
with: Angoulême
Hódmezővásárhely
Santa Susanna Torda
Cluj County
Cluj ; is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, with the capital city at Cluj-Napoca.-Demographics:In 2007, it had a population of 692,316 and a population density of 104/km².*Romanians – 80%*Hungarians – 17.5%*Roma – 2.5%-Geography:...
, 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...
, situated on the Arieş River
Arieș River (Mureș)
The Arieș is a tributary of Mureș River in Transylvania, Romania.Most probably "Arieș" means "Gold River" in Dalmatian which is thought to be very similar to the Dacian language. It is concluded that the Romanian name most probably derives from the Dacian name of the river...
.
Ancient times
The city was founded by DaciansDacians
The Dacians were an Indo-European people, very close or part of the Thracians. Dacians were the ancient inhabitants of Dacia...
under the name Patavissa or Potaissa (most frequently confirmed). It was conquered by the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, between AD 101 and 106
106
Year 106 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Commodus and Civica...
, during the rule of Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
, together with parts of Decebal's Dacia
Dacia
In ancient geography, especially in Roman sources, Dacia was the land inhabited by the Dacians or Getae as they were known by the Greeks—the branch of the Thracians north of the Haemus range...
.
The name Potaissa is first recorded on a Roman milliarium discovered in 1758 in the nearby Aiton
Aiton, Cluj
Aiton is a commune in Cluj County, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Aiton and Rediu.-Population:The population modified during time, as follows:- History :...
commune.
Milliarium of Aiton
Milliarium of Aiton
Milliarium of Aiton is an ancient Roman milestone discovered in the 1758 in Aiton commune, near Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Dating from 108 AD, shortly after the Roman conquest of Dacia, the milestone shows the construction of the road from Potaissa to Napoca, by demand of the Emperor Trajan. It...
is an ancient Roman milestone dating from 108 AD, shortly after the Roman conquest of Dacia, and showing the construction of the road from Potaissa to Napoca, by demand of the Emperor Trajan. It indicates the distance of ten thousand feet (P.M.X.) to Potaissa. This is the first epigraphical attestation of the settlements of Potaissa and Napoca
Napoca
Napoca is a spider genus of the Salticidae family . Its single described species, Napoca insignis, is only found in Israel. It is one of seven genera comprising the Harmochireae clade within the Dendryphantinae subfamily....
in Roman Dacia
Roman Dacia
The Roman province of Dacia on the Balkans included the modern Romanian regions of Transylvania, Banat and Oltenia, and temporarily Muntenia and southern Moldova, but not the nearby regions of Moesia...
.
The complete inscription is: "Imp(erator)/ Caesar Nerva/ Traianus Aug(ustus)/ Germ(anicus) Dacicus/ pontif(ex) maxim(us)/ (sic) pot(estate) XII co(n)s(ul) V/ imp(erator) VI p(ater) p(atriae) fecit/ per coh(ortem) I Fl(aviam) Vlp(iam)/ Hisp(anam) mil(liariam) c(ivium) R(omanorum) eq(uitatam)/ a Potaissa Napo/cam / m(ilia) p(assuum) X". It was recorded in the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum
Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum
The Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum is a comprehensive collection of ancient Latin inscriptions. It forms an authoritative source for documenting the surviving epigraphy of classical antiquity. Public and personal inscriptions throw light on all aspects of Roman life and history...
, vol.III, the 1627, Berlin, 1863.
This milliarium is an attestation of the road known to be built by Cohors I Hispanorum miliaria.
The castrum established was named Potaissa too and became a municipium
Municipium
Municipium , the prototype of English municipality, was the Latin term for a town or city. Etymologically the municipium was a social contract between municipes, the "duty holders," or citizens of the town. The duties, or munera, were a communal obligation assumed by the municipes in exchange for...
, then a colonia
Colonia (Roman)
A Roman colonia was originally a Roman outpost established in conquered territory to secure it. Eventually, however, the term came to denote the highest status of Roman city.-History:...
. Potaissa was the basecamp of the Legio V Macedonica
Legio V Macedonica
Legio quinta Macedonica was a Roman legion. It was probably originally levied by consul Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus and Octavian in 43 BC, and it was stationed in Moesia at least until 5th century. Its symbol was the bull, but the eagle was used as well...
from 166 to 274.
The Potaissa salt mines were worked in the area since prehistoric times.
Middle Ages
After the HungarianKingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
conquest, the Turda salt mines
Salina Turda
Salina Turda is a salt mine situated in Turda, Transylvania, Romania.- History :Salt was first extracted here during the antiquity and the mine continuously produced table salt from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century .Since 1992, Salina Turda has been a halotherapy center and a popular...
were first mentioned in 1075. They were closed in 1932 but have recently been reopened for tourism.
Saxons
Transylvanian Saxons
The Transylvanian Saxons are a people of German ethnicity who settled in Transylvania from the 12th century onwards.The colonization of Transylvania by Germans was begun by King Géza II of Hungary . For decades, the main task of the German settlers was to defend the southeastern border of the...
settled in the area in the 11th century. The town was destroyed during the Tartar invasion in 1241-1242. Andrew III of Hungary gave royal privileges to the settlement. These privileges were later confirmed by the Angevins of Hungary.
The Hungarian Diet was held here in 1467, by Matthias Corvinus. Later, in the 16th century, Turda was often the residence of 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 Diet
Diet (assembly)
In politics, a diet is a formal deliberative assembly. The term is mainly used historically for the Imperial Diet, the general assembly of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire, and for the legislative bodies of certain countries.-Etymology:...
, too. The 1558 Diet of Turda declared free practice of both the 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...
and Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
religions. In 1563 the Diet also accepted the Calvinist religion, and in 1568 it extended freedom to all religions, declaring that "It is not allowed to anybody to intimidate anybody with captivity or expelling for his religion" – a freedom unusual in medieval Europe. This Edict of Turda
Edict of Turda
The Edict of Torda in 1568, also known as the Patent of Toleration, was an early attempt to guarantee religious freedom in Christian Europe, that was born due the special political, social and religious situation in the Kingdom of Hungary in the 16 Century.- The original edict :King John II...
is the first attempt at legislating general religious freedom in Christian Europe (though its legal effectiveness was limited).
In 1609 Gabriel Báthori
Gabriel Báthori
Gabriel Báthory was Prince of Transylvania from 1608 to his death in 1613.-Family:Gabriel was born at Nagyvárad, in Hungary as the son of Stephen Báthory , from Somlyo branch of the Hungarian Báthory family, and his first wife Susanna Bebek of Pelsocz...
granted new privileges to Turda. These were confirmed later by Gabriel Bethlen
Gabriel Bethlen
Gabriel Bethlen was a prince of Transylvania , duke of Opole and leader of an anti-Habsburg insurrection in the Habsburg Royal Hungary. His last armed intervention in 1626 was part of the Thirty Years' War...
.
In the battle of Turda, Ahmed Pasha defeated George II Rákóczi
George II Rákóczi
György Rákóczi II , a Transylvanian Hungarian ruler, was the eldest son of George I and Susanna Lorantffy....
in 1659.
Modern times
In 1944, the Battle of TurdaBattle of Turda
The Battle of Turda lasted from 5 September to 8 October 1944, in the area around Turda, in present-day Romania, as part of the wider Battle of Romania. Troops from the Hungarian 2nd Army and the German 8th Army fought a defensive action against Romanian and Soviet forces...
took place here, between German
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
and Hungarian forces on one side and Soviet
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
and Romanian forces on the other. It was the largest battle fought in Transylvania during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Demographics
According to the last Romanian censusDemographics of Romania
This article is about the demographic features of the population of Romania, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population....
from 2002 there were 55,887 people living within the city.
Of this population, 84.88% are ethnic Romanians
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
, while 10.05% are ethnic Hungarians, 4.83% ethnic Roma and 0.4% others.
People
- Aurel Dragoş Munteanu, writer
- Baruch KimmerlingBaruch KimmerlingBaruch Kimmerling was an Israeli scholar and professor of sociology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Upon his death in 2007, The Times described him as "the first academic to use scholarship to reexamine the founding tenets of Zionism and the Israeli State"...
, Israeli sociologist - Camil MureşanuCamil MuresanuCamil Bujor Mureşanu is a historian, professor, author, and translator.- Biography :Mureşanu was born and reared in Turda. He attended the King Ferdinand High School in Turda, where his father, Teodor Murăşanu, was a teacher...
- Emilian DolhaEmilian DolhaEmilian Ioan Dolha is a Romanian football goalkeeper who currently plays for FC Fakel Voronezh. Dolha previously played in his native Romania for Rapid Bucureşti, Olimpia Satu Mare, Gloria Bistriţa and Dinamo Bucureşti. He spent two years in Poland, playing for Wisła Kraków and Lech...
- Étienne HajdúÉtienne HajdúÉtienne Hajdú, also known as István Hajdú , was a Transylvania-born French sculptor of Jewish descent. After emigration to Paris in the 1930s, he became part of the Hungarian circle of artists and writers...
- Ferenc DávidFerenc DávidFerenc Dávid was a Transylvanian Nontrinitarian and Unitarian preacher, the founder of the Unitarian Church of Transylvania.-Life:Born in Kolozsvár to a Hungarian family, he studied in Wittenberg and Frankfurt...
- Ion RaţiuIon RatiuIon Raţiu was a Romanian politician and the presidential candidate of the National Peasants' Party in the 1990 elections, in which he ranked third with 4.29% of the vote.-Biography:...
- Nicolae Maniu, painter
- Septimiu Sever, actor
- Sigismund BáthorySigismund BáthorySigismund Báthory was Prince of Transylvania.-Biography:Hailing from the Báthory family's Somlyó branch, he was the son of Christopher Báthory, Voivod of Transylvania, and nephew of Stephen Báthory, King of Poland...
- Tudor PopaTudor PopaTudor Ioan Popa is a Romanian football player, currently under contract with Ceahlăul Piatra-Neamţ.Popa made his professional debut for Ceahlăul in a Liga I match against FC Rapid Bucureşti in May 2007.-References:*...
See also
- Decree of TurdaDecree of TurdaThe Decree of Turda was a decree by Louis I Anjou of Hungary. It had longstanding consequences for the constitutional order and social structure of Transylvania....
- Universitas ValachorumUniversitas ValachorumUniversitas Valachorum is the Latin denomination for an Estate, an institution of self-government of the Romanians in medieval Transylvania....
- List of Transylvanian Saxon localities
- Ancient history of TransylvaniaAncient history of TransylvaniaIn ancient times, Romans exploited the gold mines in what is now Transylvania extensively, building access roads and forts to protect them, like Abrud. The region developed a strong infrastructure and economy, based on agriculture, cattle farming and mining...
, History of TransylvaniaHistory of TransylvaniaTransylvania is a historical region in the central part of the Romania. In ancient times it was part of the Dacian Kingdom and Roman Dacia. Since the 10th century, Transylvania became part of the Kingdom of Hungary... - Franziska TesaurusFranziska TesaurusFranziska Tesaurus is the richest Gepid royal tomb found in Romania.It was found while searching the Roman castrum at Turda in 1996, by Mihai Bărbulescu, between the secondary sewer and the frigidarium...
Twin towns — sister cities
Turda is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Angoulême
Angoulême
-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
Hódmezővásárhely
Hódmezovásárhely
Hódmezővásárhely , Romanian: Ioneşti) is a city in south-east Hungary, on the Great Hungarian Plain, at the meeting point of the Békés-Csanádi Ridge and the clay grassland surrounding the river Tisza...
Santa Susanna Torda
Torda (Žitište)
Torda is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Žitište municipality, in the Central Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Hungarian ethnic majority and its population numbering 1,771 people .-Geography:...