Hunedoara History, Romania
Hunedoara, History – Early Times
Documentary attested in 1265 under the name “Hungnod”, according to a papal tax register, Hunedoara would meet a strong development and would play an important role in the Romanian history. The beginnings of this settlement, built at the foothills of Sanpetru Hill and at the confluence of the Cerna and Zlasti Rivers, are much deeper in time than the documentary attesting confirms. Archeologists found within the city and in the surrounding areas, numerous proofs of living on these lands, dating from the Stone Age. In the nearby Sanpetru Hills, scientists found different material proof in a complete succession, dating from the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. In the fortress’s terrace, again, there were found over a ton of large iron lens and a metallurgic shop with eight furnaces dating from the Geti - Dacian period.
In the nowadays residential areal of the locals, scientists found monetary treasures dating from the Dacian period, coins called of “Hunedoara type”, and republican or imperial Roman coins covering a large period of time and proofing strong economic contacts between two civilizations, the one of the “Eternal Rome” and the other created by the Geti - Dacians. After the Roman Empire conquered Dacia, the Hunedoara area caught the attention of the Roman world through its richness, especially in iron. This is demonstrated by the remains found at Teliuc, a “rustic villa”, and in the Sanpetru Hills where there used to be a Roman fortress with an installed watch guard point, belonging to the eighth Legion Germina. Other proofs have been found near the Castle and near the railway station.
In 1409, on 18 October, Sigismund of Luxemburg, the King of Hungary, endows and ennobles a local, Voicu from Cincic, son of Serb, for its unique military activity. In the same document he also mentions other family members as the owners of the Hunedoara fortress and royal domains. From this moment, Hunedoara fortress meets a new stage of its development. Iancu of Hunedoara, one of the fortress’s owners, restored the building in order to live there; he built the chevaliers room and the diet room in a beautiful neo gothic stile with characteristic architectural details. In the same period he built a special wing and tower of the fortress to be used as a refuge in case of danger.
After Iancu’s death on August 11 1456, in Hungary there was a dispute over the throne, dispute won by Iancu’s son Matei Corvin who becomes king of medieval Hungary. During the Corvin rule, Hunedoara becomes an iron market, metal used by the locals for other products too, gaining the value of a coin. The economic advantages of this era within Hunedoara fortress and domains will maintain for the following centuries too. In the seventeen century the city will reach a prosperous period, the inhabitants being absolved from the tax payments to the state, situation which will remain for several centuries afterwards and as a result the population will increase, varying between 784 and 896.
In 1514 the peasant’s revolution broke out and on this occasion numerous locals were imprisoned in the fortress as a punishment.
Hunedoara, History - Modern Times
The end of the 18th century as well as the 19th and 20th centuries write new pages in Hunedoara history. After the Second World War the local industry knew a fabulous development. In 1989 in Hunedoara about three million tones of steel, over two million tones of metallurgic coke, footwear, hosiery etc. were produced in a year. This industrial development attracted people from the surrounding villages, the number of locals reaching 89.000 people. As a result the residential areas developed and new educational, health and culture institutions were created. Throughout time 12 primary schools, 5 high schools, a modern hospital, a university, two stadiums, a gym, the pool and after 1989 a modern bowling alley was built here. Still, in spite of all the modern districts and infrastructure built here, Hunedoara remains famous for the imposing castle of the Corvin family, the best preserved medieval building from South Eastern Europe.
For more information on the hitory of the area read our articles on Satu Mare and Arad history.
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The Medieval Castle of Hunedoara
review by szbogi posted more then 30 days ago
In our way to Sibiu we remembered that Hunedoara is well-known because it has a castle built in the 13th century so we decided to stop in this city and search for the castle. You have to know that in Romania to find anything famous is a true adventure... it's harder to find a popular sight than...
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