Chindia Tower
Encyclopedia
The Chindia Tower is a tower in the Curtea Domnească monuments ensemble in Târgovişte
, Romania
, built in the 15th century. The tower was begun during the second reign of Prince Vlad III the Impaler
over Wallachia
, taking its final form during the 19th century. It initially had a military purpose, but during history it has been used as a guard point, a fire spotter and for storing and protecting the state treasury. Between 1847 and 1851, the Chindia Tower was completely restored by Gheorghe Bibescu
, who added 5 metres (16 ft) to its height. The building in its current form has a height of 27 metres (89 ft) and a diameter of 9 metres (30 ft).
The Chindia Tower, the most important tourist attraction in Târgovişte, is considered the city's symbol; the tower elements are present in the city's emblem, at the top and also at the bottom. As a monument, the tower now houses an exhibition of documents, weapons and objects which belonged to Vlad the Impaler. Today, the tower is administered by the National Museum Curtea Domnească.
s, known in Romanian as chindia. It has also been suggested that the name originates from the word chindia, an archaism
which means "sunset", the period of the day in which the guard had an obligation to give the curfew
signal, before closing the city's five gates. After this time, he was prohibited from entering or leaving the city throughout the night, and residents were required not to pass through the streets and not to maintain outdoor fires that would have made the town visible from a distance.
. Nevertheless, the first documentary mentions of the Curtea Domnească date from 1403 and 1409. It is therefore believed that the construction works started during the first reign of Vlad the Impaler, but that the complex remained unfinished. Archaeological excavations conducted in the mid-20th century have revealed that the Chindia Tower dates from the second half of the 15th century, leading historians to propose that it is the "castle" referred to in the November 11, 1476 account of Hungarian
nobleman Stephen V Báthory
. However, the tower is explicitly mentioned in documents at a relatively late moment. In 1595, Venetian
traveler Antonio Pigafetta
recorded the existence of a "tower in a church", which had an underground gallery in the direction of the Ialomiţa River
. In 1703, Rev. Edmund Chishull
, chaplain to Lord Paget's English
embassy at İzmir
, said after visiting the place that the building was comparable to towers of "civilized Christianity".
The tower was also noted by the Bulgarian Catholic
bishop Petar Bogdan
and foreign travelers such as Paul of Aleppo
. The latter of them stated that "the court is in a high tower that serves as a lamp for the city clock", housing a fanfare which entertained the princes with Oriental music. Towards the middle of the 18th century a Latin manuscript from the Batthyaneum Library, states that the tower was used as a prison. In 1840, the French
draughtsman Michel Bouquet
provided a rendition of how the tower looked before its restoration.
Târgoviste
Târgoviște is a city in the Dâmbovița county of Romania. It is situated on the right bank of the Ialomiţa River. , it had an estimated population of 89,000. One village, Priseaca, is administered by the city.-Name:...
, 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...
, built in the 15th century. The tower was begun during the second reign of Prince Vlad III the Impaler
Vlad III the Impaler
Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia , also known by his patronymic Dracula , and posthumously dubbed Vlad the Impaler , was a three-time Voivode of Wallachia, ruling mainly from 1456 to 1462, the period of the incipient Ottoman conquest of the Balkans...
over 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...
, taking its final form during the 19th century. It initially had a military purpose, but during history it has been used as a guard point, a fire spotter and for storing and protecting the state treasury. Between 1847 and 1851, the Chindia Tower was completely restored by Gheorghe Bibescu
Gheorghe Bibescu
Gheorghe Bibescu was a hospodar of Wallachia between 1843 and 1848. His rule coincided with the revolutionary tide that culminated in the 1848 Wallachian revolution.-Early political career:...
, who added 5 metres (16 ft) to its height. The building in its current form has a height of 27 metres (89 ft) and a diameter of 9 metres (30 ft).
The Chindia Tower, the most important tourist attraction in Târgovişte, is considered the city's symbol; the tower elements are present in the city's emblem, at the top and also at the bottom. As a monument, the tower now houses an exhibition of documents, weapons and objects which belonged to Vlad the Impaler. Today, the tower is administered by the National Museum Curtea Domnească.
Name
There are two contrasting hypotheses on the origin of the name of the tower, neither of them fully recognized. The first argues that the area adjacent to the tower was the site of many large feasts and festivalFestival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
s, known in Romanian as chindia. It has also been suggested that the name originates from the word chindia, an archaism
Archaism
In language, an archaism is the use of a form of speech or writing that is no longer current. This can either be done deliberately or as part of a specific jargon or formula...
which means "sunset", the period of the day in which the guard had an obligation to give the curfew
Curfew
A curfew is an order specifying a time after which certain regulations apply. Examples:# An order by a government for certain persons to return home daily before a certain time...
signal, before closing the city's five gates. After this time, he was prohibited from entering or leaving the city throughout the night, and residents were required not to pass through the streets and not to maintain outdoor fires that would have made the town visible from a distance.
History
It is not known exactly when the Curtea Domnească complex was built, but it certainly replaces an old manor house still in place by the 15th century, during the reign of Mircea I of WallachiaMircea I of Wallachia
Mircea the Elder was ruler of Wallachia from 1386 until his death. The byname "elder" was given to him after his death in order to distinguish him from his grandson Mircea II...
. Nevertheless, the first documentary mentions of the Curtea Domnească date from 1403 and 1409. It is therefore believed that the construction works started during the first reign of Vlad the Impaler, but that the complex remained unfinished. Archaeological excavations conducted in the mid-20th century have revealed that the Chindia Tower dates from the second half of the 15th century, leading historians to propose that it is the "castle" referred to in the November 11, 1476 account of Hungarian
Kingdom 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...
nobleman Stephen V Báthory
Stephen V Báthory
Stephen Báthory of Ecsed was a Hungarian commander, 'dapiferorum regalium magister' , judge of the Royal Court and voivod of Transylvania...
. However, the tower is explicitly mentioned in documents at a relatively late moment. In 1595, Venetian
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
traveler Antonio Pigafetta
Antonio Pigafetta
Antonio Pigafetta was an Italian scholar and explorer from the Republic of Venice. He travelled with the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew on their voyage to the Indies. During the expedition, he served as Magellan's assistant and kept an accurate journal which later assisted him...
recorded the existence of a "tower in a church", which had an underground gallery in the direction of the Ialomiţa River
Ialomita River
The Ialomiţa is a river of Southern Romania that rises from the Bucegi Mountains in the Carpathians and flows into the Danube.The upper reach of the river is sometimes known as Valea Obârşiei or Obârşia Ialomiţei.-Localities:...
. In 1703, Rev. Edmund Chishull
Edmund Chishull
-Life:He was a scholar of Corpus Christi College, Oxford in 1687, where he graduated B.A. in 1690, M.A.in 1693, and became a Fellow in 1696. He served as chaplain at Smyrna, for the Levant Company, from 1698 to 1702. He there kept a journal, eventually published with help from Richard Mead...
, chaplain to Lord Paget's English
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
embassy at İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, said after visiting the place that the building was comparable to towers of "civilized Christianity".
The tower was also noted by the Bulgarian Catholic
Roman Catholicism in Bulgaria
Roman Catholicism is the third largest religious congregation in Bulgaria, after Eastern Orthodoxy and Islam. It has roots in the country since the Middle Ages and is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.As an entity, the Catholic...
bishop Petar Bogdan
Petar Bogdan
Petar Bogdan Bakshev or Petar Bogdan ; was a Bulgarian Catholic bishop, historian and a key Bulgarian National Revival figure. Petar Bogdan restored the Bulgarian Catholic Eparchy and was one of the organizers of a Bulgarian uprising of the region of Chiprovtsi against the Ottoman rule...
and foreign travelers such as Paul of Aleppo
Paul of Aleppo
Paul Zaim, known sometime also as Paul of Aleppo was a Syrian Melkite clergyman and chronicler...
. The latter of them stated that "the court is in a high tower that serves as a lamp for the city clock", housing a fanfare which entertained the princes with Oriental music. Towards the middle of the 18th century a Latin manuscript from the Batthyaneum Library, states that the tower was used as a prison. In 1840, the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
draughtsman Michel Bouquet
Michel Bouquet
Michel Bouquet is a French film actor. He has appeared in over 90 films since 1947. He was born in Paris, France.-Selected filmography:* La petite chambre * Le Promeneur du Champ de Mars...
provided a rendition of how the tower looked before its restoration.