Codrii Vlasiei
Encyclopedia
Codrii Vlăsiei was the forest that once covered parts of southern Romania
, including the territory of today's Bucharest
and the surrounding Ilfov County
.
The thick forests were used by Romanians as a retreat during the age of migrations because they were not easy to cross on horseback. In fact, the name of the forest means "the Forests of Wallachia". Codrii means "forests" in the Romanian language
, while Vlăsiei is the genitive form of Vlăsia, the Slavic denomination for Wallachia.
The thick forest was also useful in the Middle Ages, being used by several voivod
s to defeat other armies. In 1456, Vlad Ţepeş defeated his rival Vladislav Dan at Târgşor at the edge of Codrii Vlăsiei. This was also the place where Vlad defeated the Ottoman army that came to depose him. It is also thought that Vlad was assassinated there following a plot of the boyar
s. The forests were later a hideout for highwaymen
, haiducs and other outlaws.
Between 1692 and 1700, a paved road which linked the centre of Bucharest to the Mogoşoaia Palace
of Constantin Brâncoveanu
was built through the forest. Named Podul Mogoşoaiei, it was made of oak
wood.
Most roads in the Balkans at that time became muddy in the spring and autumn, and the wood prevented this. Consequently the road was one of the most important construction works of the area and a source of pride to Bucharesters. In 1842 the road was paved with cobblestone
. It was later upgraded to asphalt
. The road was renamed "Calea Victoriei
" after the Romanian victory in the Independence War of 1877-78.
Most of the forest was intact until the 19th century, when commerce involving cereals and wood began to develop in Wallachia
and the forest was razed for the land to be used in agriculture. Of the old forests only a few small areas remain, mostly north of Bucharest, in localities such as Snagov
, Pustnicul, Cernica
, Romaneşti
and Comana
. The surface of forests is currently just about. 35 000 ha.
Băneasa Forest
, situated in the north of Bucharest
, is in danger to be transformed in a park.
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...
, including the territory of today's Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
and the surrounding Ilfov County
Ilfov County
Ilfov is the county that surrounds Bucharest, the capital of Romania. It used to be largely rural, but after the fall of communism, many of the county's villages and communes developed into high-income commuter towns, which act like suburbs or satellites of Bucharest...
.
The thick forests were used by Romanians as a retreat during the age of migrations because they were not easy to cross on horseback. In fact, the name of the forest means "the Forests of Wallachia". Codrii means "forests" in the Romanian language
Romanian 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...
, while Vlăsiei is the genitive form of Vlăsia, the Slavic denomination for Wallachia.
The thick forest was also useful in the Middle Ages, being used by several voivod
Voivodeship
Voivodship is a term denoting the position of, or more commonly the area administered by, a voivod. Voivodeships have existed since medieval times in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Serbia....
s to defeat other armies. In 1456, Vlad Ţepeş defeated his rival Vladislav Dan at Târgşor at the edge of Codrii Vlăsiei. This was also the place where Vlad defeated the Ottoman army that came to depose him. It is also thought that Vlad was assassinated there following a plot of the boyar
Boyar
A boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
s. The forests were later a hideout for highwaymen
Highwayman
A highwayman was a thief and brigand who preyed on travellers. This type of outlaw, usually, travelled and robbed by horse, as compared to a footpad who traveled and robbed on foot. Mounted robbers were widely considered to be socially superior to footpads...
, haiducs and other outlaws.
Between 1692 and 1700, a paved road which linked the centre of Bucharest to the Mogoşoaia Palace
Mogosoaia Palace
Mogoşoaia Palace is situated about 10 kilometres from Bucharest, Romania. It was built between 1698-1702 by Constantin Brâncoveanu in what is called the Romanian Renaissance style or Brâncovenesc style, a combination of Venetian and Ottoman elements...
of Constantin Brâncoveanu
Constantin Brâncoveanu
Constantin Brâncoveanu was Prince of Wallachia between 1688 and 1714.-Ascension:A descendant of the Craioveşti boyar family and related to Matei Basarab, Brâncoveanu was born at the estate of Brâncoveni and raised in the house of his uncle, stolnic Constantin Cantacuzino...
was built through the forest. Named Podul Mogoşoaiei, it was made of oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
wood.
Most roads in the Balkans at that time became muddy in the spring and autumn, and the wood prevented this. Consequently the road was one of the most important construction works of the area and a source of pride to Bucharesters. In 1842 the road was paved with cobblestone
Cobblestone
Cobblestones are stones that were frequently used in the pavement of early streets. "Cobblestone" is derived from the very old English word "cob", which had a wide range of meanings, one of which was "rounded lump" with overtones of large size...
. It was later upgraded to asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
. The road was renamed "Calea Victoriei
Calea Victoriei
Calea Victoriei is a major avenue in central Bucharest. It leads from Splaiul Independenţei to the north and then northwest up to Piaţa Victoriei, where Şoseaua Kiseleff continues north....
" after the Romanian victory in the Independence War of 1877-78.
Most of the forest was intact until the 19th century, when commerce involving cereals and wood began to develop in 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...
and the forest was razed for the land to be used in agriculture. Of the old forests only a few small areas remain, mostly north of Bucharest, in localities such as Snagov
Snagov
Snagov is a commune, located 40 km north of Bucharest in Ilfov County, Romania. According to the 2002 census, 99.2% of the population is ethnic Romanian and 0.4% are Roma...
, Pustnicul, Cernica
Cernica
Cernica is a commune in the southeast part of Ilfov County, Romania, with a population of 9,425 as of 2002. It is composed of five villages: Bălăceanca, Căldăraru, Cernica, Poşta and Tânganu, several villages on the bank of lake Cernica...
, Romaneşti
Romăneşti
Romăneşti is a commune in Străşeni district, Moldova. It is composed of a single village, Romăneşti....
and Comana
Comana
Comana is the name of several places:* three ancient episcopal cities in Asia Minor :** Comana, Cappadocia, still a Roman Catholic titular see and Orthodox titular see...
. The surface of forests is currently just about. 35 000 ha.
Băneasa Forest
Baneasa Forest
Băneasa Forest is a wood in the north of Bucharest, Romania. Covering some 80,000 hectares, the ground is located in proximity to Băneasa neighborhood and Băneasa Airport...
, situated in the north of Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, is in danger to be transformed in a park.