Feldioara
Encyclopedia
Feldioara is a Romania
n commune located in Transylvania
, very close to Braşov
(about 10 miles or 15 kilometers). It is composed of three villages: Colonia Reconstrucţia (Bohntelep), Feldioara and Rotbav (Rothbach; Szászveresmart).
It has a medieval fortress long believed to have been built by the Teutonic Knights
. However, more recent studies show that the Fortress in Feldioara was actually constructed by the local community. The name of the village comes from the Hungarian word Földvár, which means "the clay fortress". The ruins of the fortress can still be seen today. The German name Marienburg means "fortress of the Virgin Mary".
invasion of 1421, but it was severely damaged by a second invasion in 1432. It took until 1457 to restore it.
During the battles of 1612, the armies led by Prince Gabriel Báthori
conquered the fortress, and in September the Braşovian armies had Feldioara under siege for three days. On September 16, 1612 a battle was fought between the Hungarians, led by Báthori, and the Braşovians, led by mayor Michael Weiss. The Braşovians lost the fight, and Michael Weiss was killed on the battlefield.
Afterwards, the fortress was used as a granary until 1838, when a major earthquake damaged it. After this event, even the fortress guardian left the building. Since then the fortress has lain in ruins.
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...
n commune located in 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...
, very close to Braşov
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....
(about 10 miles or 15 kilometers). It is composed of three villages: Colonia Reconstrucţia (Bohntelep), Feldioara and Rotbav (Rothbach; Szászveresmart).
It has a medieval fortress long believed to have been built by the 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...
. However, more recent studies show that the Fortress in Feldioara was actually constructed by the local community. The name of the village comes from the Hungarian word Földvár, which means "the clay fortress". The ruins of the fortress can still be seen today. The German name Marienburg means "fortress of the Virgin Mary".
History
Between 1211-1225, Feldioara was the Teutonic Knights’ quarter, which will later become a peasant stronghold. A 1439 document states that the civilians of Feldioara built this fortress “with great financial and physical expenses” in order to protect their families and possessions. The fortress withstood the TurkishOttoman 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...
invasion of 1421, but it was severely damaged by a second invasion in 1432. It took until 1457 to restore it.
During the battles of 1612, the armies led by Prince 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...
conquered the fortress, and in September the Braşovian armies had Feldioara under siege for three days. On September 16, 1612 a battle was fought between the Hungarians, led by Báthori, and the Braşovians, led by mayor Michael Weiss. The Braşovians lost the fight, and Michael Weiss was killed on the battlefield.
Afterwards, the fortress was used as a granary until 1838, when a major earthquake damaged it. After this event, even the fortress guardian left the building. Since then the fortress has lain in ruins.
See also
- List of fortified churches in Transylvania
- Villages with fortified churches in Transylvania
- List of castles in Romania