Northern Maramuresh
Encyclopedia
Northern Maramuresh is a geographic-historical region comprising roughly the eastern half of the Zakarpattia Oblast
in southwestern Ukraine
, near the border with Romania
. Until 1920, it was part of the Maramureş (historical region) of Transylvania
, at which time the former Máramaros County
was divided into a northern part (incorporated into Czechoslovakia
, the part which is presently in Ukraine), and a southern part (incorporated into the Kingdom of Romania
). Alternative names for the regions are Northern Máramaros (from Hungarian
Észak Máramaros), Northern Maramureş (from Romanian
Maramureşul de Nord), Northern Maramorshchyna (from Ukrainian
Північна Мараморщина), Northern Maramorshchyna (from Ukrainian
Північна Мараморщина), Northern Marmatia (from Latin Marmatia).
From 1920 till 1939, the region belonged to Czechoslovakia, then until 1944 to Hungary
, and then until 1991 to the Soviet Union
. Since 1991, Northern Maramuresh has been part of Ukraine
.
Part of the boundary that separates Northern Maramuresh from Romania
runs along the Tisza River
.
The majority of the population are Ukrainians
(Rusyns
, Boiko and Hutsuls
- indigenous groups), while a Romanian
community, totaling somewhere between 32,000 and 50,000 people, lives compactly, mostly in some eighteen localities, in Rakhiv
and Tiachiv
raions
(districts), close to the Romanian border. For most of the 20th century, communications between Southern and Northern Maramuresh were severed. After the collapse of Communism
in Europe, and through cooperation between the Romanian and Ukrainian governments, the restoration of bridges across the Tisza has begun.
is an almost completely enclosed mountain valley with an area slightly smaller than that of the U.S. state
of Connecticut
. The only way to enter the region, besides crossing mountain slopes of 1,000 meters to 2,500 meters high, is to follow the river Tisza
upstream. To a significant extent, the geography of Maramureş has determined its history and distinctive traditions.
Northern Maramuresh includes all of the right bank of the Tisza within the historical region, and small mountain portions on the left bank. Rivers that flow through the region include the Tisza
, Rika (Rica), and Tereblia. Lake Sinevir is also located there.
The territory of the Zakarpattia Region of Ukraine is 12,880 km². It has 1,287,400 inhabitants (1999 data). Zakarpattia is divided into 13 districts and 5 cities. Of these, Northern Maramuresh roughly corresponds to 4 districts and one city. Together these have an area of approximately 6,900 km² and 445,000 inhabitants:
The most important cities and towns of Northern Maramuresh are (the district and population are indicated):
The biggest villages in Northern Maramuresh are:
, and together form the historical region of Maramureş
(Romanian: Maramureş, Hungarian: Máramaros). Between 1870 and 1918, Máramaros (north and south) was a county in the Transleitanian part of Austria-Hungary
. It was divided into 10 rural districts (Hungarian: járás, Romanian: plase) and 1 urban district (Hungarian: rendezett tanácsú város, Romanian: plasă urbană):
Note: All names are written in the following order: Hungarian
/ Romanian
/ Ukrainian
.
Dolha, Huszt, Ökörmező, Taracviz, Técső, and Tiszavölgy districts each had a Ukrainian majority (with Tiszavölgy having a specifically Hutsul majority). The rural Sziget district, along with Izavölgy, Sugatag, and Visó districts each had a Romanian majority, while the urban Sziget district was mixed Hungarian/Romanian. There was a significant Ukrainian minority in Visó, and significant Romanian minorities in Huszt, Taracviz, Técső, and Tiszavölgy districts. Visó also contained a significant German minority ("Zipser") around the city of Felsővisó (Romanian: Vişeu de Sus
; German: Oberwischau).
The six districts in the left-hand column were apportioned to Czechoslovakia in 1920. In 1938, Hungary regained their southern portion by the terms of the First Vienna Award
and then seized the rest in March 1939. In 1944 they went to the Soviet Union. Since 1991 they have been part of Ukraine. The four districts in the right-hand column were given to Romania, where they have remained ever since, except for 1940–1944, when they were again in Hungary by the terms of the Second Vienna Award
. The rural Sziget (Sighet) district, despite being ethnically homogeneously Romanian, was divided: the part north of the Tisza river followed the same fate as the Ukrainian districts, while the part south of the Tisza, the same as the Romanian ones. More than half of the Romanian minority in the present Zakarpattia Oblast resides in what before 1920 was the rural Sziget district.
The total area of Maramuresh county was 10,354.9 km², of which 6,974 km² became the northern part and 3,381 km² became the southern part. The approximately 160 localities were divided as follows: slightly less than 100 joined the north, and slightly more than 60 joined the south. in 1920, the south had a population of approximately 155,000. A majority of the inhabitants were Romanian, with Jewish, Hungarian, Ukrainian and German minorities. The north at the same time had a population of about 220,000, including some 20,000 Romanians.
According to the 1910 Austrian census, Máramaros County
had a population which by language was:
A substantial part of the German and Hungarian-speaking population were in fact Jews.
(the remaining ⅓ are respectively Slovak, Hungarian, and Romanian), and from the 16th century also gradually over a part (up to ½) of Maramuresh county. Therefore, in texts dealing with the period after 1600, Northern Maramuresh is sometimes included in historic Carpathian Ruthenia, historic Ruszinszko, or Pidkarpadska Rus', as opposed to earlier texts, when it is not.
only by the river Tisza
. This compactly Romanian-inhabited region, which itself separates the Hutsul areas (most of the Rakhiv
raion/district) in the east from the rest of Zakarpattia
, corresponds exactly to the north-Tisza part of the former rural district of Sighet in Máramaros
County before 1920 (see map). These 18 localities, with their quasi-total Romanian population, are (population data from the 2001 Ukrainian census):
Some Romanians also live in localities of Northern Maramuresh outside the above compact area:
although far fewer than in previous centuries.
Note: There are also Romanians in the two major Zakarpattian cities, Uzhhorod
and Mukachevo, as well as in the town of Korolevo
(Romanian: Craia), in Vinogradovo raion, which are not in Maramuresh, but respectively in Ung, Bereg, and Ugocsa. There are also two other Romanian villages:
40 km one from the other, in the northwest of Zakarpattia
, which is not part of Northern Maramuresh, but of the former Ung county. They are the last remnants of the Vlachs (Romanians) who inhabited present-day Hungary
and Zakarpattia before the arrival of the Slavs (6th-8th centuries) and Hungarians (9th century), when they were isolated and afterwards assimilated. Their Ukrainian neighbors also call the inhabitants of these two villages volokhi or loshkarini, Slavic names for Romanians no longer in current use.
.
In the Middle Ages, Maramureş
had a Romanian population, organized into a voevodat with a voevod elected from among the village noblemen (Romanian: knezi). The majority of the pesants in the region were free and went by a regional term specific only to Maramureş: nămeşi (from neam, clan), and only a minority were serf
s (first serfs mentioned in documents in 1405).
In the more mountainous villages and hamlets, the main dwelling was raising sheep, which implied constant moving in search of new pastures to accommodate raising stocks. As a consequence, between 10th and 13th centuries, modern mountainous regions of eastern and central Slovakia saw a migration of Vlach (Romanian) shepherds from Maramureş, eventually assimilated. Another similar migration occurred in the 14th century with destination the mountainous south-eastern-most corner of modern Poland. The new migrants were given special rights known as Jus Valahicum
, and a century later serious local feuds occurred when these rights were abolished and the Vlachs were assimilated. A significant portion of the heritage of Gorals
comes from the assimilated Vlachs. Other migrants who advanced along the Carpathian range between the 14th and 17th centuries became known as Moravian Vlachs
. On their way they gradually lost their original language with the exception of some Romanian words they use in their Czech and Slovak dialect, but they preserved much of their culture (especially folklore, songs and costumes) and economic base, namely sheep breeding. In 1644, during the Thirty Years War, they was crashed by Albrecht von Wallenstein
.
In 14th century, several groups of Maramureş noblemen with their warriors (Romanian: viteji) established themselves in modern northern Moldavia
, and were the driving force that led to the creation of that principality in 1345 (by Dragoş of Bedeu
, former voevod of Maramureş), and its independence in 1359 (up to 3,000 families in strength, led by Bogdan of Cuhea, the voevod of Maramureş who previously led a 20-years old campaign to avoid the Voevodat of Maramureş being turned and organized as a County (Comitatus), as King Louis of Anjou of Hungary strove for and eventually succeeded).
The Comitatus
of Máramaros
was formally established in the Kingdom of Hungary
in 1303. In late 14th and early 15th century, count-voevod Drag of Bedeu, Dragoş' grandson, raise to eventually become one of the 10 peers
of the Kingdom of Hungary
that in 1386 enthroned Sigismund of Luxembourg as King, who in turn in not yet clear circumstances confiscated in 1404 all the estate of Drag and his family in Maramureş (over 50 villages), and forced them to resettle in a small estate in Szatmar
. In 1391, Drag and his brother Balc were responsible for obtaining from the Patriarch of Constantinople
raising of the New Rum
Monastery of Saint Michael the Archangel of Peri
(modern village of Grushevo in Northern Maramuresh on the bank of the Tisza
) to the rank of Stauropegic
Bishopric
, this being the first Romanian (non-rural) bishopric, with jurisdiction over eight nearby counties.
Since 15th century, local nobility was largely assimilated within the Hungarian nobility, adopted Catholicism and Hungarian language
. In 1526, after the collapse of the Kingdom of Hungary at the hands of the Ottoman Turks
, Máramaros, along with the whole of modern Transcarpathia
, was incorporated into the semi-independent Principality of Transylvania
, which became a Habsburg
domain in 1687, and at the in 1867
was included in the Hungarian part of Austria-Hungary
.
The ethnic composition of Maramureş started to diversify already in the Middle Ages with the arrival of German colonists that founded or re-built five cities: Visc, Teceu, Câmpulung, Bocicoi, and Sighet. The adoption of Hungarian language and the Catholic faith in 15th century (then a Protestant one in 16the century) by the Transylvanian nobility created a linguistically and religiously distinct upper class which ruled the area. Since 16th century, Ukrainian peasants moved from nearby Bereg and Ugocsa
counties, and from Polish Galicia. The Ukrainization of some villages in Northern Maramuresh was strengthened by the long jurisdictional disputes in 18th century between the Greek Catholic Bishopric of Muncach (Ukrainian) and Orthodox Bishopric of Peri (Romanian), later also with participation of Romanian Greek Catholics. In 19th century the region was also settled by numerous Jews who arrived from Galicia. The Ukrainian population of Northern Maramuresh is also diverse: Hutsuls
in the east, Boiko in northwest, and Rusyn
in the western part, in Tisza
valley, the former two originating from Galicia, and the latter from Bereg and Ugocsa.
After the defeat of the Central Powers
in World War I
, the northern part of the comitatus (about 60% of the territory) became part of Carpathian Ruthenia
within the newly formed Czechoslovakia
. The southern part (40%, including the former capital Sighetu Marmaţiei
) became part of Romania
. This division was confirmed by the Treaty of Trianon
in 1920.
, the region was part of the briefly independent Carpatho-Ukraine
in March 1939, but this republic, comprising the part of Carpathian Ruthenia
not given to Hungary by the First Vienna Award
a few months earlier, was almost immediately annexed by Horthyst Hungary
, which in 1940 also annexed the Romanian part of Maramureş following the Second Vienna Award
. After the war, in 1945 the formerly Czechoslovakian Maramuresh was transferred to the Soviet Union
, and in 1946 it was included in the Zakarpattia Oblast
of the Ukrainian SSR
. The latter after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
became the independent Ukraine.
Other prominent feudal families of 16th-19th centuries were Karoli, Teleki
, Toldi, Kornish, Stoyko, Fisher, Reyti, and Soplontsay.
Zakarpattia Oblast
The Zakarpattia Oblast is an administrative oblast located in southwestern Ukraine. Its administrative center is the city of Uzhhorod...
in southwestern Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, near the border with 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...
. Until 1920, it was part of the Maramureş (historical region) of 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...
, at which time the former Máramaros County
Máramaros
Máramaros is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania and western Ukraine...
was divided into a northern part (incorporated into Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, the part which is presently in Ukraine), and a southern part (incorporated into the Kingdom of Romania
Kingdom of Romania
The Kingdom of Romania was the Romanian state based on a form of parliamentary monarchy between 13 March 1881 and 30 December 1947, specified by the first three Constitutions of Romania...
). Alternative names for the regions are Northern Máramaros (from Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
Észak Máramaros), Northern Maramureş (from Romanian
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...
Maramureşul de Nord), Northern Maramorshchyna (from Ukrainian
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
Північна Мараморщина), Northern Maramorshchyna (from Ukrainian
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
Північна Мараморщина), Northern Marmatia (from Latin Marmatia).
From 1920 till 1939, the region belonged to Czechoslovakia, then until 1944 to Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, and then until 1991 to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Since 1991, Northern Maramuresh has been part of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
Part of the boundary that separates Northern Maramuresh from 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...
runs along the Tisza River
Tisza
The Tisza or Tisa is one of the main rivers of Central Europe. It rises in Ukraine, and is formed near Rakhiv by the junction of headwaters White Tisa, whose source is in the Chornohora mountains and Black Tisa, which springs in the Gorgany range...
.
The majority of the population are Ukrainians
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
(Rusyns
Rusyns
Carpatho-Rusyns are a primarily diasporic ethnic group who speak an Eastern Slavic language, or Ukrainian dialect, known as Rusyn. Carpatho-Rusyns descend from a minority of Ruthenians who did not adopt the use of the ethnonym "Ukrainian" in the early twentieth century...
, Boiko and Hutsuls
Hutsuls
Hutsuls are an ethno-cultural group of Ukrainian highlanders who for centuries have inhabited the Carpathian mountains, mainly in Ukraine, the northern extremity of Romania .-Etymology:...
- indigenous groups), while a Romanian
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
community, totaling somewhere between 32,000 and 50,000 people, lives compactly, mostly in some eighteen localities, in Rakhiv
Rakhiv
Rakhiv is a city located in the Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Rakhiv Raion .- Demographics :As of 2001, the city population was 15,241 inhabitants which included: * 83.8% Ukrainians...
and Tiachiv
Tiachiv
Tyachiv is a city located on the Tisza River in the Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Tiachiv Raion .- History and name :...
raions
Raions of Ukraine
Raions of Ukraine are small territorial subdivisions of Ukraine. They are a second level of an administrative division...
(districts), close to the Romanian border. For most of the 20th century, communications between Southern and Northern Maramuresh were severed. After the collapse of Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
in Europe, and through cooperation between the Romanian and Ukrainian governments, the restoration of bridges across the Tisza has begun.
Geographic description
MaramureşMaramures
Maramureș may refer to the following:*Maramureș, a geographical, historical, and ethno-cultural region in present-day Romania and Ukraine, that occupies the Maramureș Depression and Maramureș Mountains, a mountain range in North East Carpathians...
is an almost completely enclosed mountain valley with an area slightly smaller than that of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. The only way to enter the region, besides crossing mountain slopes of 1,000 meters to 2,500 meters high, is to follow the river Tisza
Tisza
The Tisza or Tisa is one of the main rivers of Central Europe. It rises in Ukraine, and is formed near Rakhiv by the junction of headwaters White Tisa, whose source is in the Chornohora mountains and Black Tisa, which springs in the Gorgany range...
upstream. To a significant extent, the geography of Maramureş has determined its history and distinctive traditions.
Northern Maramuresh includes all of the right bank of the Tisza within the historical region, and small mountain portions on the left bank. Rivers that flow through the region include the Tisza
Tisza
The Tisza or Tisa is one of the main rivers of Central Europe. It rises in Ukraine, and is formed near Rakhiv by the junction of headwaters White Tisa, whose source is in the Chornohora mountains and Black Tisa, which springs in the Gorgany range...
, Rika (Rica), and Tereblia. Lake Sinevir is also located there.
In present-day Zakarpattia Oblast of Ukraine
- the city of KhustKhustKhust is a city located on the Khustets River in the Zakarpattia oblast in western Ukraine. It is near the confluence of the Tisza and Rika Rivers...
(Ukrainian: Хуст, Romanian: Hust), with 35,500 inhabitants - the Khust RaionKhust RaionKhust Raion is a raion in Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. Its administrative center is Khust. It has a population of 96 960.-External links:*...
(Ukrainian: Хуст; abbreviated below HU), with 94,800 inhabitants (different from the city) - the Mizhhiria RaionMizhhiria RaionMizhhiria Raion is a raion in Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. Its administrative center is Mizhhiria. It has a population of 49,890.-External links:*...
(Ukrainian: Міжгір'я; abbreviated below MY), with 50,700 inhabitants - the Tiachiv RaionTiachiv RaionTiachiv Raion is a raion in Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. Its administrative center is Tiachiv. It has a population of 171 850.-External links:*...
, (Ukrainian: Тячів, Romanian: Teceu; abbreviated below TJ), with 172,700 inhabitants - the Rakhiv RaionRakhiv RaionRakhiv Raion is a raion in Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. Its administrative center is Rakhiv. It has a population of 90,945.- Administrative division :City: Rakhiv Towns:...
(Ukrainian: Рахів; Romanian: Rahău; abbreviated below RA), with 91,300 inhabitants
The most important cities and towns of Northern Maramuresh are (the district and population are indicated):
- Bushtyno (Romanian: Buştina, Hungarian: Bustyaháza) TJ; 8,300
- DuboveDubove, UkraineDubove is an Urban-type settlement situated in the Carpathian Mountains in the Zakarpattia Oblast of western Ukraine. While officially designated as an urban-type settlement, Dubove's character and composition more closely resembles that of a village...
(Romanian: Dâmbu, Hungarian: Dombó) TJ; 10,400 - Jasinja (Romanian: Frăsini, Hungarian: Kőrösmező) RA; 1,500
- Kobylec'ka Poljana (Romanian: Poiana Cobilei, Hungarian: Gyertyánliget) RA; 3,300
- Mizhhir'ja (Romanian: Boureni, Hungarian: Ökörmező) MY; 10,200
- Rachiv (Romanian: Rahău, Hungarian: Rahó) RA; 17,000
- SolotvynoSolotvynoSolotvyno is a village in the Tiachiv Raion in the Zakarpattia Oblast of Ukraine, located close to the border with Romania, on the right bank of the Tisza River . The village's name comes from the nearby salt mine.Solotvyno was first mentioned ca. 1360...
(Romanian: Slatina, Hungarian: Aknaszlatina) TJ; 9,900 - Teresva (Romanian: Taras, Hungarian: Taracköz) TJ; 7,600
- Tjachiv (Romanian: Teceu, Hungarian: Técső) TJ; 11,300
- Ust'-Chorna (Romanian: Gura Ciornei, Hungarian: Királymező) TJ; 1,500
- Velykyy BychkivVelykyy BychkivVelykyi Bychkiv is a town in the Rakhiv Raion of Zakarpattia Oblast , in the west-most part of Ukraine. It has a population of 9,423 and lies 36 kilometres east of Tiachiv, where the river Sopurka meets the Tisza River....
(Romanian: Bocicoiu MareBocicoiu MareBocicoiu Mare is a commune in Maramureş County, Romania. It lies 9 kilometres east of Sighetu Marmaţiei; across the Tisza River from Velykyy Bychkiv, Ukraine.-Villages:...
, Hungarian: Nagybocskó) RA; 9,400 - Vyshkovo (Romanian: Vâşc, Hungarian: Visk) HU; 8,100 (see http://www.tdimaging.com/TM_about_us.htm)
The biggest villages in Northern Maramuresh are:
- Bedevlja (Romanian: Bedeu, Hungarian: Bedőháza)
- BelinBelin, CovasnaBelin is a commune in Covasna County, Transylvania, Romania composed of two villages:* Belin* Belin-Vale / Bölönpatak-Demographics:...
(Romanian: Bilin, Hungarian: Bilin) - Belaia Ţercovi (Romanian: Biserica Albă, Hungarian: Tiszafejéregyhaz)
- DanilovoDanilovoDanilovo is an air base in Mari El Republic, Russia located 11 km east of Yoshkar-Ola. It is a small interceptor aircraft airfield. It has been home to 681 IAP flying MiG-23MLD aircraft until the 1990s ....
(Romanian: Dănileşti, Hungarian: Husztsófalva) - Delovoe (Romanian: Trebuşeni, Hungarian: Terebesfejérpatak)
- Dibrova (Romanian: Apşa de Jos, Hungarian: Alsóapsa)
- Dovghe (Romanian: DolhaDolhaDołha is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Drelów, within Biała Podlaska County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland. It lies approximately north of Drelów, west of Biała Podlaska, and north of the regional capital Lublin.-References:...
, Hungarian: Dolha) - Dragovo (Romanian: DrăgoieştiDragoiestiDrăgoieşti is a commune located in Suceava County, Romania. It is composed of three villages: Drăgoieşti, Lucăceşti and Măzănăeşti....
, Hungarian: Kövesliget) - Dulovo (Romanian: Duleşti, Hungarian: Dulfalva)
- Glibokiy Potik (Romanian: StrâmturaStrâmturaStrâmtura is a commune in Maramureş County, Romania. It is composed of three villages: Glod , Slătioara and Strâmtura.-References:...
, Hungarian: Szorospatak) - Gornichovo (Romanian: Hernicea, Hungarian: Herincse)
- Grusevo (Romanian: PeriPeriIn Persian mythology, which constitutes the mythology of not just Persians but all Iranian peoples, peris are descended from fallen angels who have been denied paradise until they have done penance. In earlier sources they are described as agents of evil; later, they are benevolent...
, Hungarian: Szentmihálykörtvélyes) - Kaliny (Romanian: Călineştii de Jos, Hungarian: Alsókálinfalva)
- Kolochava (Romanian: Călacea de Jos, Hungarian: Alsókalocsa)
- Komsomoljsk (Romanian: MocraMocraMocra is a commune in the Rîbniţa sub-district of Transnistria, Moldova. It is composed of four villages: Mocra, Basarabca , Şevcenco and Zaporojeţ . It is currently under the administration of the breakaway government of the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic.-Notable people:* Eugen Doga...
, Hungarian: Németmokra) - Kushnica (Romanian: Cuşniţa, Hungarian: Kusnyicza)
- Negrovec (Romanian: Negrovăţ, Hungarian: Felsőkalocsa)
- NeresnicaNeresnicaNeresnica is a small town in the municipality of Kučevo, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 2365 people....
(Romanian: Nereşniţa, Hungarian: Nyéresháza) - Nizhny Bistrzi (Romanian: Bistra de Jos, Hungarian: Alsóbisztra)
- Nizhny Selishte (Romanian: SălişteSalisteSălişte is a town in Sibiu County in the centre of Romania, 21 km west of the county capital, Sibiu, the main locality in the Mărginimea Sibiului area.-Geography:...
, Hungarian: Alsószelistye) - Olshanj (Romanian: Vulşana, Hungarian: Égermező)
- Playuts (Probably formerly Vilhovatij) (Romanian: Plăiuţ, Hungarian: Kiscserjés)
- Prislop (Romanian: Prislopu Mare, Hungarian: Pereszlő)
- Sredne Vodyane (Romanian: Apşa de Mijloc, Hungarian: Középapsa)
- Tereblja (Romanian: Talabor, Hungarian: Talaborfalu)
- Topchino (Romanian: Topcina, Hungarian: Topcsinó)
- Uglia (Romanian: Uglea, Hungarian: Uglya)
- Verhne Vodyane (Romanian: Apşa de Sus, Hungarian: Felsőapsa)
- Vonjgovo (Romanian: Voineşti, Hungarian: Vajnág)
- Zolotarevo (Romanian: Domneşti, Hungarian: Ötvösfalva)
In historical Maramuresh/Máramaros/Maramureş
Northern Maramuresh is historically and geographically close to southern MaramureşMaramures County
Maramureș is a county of Romania, in the Maramureș region. The county seat is Baia Mare.- History :* The 10th century frontier county of Borsova was founded by Stephen I of Hungary. Since then Máramaros served as the north-eastern border of the Hungarian Kingdom until 1920, the Trianon Peace...
, and together form the historical region of Maramureş
Maramures
Maramureș may refer to the following:*Maramureș, a geographical, historical, and ethno-cultural region in present-day Romania and Ukraine, that occupies the Maramureș Depression and Maramureș Mountains, a mountain range in North East Carpathians...
(Romanian: Maramureş, Hungarian: Máramaros). Between 1870 and 1918, Máramaros (north and south) was a county in the Transleitanian part of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. It was divided into 10 rural districts (Hungarian: járás, Romanian: plase) and 1 urban district (Hungarian: rendezett tanácsú város, Romanian: plasă urbană):
| Northern Maramuresh | Southern Maramureş |
|---|---|
| Sziget / Sighet /- (rural district) | |
| Dolha / Dolha / Dovhe (capital: Dolha / Dolha / Dovhe) | Izavölgy / Iza / - Iza Iza is a town located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain.*For the village in Slovakia see Iža*For the river in Romania, see Iza River... (capital: Dragomérfalva / Dragomireşti / -) |
| Huszt / Hust / Khust Khust Khust is a city located on the Khustets River in the Zakarpattia oblast in western Ukraine. It is near the confluence of the Tisza and Rika Rivers... (capital: Huszt / Hust / Khust Khust Khust is a city located on the Khustets River in the Zakarpattia oblast in western Ukraine. It is near the confluence of the Tisza and Rika Rivers... ) |
Sugatag / Şugatag / - (capital: Aknasugatag / Ocna Şugatag / - Ocna Sugatag Ocna Șugatag is a commune in Maramureș County, northern Romania. It is composed of four villages: Breb, Hoteni, Ocna Şugatag and Sat-Şugatag. A health resort, it is well-known for its salt water.-External links:/ *... ) |
| Ökörmező / Boureni / Mizhhir'ya (capital: Ökörmező / Boureni / Mizhhir'ya) | Visó / Vişeu / - Viseu Viseu is both a city and a municipality in the Dão-Lafões Subregion of Centro Region, Portugal. The municipality, with an area of 507.1 km², has a population of 99,593 , and the city proper has 47,250... (capital: Felsővisó / Vişeu de Sus / - Viseu Viseu is both a city and a municipality in the Dão-Lafões Subregion of Centro Region, Portugal. The municipality, with an area of 507.1 km², has a population of 99,593 , and the city proper has 47,250... ) |
| Taracviz / Taras / Teresva (capital: Taracköz / Taras / Teresva) | Sziget / Sighet /- (urban district; capital: Máramarossziget / Sighetu Marmaţiei / - Sighetu Marmatiei Sighetu Marmației , formerly Sighet, is a city in Maramureş County near the Iza River, in north-western Romania. It administers five villages: Iapa, Lazu Baciului, Șugău, Valea Cufundoasă and Valea Hotarului.-Geography:... ) |
| Técső / Teceu / Tiachiv Tiachiv Tyachiv is a city located on the Tisza River in the Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Tiachiv Raion .- History and name :... (capital: Técső / Teceu / Tiachiv Tiachiv Tyachiv is a city located on the Tisza River in the Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Tiachiv Raion .- History and name :... ) |
|
| Tiszavölgy / Tisa / Tissa Tisza The Tisza or Tisa is one of the main rivers of Central Europe. It rises in Ukraine, and is formed near Rakhiv by the junction of headwaters White Tisa, whose source is in the Chornohora mountains and Black Tisa, which springs in the Gorgany range... (capital: Rahó / Rahău / Rakhiv Rakhiv Rakhiv is a city located in the Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Rakhiv Raion .- Demographics :As of 2001, the city population was 15,241 inhabitants which included: * 83.8% Ukrainians... ) |
|
Note: All names are written in the following order: Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
/ Romanian
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...
/ Ukrainian
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
.
Viseu de Sus
Vişeu de Sus is a town in Maramureş County, northern Romania, located at the confluence of the Vişeu and the Vaser. It has an area of 443 km² and administers one village, Vişeu de Mijloc.-Population:Its population is under 17,000...
; German: Oberwischau).
The six districts in the left-hand column were apportioned to Czechoslovakia in 1920. In 1938, Hungary regained their southern portion by the terms of the First Vienna Award
First Vienna Award
The First Vienna Award was the result of the First Vienna Arbitration, which took place at Vienna's Belvedere Palace on November 2, 1938. The Arbitration and Award were direct consequences of the Munich Agreement...
and then seized the rest in March 1939. In 1944 they went to the Soviet Union. Since 1991 they have been part of Ukraine. The four districts in the right-hand column were given to Romania, where they have remained ever since, except for 1940–1944, when they were again in Hungary by the terms of the Second Vienna Award
Second Vienna Award
The Second Vienna Award was the second of two Vienna Awards arbitrated by the Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Rendered on August 30, 1940, it re-assigned the territory of Northern Transylvania from Romania to Hungary.-Prelude and historical background :After the World War I, the multi-ethnic...
. The rural Sziget (Sighet) district, despite being ethnically homogeneously Romanian, was divided: the part north of the Tisza river followed the same fate as the Ukrainian districts, while the part south of the Tisza, the same as the Romanian ones. More than half of the Romanian minority in the present Zakarpattia Oblast resides in what before 1920 was the rural Sziget district.
The total area of Maramuresh county was 10,354.9 km², of which 6,974 km² became the northern part and 3,381 km² became the southern part. The approximately 160 localities were divided as follows: slightly less than 100 joined the north, and slightly more than 60 joined the south. in 1920, the south had a population of approximately 155,000. A majority of the inhabitants were Romanian, with Jewish, Hungarian, Ukrainian and German minorities. The north at the same time had a population of about 220,000, including some 20,000 Romanians.
According to the 1910 Austrian census, Máramaros County
Máramaros
Máramaros is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania and western Ukraine...
had a population which by language was:
- Ruthenian, 159,489
- Romanian, 84,510
- German, 59,552
- Hungarian, 52,964.
A substantial part of the German and Hungarian-speaking population were in fact Jews.
In Carpathian Ruthenia
Carpathian Ruthenia, i.e. the region inhabited by Rusyns (Ruthenians) in Austria-Hungary, spread over some ⅔ of the historic counties of Ung, Bereg, and UgocsaUgocsa
Ugocsa is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania and western Ukraine...
(the remaining ⅓ are respectively Slovak, Hungarian, and Romanian), and from the 16th century also gradually over a part (up to ½) of Maramuresh county. Therefore, in texts dealing with the period after 1600, Northern Maramuresh is sometimes included in historic Carpathian Ruthenia, historic Ruszinszko, or Pidkarpadska Rus', as opposed to earlier texts, when it is not.
Demographic data
| Census year | Total population of Pidkarpadska Rus' / Zakarpattia | Total population of the 4 raions and Khust | Ukrainians | Romanians (official numbers) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 408,971 | 16,713 | ||
| 1921 | 604,745 | 220,000 | 140,000 | 20,000 |
| 1930 | 734,315 | |||
| 1959 | 920,170 | 18,346 | ||
| 1970 | 1,056,000 | 23,454 | ||
| 1979 | 1,155,000 | 27,155 | ||
| 1989 | 1,245,000 | 29,485 | ||
| 2001 | ~1,255,000 | 32,100 | ||
Romanian localities in Northern Maramuresh
In Northern Maramuresh, there are anywhere between ca. 32,000 (according to official Ukrainian sources), ca. 40,000 (according to most Romanian sources), to over 50,000 Romanians living today in a compact area of about 300 km², in 17 villages and one town, separated from RomaniaRomania
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...
only by the river Tisza
Tisza
The Tisza or Tisa is one of the main rivers of Central Europe. It rises in Ukraine, and is formed near Rakhiv by the junction of headwaters White Tisa, whose source is in the Chornohora mountains and Black Tisa, which springs in the Gorgany range...
. This compactly Romanian-inhabited region, which itself separates the Hutsul areas (most of the Rakhiv
Rakhiv
Rakhiv is a city located in the Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Rakhiv Raion .- Demographics :As of 2001, the city population was 15,241 inhabitants which included: * 83.8% Ukrainians...
raion/district) in the east from the rest of Zakarpattia
Zakarpattia Oblast
The Zakarpattia Oblast is an administrative oblast located in southwestern Ukraine. Its administrative center is the city of Uzhhorod...
, corresponds exactly to the north-Tisza part of the former rural district of Sighet in Máramaros
Máramaros
Máramaros is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania and western Ukraine...
County before 1920 (see map). These 18 localities, with their quasi-total Romanian population, are (population data from the 2001 Ukrainian census):
- in Teceu (Tiachiv)TiachivTyachiv is a city located on the Tisza River in the Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Tiachiv Raion .- History and name :...
district (raion)- the town of Ocna Slatina (Ukrainian: Solotvino, Hungarian: Aknaszlatina), a new village first mentioned ca. 1360 (the old one was burned down by the Tatars in 1241); 9,700 inhabitants and 2,200 households
- Apşa de Jos (Ukrainian: Dibrova, Hungarian: Alsóapsa), first mentioned in 1387; includes Valea-Malului; 8,339 inhabitants and 2,300 households
- StrâmturaStrâmturaStrâmtura is a commune in Maramureş County, Romania. It is composed of three villages: Glod , Slătioara and Strâmtura.-References:...
(Ukrainian: Glibokiy Potik, Hungarian: Szurdok), 5,743 inhabitants, 1,398 households - Teteş (Ukrainian: Topchino, Hungarian: Topcsinó), 2,240 inhabitants, 610 households
- Peri (Ukrainian: Grusevo, Hingarian: Szentmihálykörtveliés, i.e. St. Michael Monastery), first mentioned ca. 1200
- Podişor (Ukrianian: Podishor)
- Bescău
- Cărbuneşti
- Bouţul Mare
- Bouţul Mic
- in Rahău (Rakhiv)RakhivRakhiv is a city located in the Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Rakhiv Raion .- Demographics :As of 2001, the city population was 15,241 inhabitants which included: * 83.8% Ukrainians...
district (raion)- Biserica Albă (Ukrainian: Belaia Ţercovi, Hungarian: Tiszafejéregyhaz) 1373
- Apşa de Mijloc (Ukrainian: Sredne Vodyane, Hungarian: Kösépapsa) 1406
- Apşa de Sus (Ukrainian: Verhne Vodyane, Hungarian: Felsöapsa)
- Apşiţa Veche (Ukrainian: Voditsa, Hungarian: Kisapsa)
- Dobric (Ukrainian: Dobrik, Hungarian: Dobrikdülő)
- Plăiuţ (Ukrainian: Playuts, Hungarian: Plajuc)
- Strâmba (Ukrainian: Strimba, Hungarian: Almáspatak)
- Paladi
Some Romanians also live in localities of Northern Maramuresh outside the above compact area:
- the town of Taras (Teresva)
- the village of Bedeu (Bedevlya)
- the city of Teceu (Tiachiv)TiachivTyachiv is a city located on the Tisza River in the Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Tiachiv Raion .- History and name :...
- the town of Buştina (Bushtino)
- the village of Visc (Vishkove)
- the town of Bocicoiu Mare (Velykyy Bychkiv)Velykyy BychkivVelykyi Bychkiv is a town in the Rakhiv Raion of Zakarpattia Oblast , in the west-most part of Ukraine. It has a population of 9,423 and lies 36 kilometres east of Tiachiv, where the river Sopurka meets the Tisza River....
- the city of Hust (Khust)KhustKhust is a city located on the Khustets River in the Zakarpattia oblast in western Ukraine. It is near the confluence of the Tisza and Rika Rivers...
although far fewer than in previous centuries.
Note: There are also Romanians in the two major Zakarpattian cities, Uzhhorod
Uzhhorod
Uzhhorod or Uzhgorod is a city located in western Ukraine, at the border with Slovakia and near the border with Hungary. It is the administrative center of the Zakarpattia Oblast , as well as the administrative center of the surrounding Uzhhorodskyi Raion within the oblast...
and Mukachevo, as well as in the town of Korolevo
Korolevo
Korolevo is an urban type settlement on Tisza River in Zakarpattia Oblast, Vynohradiv Raion, Ukraine.- History :At the end of 12th century there existed a settlement of Slavs. On the hill was built a wooden royal hunting house, from which Koroleve got its name. In the 14th century at the site a...
(Romanian: Craia), in Vinogradovo raion, which are not in Maramuresh, but respectively in Ung, Bereg, and Ugocsa. There are also two other Romanian villages:
- Poroskovo (Romanian: Poroscova, Hungarian: Poroskő), Perechin raion, near Munţii Păduroşi, 45 km NE of Ujgorod, 3000 inhabitants, and
- MirkeMirkeMirke is a small settlement immediately to the south of Vrhnika in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia.-External links:*...
(Romanian: Mircea), Velykyi Berezin raion, 35 km N of Ujgorod, 1500 inhabitants,
40 km one from the other, in the northwest of Zakarpattia
Zakarpattia Oblast
The Zakarpattia Oblast is an administrative oblast located in southwestern Ukraine. Its administrative center is the city of Uzhhorod...
, which is not part of Northern Maramuresh, but of the former Ung county. They are the last remnants of the Vlachs (Romanians) who inhabited present-day Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and Zakarpattia before the arrival of the Slavs (6th-8th centuries) and Hungarians (9th century), when they were isolated and afterwards assimilated. Their Ukrainian neighbors also call the inhabitants of these two villages volokhi or loshkarini, Slavic names for Romanians no longer in current use.
Maramuresh/Maramureş before the split
See History of MaramureşHistory of Maramures
Maramureş is a historical region in the north of Transylvania, along the upper Tisa River...
.
In the Middle Ages, Maramureş
Maramures
Maramureș may refer to the following:*Maramureș, a geographical, historical, and ethno-cultural region in present-day Romania and Ukraine, that occupies the Maramureș Depression and Maramureș Mountains, a mountain range in North East Carpathians...
had a Romanian population, organized into a voevodat with a voevod elected from among the village noblemen (Romanian: knezi). The majority of the pesants in the region were free and went by a regional term specific only to Maramureş: nămeşi (from neam, clan), and only a minority were serf
SERF
A spin exchange relaxation-free magnetometer is a type of magnetometer developed at Princeton University in the early 2000s. SERF magnetometers measure magnetic fields by using lasers to detect the interaction between alkali metal atoms in a vapor and the magnetic field.The name for the technique...
s (first serfs mentioned in documents in 1405).
In the more mountainous villages and hamlets, the main dwelling was raising sheep, which implied constant moving in search of new pastures to accommodate raising stocks. As a consequence, between 10th and 13th centuries, modern mountainous regions of eastern and central Slovakia saw a migration of Vlach (Romanian) shepherds from Maramureş, eventually assimilated. Another similar migration occurred in the 14th century with destination the mountainous south-eastern-most corner of modern Poland. The new migrants were given special rights known as Jus Valahicum
Lex Antiqua Valachorum
Lex Antiqua Valachorum, meaning "Ancient Wallachian Law", also called Jus Valahicum/Valachorum , represents a collection of the Romanian pre-statal judicial system, with afferent juridical rituals, customs and traditions, kept and transmitted from generation to generation.-In the Romanian...
, and a century later serious local feuds occurred when these rights were abolished and the Vlachs were assimilated. A significant portion of the heritage of Gorals
Gorals
The Gorale are a group of indigenous people found along southern Poland, northern Slovakia, and in the region of Cieszyn Silesia in the Czech Republic...
comes from the assimilated Vlachs. Other migrants who advanced along the Carpathian range between the 14th and 17th centuries became known as Moravian Vlachs
Moravian Wallachia
Moravian Wallachia is a mountainous region located in the easternmost part of Moravia, Czech Republic, near the Slovakian border. The name Wallachia was formerly applied to all the highlands of Moravia and neighboring Silesia, although in the nineteenth century a smaller area came to be defined...
. On their way they gradually lost their original language with the exception of some Romanian words they use in their Czech and Slovak dialect, but they preserved much of their culture (especially folklore, songs and costumes) and economic base, namely sheep breeding. In 1644, during the Thirty Years War, they was crashed by Albrecht von Wallenstein
Albrecht von Wallenstein
Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein , actually von Waldstein, was a Bohemian soldier and politician, who offered his services, and an army of 30,000 to 100,000 men during the Danish period of the Thirty Years' War , to the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II...
.
In 14th century, several groups of Maramureş noblemen with their warriors (Romanian: viteji) established themselves in modern northern Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
, and were the driving force that led to the creation of that principality in 1345 (by Dragoş of Bedeu
Dragos
Dragonș, also Dragoş Vodă or Dragoş of Bedeu, was a Romanian voivode in Maramureş who has traditionally been considered as the first ruler or prince of Moldavia...
, former voevod of Maramureş), and its independence in 1359 (up to 3,000 families in strength, led by Bogdan of Cuhea, the voevod of Maramureş who previously led a 20-years old campaign to avoid the Voevodat of Maramureş being turned and organized as a County (Comitatus), as King Louis of Anjou of Hungary strove for and eventually succeeded).
The Comitatus
Comitatus (Kingdom of Hungary)
A county is the name of a type of administrative units in the Kingdom of Hungary and in Hungary from the 10th century until the present day....
of Máramaros
Máramaros
Máramaros is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania and western Ukraine...
was formally established in the Kingdom of Hungary
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...
in 1303. In late 14th and early 15th century, count-voevod Drag of Bedeu, Dragoş' grandson, raise to eventually become one of the 10 peers
Peerage (disambiguation)
Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom.Peerage may also refer to:* Peerage Act 1963* Jacobite Peerage* Hereditary peer* Life Peer- British Isles :* Peerage of England** Welsh peers* Peerage of Ireland...
of the Kingdom of Hungary
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...
that in 1386 enthroned Sigismund of Luxembourg as King, who in turn in not yet clear circumstances confiscated in 1404 all the estate of Drag and his family in Maramureş (over 50 villages), and forced them to resettle in a small estate in Szatmar
Szatmár
Szatmár is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania and north-eastern Hungary, south of the river Tisza...
. In 1391, Drag and his brother Balc were responsible for obtaining from the Patriarch of Constantinople
Patriarch of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarch is the Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome – ranking as primus inter pares in the Eastern Orthodox communion, which is seen by followers as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church....
raising of the New Rum
Râmet
Râmeţ is a commune located in Alba County, Romania. It has a population of 751, and is composed of thirteen villages: Boţani, Brădeşti, Cheia, Cotorăşti, Floreşti, Olteni, Râmeţ, Valea Făgetului, Valea Inzelului, Valea Mănăstirii, Valea Poienii, Valea Uzei and Vlădeşti.-References:...
Monastery of Saint Michael the Archangel of Peri
Peri
In Persian mythology, which constitutes the mythology of not just Persians but all Iranian peoples, peris are descended from fallen angels who have been denied paradise until they have done penance. In earlier sources they are described as agents of evil; later, they are benevolent...
(modern village of Grushevo in Northern Maramuresh on the bank of the Tisza
Tisza
The Tisza or Tisa is one of the main rivers of Central Europe. It rises in Ukraine, and is formed near Rakhiv by the junction of headwaters White Tisa, whose source is in the Chornohora mountains and Black Tisa, which springs in the Gorgany range...
) to the rank of Stauropegic
Stauropegic
Stauropegic, also rendered stavropegic, stauropegial, or stavropegial is a title or description applied to Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christian monasteries subordinated directly to a Patriarch or Synod, rather than to their local Bishop...
Bishopric
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
, this being the first Romanian (non-rural) bishopric, with jurisdiction over eight nearby counties.
Since 15th century, local nobility was largely assimilated within the Hungarian nobility, adopted Catholicism and Hungarian language
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
. In 1526, after the collapse of the Kingdom of Hungary at the hands of the Ottoman Turks
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, Máramaros, along with the whole of modern Transcarpathia
Zakarpattia Oblast
The Zakarpattia Oblast is an administrative oblast located in southwestern Ukraine. Its administrative center is the city of Uzhhorod...
, was incorporated into the semi-independent Principality of 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...
, which became a Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
domain in 1687, and at the in 1867
Ausgleich
The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 established the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary. The Compromise re-established the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hungary, separate from and no longer subject to the Austrian Empire...
was included in the Hungarian part of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
.
The ethnic composition of Maramureş started to diversify already in the Middle Ages with the arrival of German colonists that founded or re-built five cities: Visc, Teceu, Câmpulung, Bocicoi, and Sighet. The adoption of Hungarian language and the Catholic faith in 15th century (then a Protestant one in 16the century) by the Transylvanian nobility created a linguistically and religiously distinct upper class which ruled the area. Since 16th century, Ukrainian peasants moved from nearby Bereg and Ugocsa
Ugocsa
Ugocsa is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in north-western Romania and western Ukraine...
counties, and from Polish Galicia. The Ukrainization of some villages in Northern Maramuresh was strengthened by the long jurisdictional disputes in 18th century between the Greek Catholic Bishopric of Muncach (Ukrainian) and Orthodox Bishopric of Peri (Romanian), later also with participation of Romanian Greek Catholics. In 19th century the region was also settled by numerous Jews who arrived from Galicia. The Ukrainian population of Northern Maramuresh is also diverse: Hutsuls
Hutsuls
Hutsuls are an ethno-cultural group of Ukrainian highlanders who for centuries have inhabited the Carpathian mountains, mainly in Ukraine, the northern extremity of Romania .-Etymology:...
in the east, Boiko in northwest, and Rusyn
Rusyns
Carpatho-Rusyns are a primarily diasporic ethnic group who speak an Eastern Slavic language, or Ukrainian dialect, known as Rusyn. Carpatho-Rusyns descend from a minority of Ruthenians who did not adopt the use of the ethnonym "Ukrainian" in the early twentieth century...
in the western part, in Tisza
Tisza
The Tisza or Tisa is one of the main rivers of Central Europe. It rises in Ukraine, and is formed near Rakhiv by the junction of headwaters White Tisa, whose source is in the Chornohora mountains and Black Tisa, which springs in the Gorgany range...
valley, the former two originating from Galicia, and the latter from Bereg and Ugocsa.
After the defeat of the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the northern part of the comitatus (about 60% of the territory) became part of Carpathian Ruthenia
Carpathian Ruthenia
Carpathian Ruthenia is a region in Eastern Europe, mostly located in western Ukraine's Zakarpattia Oblast , with smaller parts in easternmost Slovakia , Poland's Lemkovyna and Romanian Maramureş.It is...
within the newly formed Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. The southern part (40%, including the former capital Sighetu Marmaţiei
Sighetu Marmatiei
Sighetu Marmației , formerly Sighet, is a city in Maramureş County near the Iza River, in north-western Romania. It administers five villages: Iapa, Lazu Baciului, Șugău, Valea Cufundoasă and Valea Hotarului.-Geography:...
) became part of 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...
. This division was confirmed by the Treaty of Trianon
Treaty of Trianon
The Treaty of Trianon was the peace agreement signed in 1920, at the end of World War I, between the Allies of World War I and Hungary . The treaty greatly redefined and reduced Hungary's borders. From its borders before World War I, it lost 72% of its territory, which was reduced from to...
in 1920.
Northern Maramuresh after the split
Just before World War IIWorld 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...
, the region was part of the briefly independent Carpatho-Ukraine
Carpatho-Ukraine
Carpatho-Ukraine was an autonomous region within Czechoslovakia from late 1938 to March 15, 1939. It declared itself an independent republic on March 15, 1939, but was occupied by Hungary between March 15 and March 18, 1939, remaining under Hungarian control until the Nazi occupation of Hungary in...
in March 1939, but this republic, comprising the part of Carpathian Ruthenia
Carpathian Ruthenia
Carpathian Ruthenia is a region in Eastern Europe, mostly located in western Ukraine's Zakarpattia Oblast , with smaller parts in easternmost Slovakia , Poland's Lemkovyna and Romanian Maramureş.It is...
not given to Hungary by the First Vienna Award
First Vienna Award
The First Vienna Award was the result of the First Vienna Arbitration, which took place at Vienna's Belvedere Palace on November 2, 1938. The Arbitration and Award were direct consequences of the Munich Agreement...
a few months earlier, was almost immediately annexed by Horthyst Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, which in 1940 also annexed the Romanian part of Maramureş following the Second Vienna Award
Second Vienna Award
The Second Vienna Award was the second of two Vienna Awards arbitrated by the Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Rendered on August 30, 1940, it re-assigned the territory of Northern Transylvania from Romania to Hungary.-Prelude and historical background :After the World War I, the multi-ethnic...
. After the war, in 1945 the formerly Czechoslovakian Maramuresh was transferred to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, and in 1946 it was included in the Zakarpattia Oblast
Zakarpattia Oblast
The Zakarpattia Oblast is an administrative oblast located in southwestern Ukraine. Its administrative center is the city of Uzhhorod...
of the Ukrainian SSR
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or in short, the Ukrainian SSR was a sovereign Soviet Socialist state and one of the fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union lasting from its inception in 1922 to the breakup in 1991...
. The latter after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
became the independent Ukraine.
Historic monuments and heritage sites
Churches, monasteries and sites
- St. Michael the Archangel Monastery, Peri (1215), became the first Romanian bishopric on 13 August 1391, by the efforts of voivodes Drag and Balcu, grandsons of the famous voivode DragoşDragosDragonș, also Dragoş Vodă or Dragoş of Bedeu, was a Romanian voivode in Maramureş who has traditionally been considered as the first ruler or prince of Moldavia...
, in the village of PeriPeriIn Persian mythology, which constitutes the mythology of not just Persians but all Iranian peoples, peris are descended from fallen angels who have been denied paradise until they have done penance. In earlier sources they are described as agents of evil; later, they are benevolent...
(Grushevo), Tyachev (Teceu) district (in the Romanian country) - Church of the Nativity (Steblivka) (1797) in the village of Steblivka, Khust district (in the Rusyn country)
- St. Michael's Church (Crainicova) (1666–1668) in the village of Crainicova, Khust district (in the Rusyn country)
- Church of the Holy Spirit (Colochava) (17th century) near the villages of Colochava and Horb, Mizhhirsky district (in the Rusyn country)
- Church (1776) in the village of Apsa de Jos (Dibrova), Tyachev (Teceu) district (in the Romanian country)
- St. Nicholas Church (Seredny Vodany) (1428) in the village of Apsa de Mijloc (Seredny Vodany), Rahiv (Rahau) district (in the Romanian country)
- Strukivska Church (1824) in the village of YasiniaYasiniaYasinia is an urban-type settlement in the Rakhiv Raion of the Zakarpattia Oblast in Ukraine. It was the site of the Hutsul Republic after World War I, and the birthplace of several prominent Ukrainians declaring independence from Kingdom of Hungary. This republic was ended by Romanian troops on...
, Rahiv district (in the Hutsul country) - Horian Rotunda, 12th-14th centuries (don't know where)
- 1887 marker near RakhivRakhivRakhiv is a city located in the Zakarpattia Oblast in western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Rakhiv Raion .- Demographics :As of 2001, the city population was 15,241 inhabitants which included: * 83.8% Ukrainians...
claiming the location being the geographical centre of EuropeGeographical centre of EuropeThe location of the geographical centre of Europe depends on the definition of the borders of Europe, mainly whether remote islands are included to define the extreme points of Europe, and on the method of calculating the final result...
Feudal nobility
A considerable part of Maramuresh's history was associated in past centuries with well-known feudal families of Europe. From the 14th to the 19th century:- Rozhoni (owners of the village of Dovhe/Dolha),
- PereniPereniPereni is a commune in Rezina district, Moldova. It is composed of two villages, Pereni and Roşcani....
(owners of Sevljus and 117 villages in the nearby county of Ugocea/Ugocsa), - Dovhay (owners of Dovhe/Dolha, Soymy/Şoimi, Kyshnytsya/Cuşniţa, Volove, Siltse, Irshava, in all 20 villages in the nearby county of Bereg),
- DragoşDragosDragonș, also Dragoş Vodă or Dragoş of Bedeu, was a Romanian voivode in Maramureş who has traditionally been considered as the first ruler or prince of Moldavia...
(Drahush) (Ocna Slatina/Solotvyno, and 5 villages in later centuries, while in the time of the brothers Balcu (Balka) and Drag (Draha) they owned Korolevo/Craia (this town is in Ugocea), Khust/Hust, Tyachiv/Teceu, Iza, and 32 villages along the Tisza/Tysa/Tisa and Tereblya/Tereblea rivers (all these in Maramuresh), - Urmezeyi (27 villages in Maramuresh),
- Bilkey-Iloshvay (24 villages in Maramuresh),
- Pohani (villages along the lower reaches of the rivers Tereblya/Tereblea and Teresva/Taras in Maramuresh),
- HunyadiHunyadi familyThe Hunyadi family was a Hungarian noble family strongest in the Late Middle Ages. Their probable Romanian origins are claimed by medieval authors and by many modern historians....
(Corvin) (32 villages and two towns in the nearby counties of Ugocea/Ugocsa and Bereg).
Other prominent feudal families of 16th-19th centuries were Karoli, Teleki
Teleki
Teleki is the name of a Hungarian noble family. It means "from Maros-Telek " or "allotments."* Teleki family ** Mihály Teleki , chancellor of Transylvania...
, Toldi, Kornish, Stoyko, Fisher, Reyti, and Soplontsay.
People and traditions
The people of Maramuresh are generally tougher and swifter, the sense of justice and honor is very keen for them. They have, and perhaps for good reasons, great pride in their specificity, and even in their toughness, since in few other places are ancient Romanian traditions are preserved to such an extent. Their wooden churches are quite beautiful. Every village has its separate set of traditions, and every little valley has a name that begins with "The Country of …".External links
Marian Nicolae Tomi, "Maramureşul istoric în date”, Cluj-Napoca, 2005- http://zakarpattia.net/ A zoomable map
- Tracing a Sacred Building Tradition