The structure of the medieval town of Rupea

• Author: Mariana Borcoman
• Position: Department of Social Assistance and Communication, <I>Transilvania</I> University of Bra&#x015f;ov.
• Pages: 245-250

Page 245

1. Introduction

Rupea is located at the confluence of Hartibaciului plateau and Tarnavelor area. It was one of the first German colonies in Transylvania, and drew the attention of the young Hungarian kingdom nearby. Hungarian kings such as Geza the 2^nd and Andrew the 2^nd focused on attracting the German population towards the Hungarian territories.

Due to severe noblemen's persecutions, high taxation, and lack of trade freedom, small tradesmen from Flanders and eastern Rhine and Saxony answered the Hungarian kings' invitation, and left their original territories.

The Germans' invitation was made under the supervision of a local authority called greav. He is the one who will sign the contract with the Hungarian royalty - the location agreement. The German population came in successive waves, between the 12^th and the 13^th centuries, and they settled in wide areas: in southern Hungary (the Danube basin), and the inter- Carpathian region. The Hungarian royalty's intentions were clear from the very beginning: to set up new towns and to develop crafts and commerce. Also, they aimed at instilling Catholicism in the region.

In Transylvania, the Germans settled down between Orastie in the west and Drauseni in the east.

The colonists enjoyed the privileges granted by the Hungarian royalty, that is, autonomous administration and economic freedom. The territory had not been vacant, as Diploma Andreeanum mentions, but was inhabited by Romanians.

The Germans cohabitation with the Romanians was harmonious, although the new-comers settled down in the best areas, and enjoyed commercial privileges.

In towns, the urban structure was clearly distinguished, whereas the villages were relatively homogeneous.

The present study focuses on a town that, in the Middle Ages, was neighbored by other similar settlements such as Sebes, Cincu, and Miercurea Sibiului.Page 246

2. The Setting up of the Town and Fortress of Rupea

The exact date of the Rupea fortress setting up is not known until first mentioned in documents from the 14^th century, which makes it difficult to put it into a certain class of fortresses. Stefan Pascu argues that it is "a feudal fortress which became a royal fortress with its own nobleman" [8]. Initially, it must have been erected by the local community (probably Romanians), and then fortified in order to shelter the Rupea nobleman's garrison.

Starting with the 14^th century we have more information regarding the fortress of Rupea: during Ludwig the Great's time it was a royal fortress, as "the king tells the castle men of Deva, Tarnava and Rupea to cease collecting the church taxes, and in 1380 the Rupea Castle man is told to send the tax to the catholic bishop of Alba Iulia"[10]. The fortress was located on a basalt column, which sustained the settlement. The upper part of the citadel was occupied in 1324 by German Henning of Petresti, the head of the riot, and thus the German control started.

In 1289 "the capital of Rupea was attested on the valley of Kohalm- Rupea"[6]. The 14^th century is richer in events and attestations. In 1309, "the capital Kosd is mentioned in connection with a trial between the bishop of Alba and several German deans"[11]. The fights for the Hungary's throne affects Transylvania, and the crowning of Carl Robert of Anjou in 1310 did not calm down the situation. People such as Paul of Lodomosz, Nikolaus of Talmaciu, and Solomon of Brasov claim authority over the territory. In order to control the Germans, the king appoints Toma, his subordinate, "a ruthless and greedy man whom people hated"[6] as a territorial ruler, which leads to the Germans' upheaval. Toma issues an edict that "gives Ladislaw of Saint Martin the fortress, and the title of Rupea captain and subordinate of Hungary". [10] This is the first attestation of the fortress. As a result, the fortress of Rupea will be sieged and conquered by the troops led by Henning of Petresti.

Meanwhile, Carl Robert rushes to...