Despre turnul bisericii Curților Domnești din Hârlău, 1492–1892/1902
About the Bell Tower of the Hârlău Princely Court (1486/1492−1902)

Summary/Abstract: In the Middle Ages, the princely court in the city of Hârlău (in today’s Iași county) was one of the important political and administrative centers of Moldavia, in the middle of the country, on the Moldavian Road that connected the Nordic (Hanseatic) countries to the Black Sea shore. The town of Hârlău (or Bahlovia) developed around the princely courts, where, before May 1, 1384, Margareta-Mușata resided with her sons: Petru I (1375–1391), Roman (1391/2–1394) and Stephen (1394/5–1399). Their successors on the throne of Moldavia: Alexander the Good (1400–1432), Stephen the Great (1457–1504), Bogdan III (1504–1517), Ștefăniță (1517–1527), Petru Rareș (1527–1538; 1541–1546), Alexandru Lăpușneanu (1552–1561; 1563–1568) and other rulers: Radu Mihnea (1616–1619; 1623–1626), Miron Barnovski (1623–1629; 1633), during the first reign, resided in Hârlău, on several occasions, founding various constructions, some quite significant, in this „cradle of the Musatins”. In the Romanian Middle Ages, the Royal Courts of Hârlău included the royal houses/palaces, the church and their annexes, with defensive walls and towers, all in the service of the Principality and the Orthodox Church. The first fortifications of the princely courts in Hârlău, built earlier, are not known, but they must also have had a tower, used for military, social and religious purposes, since members of a princely family resided in them; the strategic position and the surroundings rich in building stone have led to this conclusion. Future archaeological research will need to clarify this aspect. In 1486, Stephen the Great „dismounted the fair of Hârlău” (according to chronicler Grigore Ureche) and built the princely church, „the one made of stone”, „with walls and everything”. Then the stone tower was also built, a statement that does not exclude the earlier existence of another stone tower (end of the 14th century – beginning of the 15th century). Until the 18th century, at least three residences of the princely courts existed in Hârlău. The most important contributions, according to the founders, were made by Alexander the Good, Stephen the Great, Petru Rareș, Alexandru Lăpușneanu and Radu Mihnea. There was a church tower next to the three churches built successively on the same site. The most important contribution to the tower was made by Stephen the Great, without excluding those of his successors (repairs/reconstructions).

• Details
• Contents