Carașova. A small fortress between two superpowers
Carașova. A small fortress between two superpowers

Summary/Abstract: A lot of information about the medieval stone fortress of Carașova can be found in the historical and archaeological literature since the 19th century. Its name (Krassófő vár) was confused with another fortress, with a similar name (Krassóvár). The fortress of Caraşova is situated on the territory of Carașova commune, in Caraş-Severin County. It was built on the Grad hill in the gorges of the Caraș River. In the Middle Ages, it was part of the Wallachian Carașova Districtof Caraș County. The fortress was built of stone, on the top of a hill, basically a large limestone cliff with several slopes. The first trustworthy data about the fortress date back to 1323 when Caraşova was ruled by master Nicolae, who was, at the same time, chatelaine of Vršac. As a result of archaeological excavations, it was observed that it has three phases of construction. In each of them, the area of the fortress was increased. At the beginning, during the 14th century, Carașova was built as a small royal fortification. In the 15th century it became an important centre in support of the anti-Ottoman struggle. In the 16th century, as a result of successive attacks and destruction, Carașova had the status of a small border fortification. According to the latest research, in the 16th century it was partially destroyed after an Ottoman attack that can be dated most probably during 1551-1552. After the middle of the 16th century, Carașova became an Ottoman possession, near the border with the Principality of Transylvania, more precisely with its southwestern part, known as the Banate of Lugoj and Caransebeș. Towards the end of the same century (1595), the fortress was most probably completely destroyed by the Transylvanians.

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