STATUTUL JURIDIC AL CETĂŢII CARAŞOVA ÎN SECOLELE XIV-XVI
THE JURIDICAL STATUS OF CARAŞOVA FORTRESS IN THE 14TH-16TH CENTURY

Summary/Abstract: The stone fortification on the territory of the commune of Caraşova (Caraş-Severin County) draw the attention of historians from the 19th century. The opinions regarding the fortress were diverse and contradictory, especially about its chronology and way of construction. During the Middle Age, the fortress was situated in Caraş County, in the territory of the privileged district (from 1457) bearing the same name. Its first documentary mention dates in 1323, when Caraşova was royal property. The chatelaine of Caraşova was chatelaine of Érd Somlyó, too. Few years later, in 1335, the fortification was in the property of the archbishop of Kalocsa, but in 1358 belonged again to the king of Hungaria. During the 15th century, the informations about Caraşova are few. We know that Filippo Scolary, the comes of Timiş, was chatelaine here, in 1405 and 1406. In 1520, the fortification was in private property (Sofiat Orbonás pay a fine because he did not want to take it in possession). Starting with the year 1552, Caraşova became a border fortification of the Pashalic of Timişoara. At the end of the 16th century, it was probably re-conquered by the Christian armies for a short time, then entered again in the area controlled by the Ottoman Empire. Three great phases of construction were observed during the archaeological researches, made in 1998, 2000 and 2001 by Liana and Silviu Oţa. The first phase of construction can be dated in the first quarter of the 14th century, and the second one probably in the second half of the mentioned century. The last phase was supposed at the beginning of the 15th century, when Filippo Scolari, the comes of Timiş, visited the southern Banat.

• Details
• Contents