„Vlachs” in the Census of the Metropolitanate of Karlovici in 1821: Arad, Timișoara and Vršac Eparchies
„Vlachs” in the Census of the Metropolitanate of Karlovici in 1821: Arad, Timișoara and Vršac Eparchies

Summary/Abstract: This paper deals with the census of the Metropolitanate of Karlovci of 1821, analysing the demographic data for the Arad, Timişoara and Vršac Eparchies in particular. Research in the former Archives of the Metropolitanate reveals that the count was actually taken in 1821 (Arad and Vršac) and 1822 (Timişoara). The Orthodox population in these eparchies consisted of Serbs and Romanians. The importance of the census lies in the fact that it included the ethnic (linguistic) composition of the population, which is a rare case. In the Arad Eparchy and the eastern parts of the other eparchies, a Romanian majority was registered (classified as Vlachs). The calculated data reveal that there were also some differences in household structure and size between Serbs and Romanians. On average, Romanian households seem to have been smaller than the Serbian ones, especially in northern parts of the area. Spatial differences are shown, with household size and the number of married couples per house (number of nuclear families) rising towards the west and south of the Banat region. The role of the government in Vienna in the process of census taking in the Metropolitanate remains unclear. It appears that the authorities were at the very least aware of the main results of the census. The possibility that the count was partly ordered by the state has to be verified by further research.

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