Drobeta-Turnu Severin

Drobeta Turnu Severin
County capital
Theatre
Coat of arms
Location of Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Country	Romania
County	Mehedinţi
Status	County capital
Government
• Mayor	Gherghe Constantin (Social Democratic Party)
Area
• Total	55 km2 (21 sq mi)
Population  (2002)
• Total	104,557
• Density	1,900/km2 (5,000/sq mi)
• July 1, 2004	109,450
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Website	http://www.drobetaturnuseverin.ro/

Drobeta Turnu Severin (pronunciation: /dro'be.ta 'tur.nu se.ve'rin/; Latin: Drobeta; Hungarian: Szörényvár; Bulgarian: Северин; Serbian: Дробета-Турну Северин) is a city in Mehedinţi County, Oltenia, Romania, on the left bank of the Danube, below the Iron Gates.

Administratively, three villages are part of the city: Dudaşu Schelei, Gura Văii and Schela Cladovei.

Population

• 1900: 18,628
• 2002: 104,557

History

The city, which was originally called Drobetae by the Romans, took its later name of Turnu Severin, or the Northern Tower, from a tower on the north bank of the Danube built by the Byzantines, which stood on a small hill surrounded by a deep moat. This was built to commemorate a victory over the Gauls and Marcomanni by the Roman emperor Septimius Severus (222-235). Near Turnu Severin are the remains of the celebrated Trajan's bridge, the largest in the Empire, built in 103 by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus. The Danube is about 1,200 metres (4,000 feet) broad at this spot. The bridge was composed of twenty arches supported by stone pillars; only two are still visible at low water.

Ruins of Trajan's Bridge

After the retreat of the Roman administration from Dacia, the city was preserved under Roman occupation as a bridgehead on the north bank of the Danube (4th-6th centuries). Destroyed by Huns in the 5th century, it was rebuilt by Justinian I (527-565). It was in the Middle Ages that the city changed its name to Turnu Severin and became the political center of the Banat of Severin (13th century). The city was claimed and possessed first by the Kingdom of Hungary, which established a Roman Catholic bishopric in Severin, and circa 1330 by the Wallachian voivodes. It was seized by the Ottoman Empire in 1524. Once under Ottoman occupation, the territory's administration moved to the west of Oltenia, and was centered in Cerneţi.

After the Danube was freed from Ottoman control (as a consequence of the Treaty of Adrianople in 1829), it was decided to build the present city (in 1836, following a rigorous program), and then the harbor (1858). The building of some industrial factories spurred the redevelopment of the city. The city experienced growth on multiple levels (economic, urban and social), and in 1972 it received the name of Drobeta-Turnu Severin. The first written document mentioning the city 1,870 years earlier was commemorated in 1992.

Ancient Age

Bridge at Drobeta

It was built in only three years (103 - 105) by the famous architect's plans, Apollodorus of Damascus, is considered the most daring work of roman world. The bridge was built on 20 pillars of stone blocks, is 1135 m long, 14.55 m wide and 18.60 m high, the heads having each a portal monument, whose relics are seen on both sides of the Danube. For the wood parts of construction were used oaks from 200 hectares of forest. Drobeta became, from a strategic point, a town at the crossing of land and water roads wich led to the noth and south of Danube. It became the first urban center in the region and the third of Dacia after Sarmizegetusa and Apullum. During the reign of Hadrian (117 - 138) the settlement has been declared the city (in 121), when the population reached 14,000 inhabitants. During the reign of Septimius Severus (193 - 211) was raised to the rank of colony (in 193) which gives the city residents equal rights with citizens of Rome. A colony was a thriving city, with temples, basilica, a theater, a forum, a port and guilds of craftsmen. In the midle of 3rd century Drobeta is stretched on an area of 60 hectares and had a population of almost 40,000 inhabitants. The Roman emperors, even during the empire split, continued to restore and maintain the castles on the Danube. The last emperor who had brought the Roman “Eagles” to the Danube was Justinian (527 - 565), adding a tower in Drobeta.

Medieval Age

Along with the forming of the Hungarian kingdom and Vallachian Voivodeships (Voievodatele Valahe), the Severin Fortress was a reason for a war over a period of several generations between Oltenian Voievodes (Litovoi, Bărbat, then Basarab I) and Hungarians, the war ended with the Battle of Posada. Romanians will then fight the Ottoman Empire, which threatened the area of the Danube. In this context, castles on the banks of the river, the area of Iron Gates until Calafat began to be restored. When the Hungarians attacked Oltenia and conquered Severin Fortress, Andrew II of Hungary organized Banat of Severin. The first ban of Severin, Luca, was mentioned in 1233. Year 1233 may be taken as date of birth of a new castle over the ruins of Drobeta, under the name Severin (Severinopolis) (a basis for Banat of Severin, Terra Zeurino, Ţara Severinului – Country of Severin). Severin name was taken in memory of Emperor Septimius Severus, who raise Drobeta at the rank of colony. Also during this period is likely to have been built Cetatea Grădeţului (Fortress of Grădeţ). In 1247 the Hungarian Kingdom brought in the country the Knights of John (Cavalerii Ioaniţi), giving them Severin as residency, where they will build the medieval castle of Severin (this is the Castrul Zeurini mentioned in Diploma Cavalerilor Ioaniti in 1247), strong fort, inside which was built and a Gothic church, presumably the headquarters of the Catholic episcopate Severin, who was here until 1502. Knights will withdraw in 1259, the fortress remaining in the range of the cannons of Turks, Bulgarians and Tatars who wanted to cross the Danube and the Hungarians who attacked Oltenia. Severin Fortress was the most important strategic redoubt on the Danube, its conquest meaning a bridgehead in the region and the possibility of referral to new conquests. At the end of the 13th century King Stephen of Hungary has had five wars with the Bulgarian Tsarsdom for the defense of Severin Fortress. Romanian Voivodes have also disputed the priority of the powerful fortress conquering it or claiming it from time to time. For this fortress died Litovoi and Basarab I humiliated Carol Robert of Anjou at Posada in 1330. Mircea the Elder (Mircea cel Bătrân) established Bănia Severinului (Banat of Severin) and in 1406 concluded a treaty of alliance with Sigismund of Hungary right on Severin. After the death of Mircea, Sigismund will free the Severin Fortress occupied by the Turks, and even make some concessions to the monasteries of Vodita and Tismana. Then Banat of Severin returns to John Huniady (Iancu de Hunedoara), which consolidates all the castles on the Danube. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, attacks on the Danubian fortresses were mend, moving the Banat to Strehaia, later in Craiova, Severin population migrating to Cerneţi village at 6 km north, which will become the capital of Mehedinti district. In 1524, after a devastating attack of the Turks led by Soliman the Magnificent, from the fortress Severinului was left standing only one tower, which led to the appointment of the Mehedinti people by Turnul lui Sever (Tower of Sever). In 1936, Prof. Dr. Al. Bărăcilă executed excavations at the fortress, where he managed to reconstruct the lay-out of the castle and recovered a rich archaeological material (rails, iron, copper, stone cannon-balls, pipe of a bronze cannon etc.). The fortress was rectangular shaped with two walls made of unprocessed river stones, glued with mortar. In the center of the castle there is a chapel built in part with materials taken from Drobeta Castrum, which was surrounded by graves. Also in the fortress is still an oven-hearth serving a weapons workshop. Inside the interior, to the north, was a tower with three floors, for defense and guard, to the east a second, thicker, at the angle of the wall, and south and the Danube the third. The entrance into the castle was through a gate dome and around the fortress had been digging a deep moat. For nearly 300 years the body of the fortress was rebuild after each battle given here to defend Wallachia, against the Hungarians and Turks. Former Drobeta renascent (were discovered later even monuments from the Ancient Age embedded in the walls of new fortresses). In the three centuries there coexist two Christian churches, Catholic and Orthodox.

Modern Times

On May 10 1866 Prince Carol I landed in Severin to receive the crown of Romania. Carol I will support initiatives of the Severin people for raising a new Romanian and European city. May 10 becomes a national day of Romania for almost 100 years. Site of the old streets of the city describes a crown in honor of this event. In 1841 Severin became the capital of the county, and in 1851 became a city. It was a stylish town, illuminated, with beautiful buildings, firm signs, paved streets, parks, fountains. As a major port on the Danube, the freedom of trade has facilitated the entry of the Austrian capital and the exchange of material values necessary for economic development. Until 1900 were built national road, rail, Carol and Elisabeta boulevards, Navigaţia Fluvială Românească (River Navigation of Romania), CFR (railway) workshops, the shipyard (which in 1914 was the largest in the country), Roman Hall, the Municipal Palace, three churches and two hospitals. In 1883, on May 15, Theodor Costescu established Liceul "Traian" ("Traian" Highschool), which in the next century has become a modern school of national prestige.

Water Castle

In 1914 was inaugurated Castelul de Apa (The Water Castle), emblematic monument to people of Severin, giving identity even today to the city by being built in one of the major traffic roundabouts of the settlement. In the interwar period, the city of Turnu Severin, managed to reach the first eighteen large urban centers in Romania. The city became a metropolis of culture by the initiatives of the "Traian" Lyceum (highschool) and institutions that reside in imposing halls of the Palace of Culture: library, museum, theater, cinema, choral ensemble "Doina", "Lumina" Society, Free University, they continuing during the communist regime. In the latter period it was built less in central neighborhoods, the specific architecture of the city surviving demolition. Among the most remarcable buildings of this period we can remember: Hotel "Parc" residence SHN "Iron Gates", the Administration Palace, Youth House, shop "Decebal", House of Trade Unions and kinetic fountain in front of the Cultural Palace. In 1969 Turnu Severin become the capital of the county, and in 1972 became the city, adding the name of the ancient Drobeta to the city name, becoming Drobeta-Turnu Severin.

Natives

• Gheorghe Anghel
• Ion Biberi
• Victor Daimaca
• Ion Gigurtu
• Alexander Löhr
• Alexandru Ioan Morţun
• Mirel Rădoi
• Petre Sergescu
• Gheorghe Ţiţeica
• Doru Viorel Ursu
• Anton Linder (1880–1958), Austrian Social Democrat politician

Sources and references

(incomplete)

• Westermann, Großer Atlas zur Weltgeschichte (in German)
• Catholic Encyclopedia- Rumania