Vaslui
Encyclopedia
Vaslui a city
in eastern Romania
, is the seat of Vaslui County
, in the historical region of Moldavia
.
The city administers five villages: Bahnari, Brodoc, Moara Grecilor, Rediu and Viişoara.
. From the 14th century onwards, it developed the provincial town of Vaslui, with a population that varied strongly in the following centuries. The name of Vaslui appears first in a Polish document from 1375, referring to Koriat's son George. The name Vaslui was also mentioned in 1435, in connection with the accession of Prince Iliaş
to the Moldavia
n throne. The town was burned to the ground in 1439 and 1440, when Tatars
invaded Moldavia.
The peak of its importance was in the 15th century, when it was a second-rank capital of Moldavia, during the reign of Stephen the Great, with a population closer to that of the neighbour Iaşi
. In 1475, Prince Stephen won his greatest battle against the Ottoman Empire
in the Vaslui area (see Battle of Vaslui
). Once the Moldavian capital was moved from Suceava
to Iaşi and the southern town of Bârlad
became an administrative center of southern Moldavia, Vaslui declined for about three centuries to a local borough
(târg
).
There once was a fairly large Jewish
community in the city of Vaslui. Their arrival from Galicia
during the second half of the 19th century gave a new impetus to the economical development. In 1899, Jews formed 37% of the population, and Vaslui was home to the Vasloi
Hasidic dynasty. However, waves of pogrom
s, associated with the Holocaust (see Romania during World War II
and Holocaust in Romania) as well as emigration
to Israel
during Romania's communist period
largely diminished its presence.
During World War II
, the Stephen the Great Monument
was relocated from Chişinău
to Vaslui.
However, the population grew again steadily after 1968, when the town was proclaimed as the administrative center of Vaslui County, with immigration from the neighbouring countryside, ethnic Romanians and Roma attracted by the industry set up by the Communist regime
.
The population decreased again after the downfall of the Communism
in 1989, because of the emigration.
Today, the majority of the population is of Romanian ethnicity. The Romani minority
lives compactly in the southwestern suburb
s of Rediu
and Brodoc, in the southwestern part of the main town (in the neighbourhoods around Traian Street) and also scattered in the rest of locality. In the 1960s and 1970s nomadic Roma belonging to the Kalderash
caste were forcibly settled by the Communists in the northern part of the town, scattered among Romanians. The third ethnic group
is that of the Lipovans, who have in the center of the town a church of their Old Believers
Christian branch.
Municipalities of Romania
A municipiu is a level of administrative subdivision in Romania, roughly equivalent to city in some English-speaking countries. This status is given to towns that are quite large and urbanized...
in eastern Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, is the seat of Vaslui County
Vaslui County
Vaslui is a county of Romania, in the historical region Moldavia, with the seat at Vaslui.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 455,049 and the population density was 86/km².*Romanians - over 98%*Romas, other-Geography:...
, in the historical region of Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
.
The city administers five villages: Bahnari, Brodoc, Moara Grecilor, Rediu and Viişoara.
History
Archaeological surveys prove that the territory of Vaslui was inhabited since NeolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
. From the 14th century onwards, it developed the provincial town of Vaslui, with a population that varied strongly in the following centuries. The name of Vaslui appears first in a Polish document from 1375, referring to Koriat's son George. The name Vaslui was also mentioned in 1435, in connection with the accession of Prince Iliaş
Ilias of Moldavia
Iliaş or Ilie I was Prince of Moldavia twice: in January 1432–October 1433 and with his brother Stephen II in August 1435–May 1443....
to the Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
n throne. The town was burned to the ground in 1439 and 1440, when Tatars
Tatars in Romania
Tatars were present on the territory of today's Romania since the 13th century. According to the 2002 census, 23,935 people declared their nationality as Tatar, most of them being Crimean Tatars living in Constanţa County...
invaded Moldavia.
The peak of its importance was in the 15th century, when it was a second-rank capital of Moldavia, during the reign of Stephen the Great, with a population closer to that of the neighbour Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
. In 1475, Prince Stephen won his greatest battle against the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in the Vaslui area (see Battle of Vaslui
Battle of Vaslui
The Battle of Vaslui was fought on January 10, 1475 between Stephen III of Moldavia and the Ottoman Beylerbey of Rumelia, Hadân Suleiman Pasha. The battle took place at Podul Înalt , near the town of Vaslui, in Moldavia...
). Once the Moldavian capital was moved from Suceava
Suceava
Suceava is the Suceava County seat in Bukovina, Moldavia region, in north-eastern Romania. The city was the capital of the Principality of Moldavia from 1388 to 1565.-History:...
to Iaşi and the southern town of Bârlad
Bârlad
Bârlad is a city in Vaslui County, Romania. It lies on the banks of the Bârlad River, which waters the high plains of eastern Moldavia....
became an administrative center of southern Moldavia, Vaslui declined for about three centuries to a local borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
(târg
Târg
A târg was a medieval Romanian market town. The term originates from the Slavic root torg for "trade". Târgs were originally established on the places where periodic fairs were held. With time, they became permanent settlements as craftsmen built their workshops near the place where the fair was held...
).
There once was a fairly large Jewish
History of the Jews in Romania
The history of Jews in Romania concerns the Jews of Romania and of Romanian origins, from their first mention on what is nowadays Romanian territory....
community in the city of Vaslui. Their arrival from Galicia
Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria
The Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria was a crownland of the Habsburg Monarchy, the Austrian Empire, and Austria–Hungary from 1772 to 1918 .This historical region in eastern Central Europe is currently divided between Poland and Ukraine...
during the second half of the 19th century gave a new impetus to the economical development. In 1899, Jews formed 37% of the population, and Vaslui was home to the Vasloi
Vasloi (Hasidic dynasty)
Vasloi was a Hasidic dynasty centered in Vaslui, Romania, and founded by Rabbi Shalom Halpern, a grandson of Rabbi Yisroel Friedman of Ruzhyn in the Russian Empire.-History:...
Hasidic dynasty. However, waves of pogrom
Pogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
s, associated with the Holocaust (see Romania during World War II
Romania during World War II
Following the outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939, the Kingdom of Romania officially adopted a position of neutrality. However, the rapidly changing situation in Europe during 1940, as well as domestic political upheaval, undermined this stance. Fascist political forces such as the Iron...
and Holocaust in Romania) as well as emigration
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
during Romania's communist period
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
largely diminished its presence.
During World War II
Romania during World War II
Following the outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939, the Kingdom of Romania officially adopted a position of neutrality. However, the rapidly changing situation in Europe during 1940, as well as domestic political upheaval, undermined this stance. Fascist political forces such as the Iron...
, the Stephen the Great Monument
Stephen the Great Monument
The Stephen the Great Monument is a prominent monument in Chişinău, Moldova.The monument to Stephen the Great was designed by architect Alexandru Plămădeală in 1923. It was erected near the main entrance of the Stephen the Great Park in Downtown Chişinău...
was relocated from Chişinău
Chisinau
Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc...
to Vaslui.
However, the population grew again steadily after 1968, when the town was proclaimed as the administrative center of Vaslui County, with immigration from the neighbouring countryside, ethnic Romanians and Roma attracted by the industry set up by the Communist regime
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
.
Demographics
According to the last census, from 2002, there were 70,571 people living within the city of Vaslui, making it the 33rd largest city in Romania. The ethnic makeup is as follows:- RomaniansRomaniansThe Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
: 98.63% - Roma: 1.19%
- LipovansLipovansLipovans or Lippovans are the Old Believers, mostly of Russian ethnic origin, who settled in the Moldavian Principality, in Dobruja and Eastern Muntenia...
: 0.06% - Other: 0.12%
The population decreased again after the downfall of the Communism
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
in 1989, because of the emigration.
Today, the majority of the population is of Romanian ethnicity. The Romani minority
Roma minority in Romania
The Roma constitute one of the major minorities in Romania. According to the 2002 census, they number 535,140 people or 2.5% of the total population, being the second-largest ethnic minority in Romania after Hungarians...
lives compactly in the southwestern suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
s of Rediu
Rediu
Rediu may refer to several places in Romania:* Rediu, Galaţi, a commune in Galaţi County* Rediu, Iaşi, a commune in Iaşi County* Rediu, Neamţ, a commune in Neamţ County* Rediu, a village in Rădăuţi Prut Commune, Botoşani County...
and Brodoc, in the southwestern part of the main town (in the neighbourhoods around Traian Street) and also scattered in the rest of locality. In the 1960s and 1970s nomadic Roma belonging to the Kalderash
Kalderash
The Kalderash are a subgroup of the Romani people, from the Roma meta-group. They were traditionally smiths and metal workers and speak a number of Romani dialects grouped together under the term Kalderash Romani, a sub-group of Vlax Romani.-Etymology:The name Kalderash The Kalderash (also spelled...
caste were forcibly settled by the Communists in the northern part of the town, scattered among Romanians. The third ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
is that of the Lipovans, who have in the center of the town a church of their Old Believers
Old Believers
In the context of Russian Orthodox church history, the Old Believers separated after 1666 from the official Russian Orthodox Church as a protest against church reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon between 1652–66...
Christian branch.
Censuses
- in 1930 - 13,827 inhabitants,
- in 1941 - 13,923 inhabitants,
- in 1948 - 11,827 inhabitants,
- in 1956 - 15,197 inhabitants,
- in 1966 - 17,591 inhabitants,
- in 1968 - 17,960 inhabitants,
- in 1970 - 22,825 inhabitants,
- in 1980 - 46,181 inhabitants,
- in 1990 - 74,615 inhabitants.
Natives
- Nicolae MilescuNicolae MilescuNicolae Milescu was a Moldavian writer, traveler, geographer, and diplomat. Milescu spoke 9 languages: Romanian, Latin, Greek, Modern Greek, French, German, Turkish, Swedish and Russian...
- Gheorghe MironescuGheorghe MironescuGheorghe G. Mironescu, commonly known as G. G. Mironescu , was a Romanian politician, member of the National Peasants' Party , who served as a Prime Minister of Romania for two terms.-Biography:...
- Alexandra NechitaAlexandra NechitaAlexandra Nechita is a Romanian-born American cubist painter and muralist.- Biography :She was born in Vaslui, three months after her father, Niki Nechita, escaped from Communist Romania. She and her mother, Viorica Nechita, had to wait for two years before being allowed to join him in the United...
- Corneliu PorumboiuCorneliu PorumboiuCorneliu Porumboiu is a Romanian film director and screenwriter. His 2006 feature 12:08 East of Bucharest won him the Camera d'Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival...
- Constantin TănaseConstantin TanaseConstantin Tănase was a Romanian actor and writer for stage, a key figure in the revue style of theater in Romania.-Life:Born into a working-class family living in a peasant house in Vaslui, Romania...
- Virgil TrofinVirgil TrofinVirgil Trofin was a Romanian communist activist and politician, who served as minister under the Communist regime.-Biography:Born in Vaslui, Trofin had an early career as a mechanical fitter and boilermaker...
- Alina PlugaruAlina PlugaruAlina Plugaru is an Romanian entrepreneur and former pornographic actress, who has been called the Romanian most famous adult-entertainment performer and "The Queen of Porn." She started acting in erotic videos in 2006, after having worked as a stripper and model.-Life and career:Plugaru was born...