Târgșor is a former medieval market town in what is now Prahova County, Romania. The town peaked around 1600, after which it declined to become the village of Târgșoru Vechi, located about 7 km (4.3 mi) southwest of Ploiești.
Built in a heavily forested area, Târgșor developed thanks to the local fair and its auspicious location at a crossroad of several trade routes.[1] These roads included Drumul Brăilei, which linked Târgoviște to the Danube port of Brăila, as well as the roads which linked Târgșor to Brașov and Bucharest.[1]
Târgșor gets its name from the diminutive of târg (market, fair) and can be related to the name of Târgoviște, which was the capital of Wallachia and a much bigger city.[1] The settlement transformed into a town sometimes between 1368 and 1412, during the rule of Mircea I. The first document mentioning his name was a September 1412 document by Voivode of TransylvaniaStibor of Stiboricz, who granted the people of Brașov the "privileges of yore and worthy liberties".[1]
Soon after, the merchants of Târgșor were granted trade privileges by Wallachia. The town was ruled by a județ and 12 pârgari.[2] Unlike other Wallachian cities at the time, in Târgșor there were no traces of German colonists, nor a Catholic church.[2]
The prince of Wallachia had a residence in Târgșor, which was probably built in the 16th century. While only Neagoe Basarab (ruled 1512–1521) refers to Târgșor as a seat, there are hints that the residence was earlier, as the church in the town, built by Vladislav II in 1447[3] was called the Princely Church (Biserica Domnească).[2] (Vlad the Impaler had also built a church inside the royal court.[3]) The residence decayed by 1600 and nowadays, only its ruined church survives.[2] Recent archaeological research showed that the ruins thought to be the palace belonged to another church, Church of St. Nicholas, built by Vlad the Monk, while the palace's location has yet to be established.[1]
The city reached its peak around 1500, when it was one of only three cities in Wallachia (the other two being Câmpulung and Târgoviște) where the Brașov merchants were allowed to sell their wares.[4] In 1503, the trade of the merchants of Târgșor with Brașov was worth almost 1 million asprons, second only to Câmpulung.[4]
Some historians argue that Ștefan IV of Moldavia's 1526 attack led to the demise of the city, but there are records of Târgșor merchants in Brașov long after this moment. The voivode Mihnea Turcitul built a church in Târgșor in 1589, of which only the southern wall is now preserved.[3] The decline of the town began in the 17th century, the main reason being that the emergence of a larger nearby city, Ploiești.[4]
Demographicsedit
The custom records show that most of the merchants had Romanian names (such as Tudor, Stan, Costea, Oprea), but nevertheless, there were merchants having foreign names (such as Tabutsch, Francilla, and Simon).[4] In the 16th century, a number of Greeks settled in the city.[4]
^ abcDana Mihai (April 16, 2015). "Orașe dispărute din România. Târgșor, "mica Troie subcarpatică"". Adevărul (in Romanian). Retrieved January 22, 2021.
Laurențiu Rădvan, At Europe's Borders: Medieval Towns in the Romanian Principalities, Brill, 2010, ISBN9789004180109
April 11, 2024
târgșor, 8891250, 9266583, 8891250, 9266583, ruins, white, church, former, medieval, market, town, what, prahova, county, romania, town, peaked, around, 1600, after, which, declined, become, village, vechi, located, about, southwest, ploiești, contents, histor. 44 53 20 85 N 25 55 35 97 E 44 8891250 N 25 9266583 E 44 8891250 25 9266583 Ruins of the White Church in TargșorTargșor is a former medieval market town in what is now Prahova County Romania The town peaked around 1600 after which it declined to become the village of Targșoru Vechi located about 7 km 4 3 mi southwest of Ploiești Contents 1 History 2 Demographics 3 Notes 4 ReferencesHistory editBuilt in a heavily forested area Targșor developed thanks to the local fair and its auspicious location at a crossroad of several trade routes 1 These roads included Drumul Brăilei which linked Targoviște to the Danube port of Brăila as well as the roads which linked Targșor to Brașov and Bucharest 1 Targșor gets its name from the diminutive of targ market fair and can be related to the name of Targoviște which was the capital of Wallachia and a much bigger city 1 The settlement transformed into a town sometimes between 1368 and 1412 during the rule of Mircea I The first document mentioning his name was a September 1412 document by Voivode of Transylvania Stibor of Stiboricz who granted the people of Brașov the privileges of yore and worthy liberties 1 Soon after the merchants of Targșor were granted trade privileges by Wallachia The town was ruled by a județ and 12 pargari 2 Unlike other Wallachian cities at the time in Targșor there were no traces of German colonists nor a Catholic church 2 The prince of Wallachia had a residence in Targșor which was probably built in the 16th century While only Neagoe Basarab ruled 1512 1521 refers to Targșor as a seat there are hints that the residence was earlier as the church in the town built by Vladislav II in 1447 3 was called the Princely Church Biserica Domnească 2 Vlad the Impaler had also built a church inside the royal court 3 The residence decayed by 1600 and nowadays only its ruined church survives 2 Recent archaeological research showed that the ruins thought to be the palace belonged to another church Church of St Nicholas built by Vlad the Monk while the palace s location has yet to be established 1 The city reached its peak around 1500 when it was one of only three cities in Wallachia the other two being Campulung and Targoviște where the Brașov merchants were allowed to sell their wares 4 In 1503 the trade of the merchants of Targșor with Brașov was worth almost 1 million asprons second only to Campulung 4 Some historians argue that Ștefan IV of Moldavia s 1526 attack led to the demise of the city but there are records of Targșor merchants in Brașov long after this moment The voivode Mihnea Turcitul built a church in Targșor in 1589 of which only the southern wall is now preserved 3 The decline of the town began in the 17th century the main reason being that the emergence of a larger nearby city Ploiești 4 Demographics editThe custom records show that most of the merchants had Romanian names such as Tudor Stan Costea Oprea but nevertheless there were merchants having foreign names such as Tabutsch Francilla and Simon 4 In the 16th century a number of Greeks settled in the city 4 Notes edit a b c d e Rădvan p 303 a b c d Rădvan p 304 a b c Dana Mihai April 16 2015 Orașe dispărute din Romania Targșor mica Troie subcarpatică Adevărul in Romanian Retrieved January 22 2021 a b c d e Rădvan p 305References editLaurențiu Rădvan At Europe s Borders Medieval Towns in the Romanian Principalities Brill 2010 ISBN 9789004180109 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Targșor amp oldid 1002130132, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
