Iasi
Webpages concerning "Iasi"
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Wikipedia-Article "Iasi"
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| County | Iaşi |
| Mayor | Gheorghe Nichita |
| Area | 93.9 km² |
| Population - 2002 (census) |
320,888 3417/km² |
| Ethnic groups | Romanian, Jewish, Greek, Russian, Gypsy |
| Working languages | Romanian |
| Sister cities | Poitiers, Xi'an, Monterrey, Padua, Isfahan, Ramla, Kozani, Assiut |
| Geographical co-ordinates | 47°10′ N 27°35′ E |
| Postcode range | 700xxx |
| Municipal Website: http://www.primaria-iasi.ro | |
Iaşi (also known outside Romania as Jassy; pronunciation in Romanian: /jaʃʲ/) is a city and a county (see Iaşi County) in north-eastern Romania, in the historic region of Moldavia.
The city of Iaşi lies on the Bahlui river, a tributary of the Prut river. The surrounding country is one of uplands and woods, among which rise the monasteries of Cetăţuia, Frumoasa, and Galata with its mineral springs, and the dendrologic park of Repedea. Iaşi itself stands pleasantly amid vineyards and gardens, partly on two hills, partly in the hollow between. Between 1565 and 1859, the city was the capital of Moldavia; then, between 1859 and 1862, both Iaşi and Bucharest were de-facto capitals of the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. In 1862, when the union of the two principalities was recognized under the name of Rumania (Romania), the capital of the country was established at Bucharest. Iaşi was to become the capital of Romania, again, for two years during World War I. Iaşi is an outstanding educational centre, and preserves some beautiful pieces of architecture, such as the Trei Ierarhi Church and the neo-Gothic Palace of Culture. Almost all buildings in the old city centre were demolished during Communist times, with unsightly Soviet-style blocks of flats built in their stead.
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Population
- 1900: 78,000
- 1992: 344,425
- 2002: 320,888
Population density as of 2002: 3417/km2.
Etymology
Scholars give different theories on where Iaşi took its name from. Some believe the town received its German name (perhaps from the Cuman jagers, or bowmen) in the late 14th century. Other scholars argue that the name originate from the Sarmatian tribe Iazyges. The inscription by which the existence of a Jassiorum municipium in the time of the Roman Empire is sought to be proved, lies open to grave suspicion; but the city is mentioned in a 1408 document by Prince (Voivode) Alexandru cel Bun (Alexander the Kind).
History
Around 1564, Prince Alexandru Lăpuşneanu moved the Moldavian capital from Suceava to Iaşi. Between 1561 and 1563, an excellent school and a Lutheran church were founded by the Greek adventurer, Jacob Basilicus. In 1640, Vasile Lupu established the first school in which the mother-tongue replaced Greek, and set up a printing press in the Byzantine church of the Three Hierarchs (built 1635–39). In 1643, the first printed book published in Moldavia was issued. Iaşi was burned down by the Tatars in 1513, by the Turks in 1538, by the Russians in 1686, and in 1734, the city suffered from a plague.
By the Peace of Iaşi the second Russo-Turkish War was brought to a close in 1792. A Greek insurrection under Alexander Ypsilanti in 1821 led to the storming of the city by the Turks in 1822. In 1844 there was a severe conflagration.
For the loss caused to the city in 1861 by the removal of the seat of government to Bucharest the constituent assembly voted 148,150 lei to be paid in ten annual instalments, but no payment was ever made.
Its primitive houses of timber and plaster were mostly swept away after 1860, when brick or stone came into general use, and good streets were cut among the network of narrow, insanitary lanes.
During World War I, Iaşi was the capital of Romania for two years, following the German occupation of Bucharest on 6 December 1916. The capital was returned to Bucharest after it was liberated in November 1918.
In May 1944, Iaşi became the scene of ferocious fighting between the Romanian-German axis forces and the advancing Soviets. The elite German Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland won an impressive defensive victory at the Battle of Târgul Frumos, a location near Iaşi. The battle was the object of several NATO studies during the Cold War. By July, Iaşi had been taken by Soviet forces.
Jewish History of Iaşi
Iaşi also figures prominently in Jewish history. Records of Jews exist from the 16th century, and by mid-19th century, the city was at least one-third Jewish. In 1855, it was the home of the first-ever Yiddish-language newspaper, Korot Haitim; in 1876 it was the site of what was arguably the first-ever professional Yiddish theater performance (See Abraham Goldfaden). By 1930 there were over 30,000 Jews and over 127 synagogues. After World War II, it played a prominent part in the revival of Yiddish culture in Romania: from 1949 to 1964. Iaşi was home to a second company of the State Jewish Theater. Today, Iaşi has a Jewish population of 600.
The Iaşi Pogrom
During World War II, Iaşi was the site of one of the deadliest pogroms, or anti-Jewish riots, in Romania. The Iaşi pogrom lasted from (June 29–July 6, 1941), and approximately 14,000 people, or half the Jewish population, was massacred in either the pogrom (around 2,000 Jews) itself, or in its aftermath (around 12,000 Jews), and the rest were deported. Jews were first killed during the systematic pogrom by the Iaşi police, Romanian soldiers, and a small portion of the citizens of Iaşi, and then the remaining Jewish population of the town was loaded onto overcrowded, sealed "death trains" that drove slowly back and forth across the country until many of the passengers died of heat, thirst, or their wounds. Six non-Jewish citizens of Iaşi are credited with saving around one hundred Jews (see Righteous Among the Nations), but, according to the official Romanian report on the subject, the vast majority of the population of the town did nothing to intervene, and a small portion joined in the pogrom.
Attractions
Churches
Iaşi is the seat of the metropolitan of Moldavia, and of a Roman Catholic archbishopry. There are more than 40 churches. The oldest church is Saint Nicholas which date from the reign of Stephen the Great (1457-1504); perhaps the finest, however, are the 17th century old metropolitan, St Spiridion (the end of the 18th century) and Trei Ierarhi, the last a curious example of Byzantine art, erected in 1639 or 1640 by Vasile Lupu, and adorned with countless gilded carvings on its outer walls and twin towers. Other beautiful churches, surrounded by big walls, are: Galata (1581), Golia (17th century), Cetatuia (the end of the 17th century) and Frumoasa (18th century). One of the most beautiful buildings is the Palace of Culture, a neogothic style building erected in the first two decades of the 20th century. It is the site of four museums (History, Technical, Ethnographical and Art museums).
Education, science
Iaşi is home to the oldest Romanian university ("Al. I. Cuza" University of Iaşi), opened by Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza in 1860. Nowadays the city hosts five universities. Iaşi is widely regarded as the cultural "heart" of the "Old Kingdom" (that is Moldavia and Wallachia, the basis of the first Romanian state).
A society of physicians and naturalists has existed in Iaşi since the early part of the 19th century, and a number of periodicals are published. One of the oldest medical universities in Romania is in Iaşi, which was founded in 1879. It is now known as University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Gr.T. Popa", Iaşi. It is known after an Anatomy Professor, Grigore T. Popa.
External links
- Official site of the mayor of Iaşi (in Romanian)
- Official site of the Iaşi police inspectorate (in Romanian)
- Official site of the Iaşi county council
- Online Iaşi commercial city site (in Romanian and English)
- La Iaşi commercial city site (in Romanian)
- Night-life and clubbing in Iaşi (in Romanian)
- Night-life and Day-life - perfect guide to a Romanian tourist (in Romanian)
- "Al. I. Cuza" University of Iaşi Official Website
- "Gh. Asachi" Technical University of Iaşi Official Website
- "Gr. T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iaşi Official Website
- "G. Enescu" University of Arts of Iaşi Official Website
- "I. Ionescu de la Brad" University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Iaşi Official Website
References
- This article incorporates text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, which is in the public domain.
- National Institute of Statistics: http://www.insse.ro/rpl2002rezgen/5.pdf