GALDA DE JOS
Romania
D O C U M E N T A R Y A T T E S T A T I O N S
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DOCUMENTARY ATTESTATION
Land of Transylvania, or Ardeal as is known, is a historical and geographical region located in the Carpathian mountains, one of the historical regions of Romania. Over time Transylvania was part of Dacia, the Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Hungary, and of the Austrian Empire respectively.
For nearly 170 years, between 1526 and 1699 was independent state, as Principality of Transylvania. In this capacity he played a significant role in the War of 30 years, of the Protestant coalition. When obtaining imperial victory against the Ottomans, Transylvania came under Habsburg administration, but has kept its statehood until 1867, being led by governors appointed in Vienna.
Transilvania takes its name from the Latin expression Trans Silva, which means Country beyond the Forests, because thick forests what mountains covered of surrounds it. The land is composed of counties Alba, Bistrita Nasaud, Brasov, Cluj, Covasna, Harghita Hunedoara, Mures, Salaj and Sibiu.
In the first century until the beginning of the second century, the current territory of Transylvania was the political center of the kingdom of Dacia, in the fortress Sarmizegetusa from Orastie Mountains.
Archaeological research revealed the indwelling of the Geto-Dacians in areal of Galda de Jos commune, after analyzing objects and building remains, discovered at the Dacian Fortress Apoulon from Craivii Stone massif. Following research, results that living the Geto-Dacians in Galda de Jos commune areas can be traced, while, between centuries II BC and II AD.
Fortress of Craivii Stone, with proper placement occupying at the foot of rocky terraces, was identified the residence of Dacian tribe of Apulia, Apoulon center, mentioned in this area by geographer Alexandrin Ptolemeu.
Sanctuary in Dacian Fortress Apoulon
Many are those privileged places where human settlements have developed in Transylvania, such as the confluence of water courses (Blaj, Alba-Iulia), rich subsoil (Petrosani, Abrud, Rosia Montana, Ocna Mures), thermal or mineral waters (Geoagiu Bai, Sovata), places of rest after long trips or older crossroads. Often these advantages are completed over time increasing the importance of these localities, without forgetting, however, the role of human being.
Galda de Jos commune development is primarily the result of human activity and secondary nature. However, its location between the old urban centers (Teius and Aiud in north and south Alba-Iulia), seems to have favored the economic development of the locality, and, moreover, its position at the spilling of the Galzii Valley in Mures river.
The history of the locality and the commune Galda de Jos is particularly interesting, its roots are planted even in the earliest stages of human existence in this region of Transylvania. Since ancient times Mures Valley offered conditions very favorable, founding and development of many human settlements. Galda de Jos is one of those century-old settlements, valued throughout its existence, often as a locality of real significance.
Data on existing of commune Galda de Jos originate mostly from excavations revealed objects of religious books, notes taken by chroniclers, and various statistical and administrative documents.
Josephina map of Galda de Jos area, Austrian State Archives, 1769
Most data is precious evidences that evokes lives of our ancestors who lived on these lands for millennia and even defended their land with their lives in battle, victorious often or sometimes resulted in humiliating defeats. History of Galda de Jos commune is dotted with numerous moments of anxiety, moments that give its a privileged position among the oldest settlements with historical traditions of Transylvania.
The first documentary attestations relating to the territory of the Galda de Jos are presented in the paper 'Getica' masterpiece of ancient history professor Vasile Parvan. Thus in commune Galda de Jos, village Cetea, were discovered traces of the Hallstatt culture (of Iron Age), namely, a thesaurus monetary of Augustus and Caesar's time (imperial denarii) deposits, workshops and spears.
Most villages of Galda de Jos commune are documented in early feudal period (XIII-XIV centuries): Oiejdea village in 1238, village Galda de Jos in 1287, Benic village in 1299, village Mesentea in 1303 and Cetea village in 1337. In the documents of attestation are a series of data on the activity of the inhabitants of these villages, changing rulers (1337), or looting carried out by castellans from Cetii Stone (1352).
At the beginning of the fourteenth century documents recorded the existence of a stone road, perhaps the main road linking northern and southern Transylvania, through Galda de Jos, Ighiu and Alba Iulia, not ruled it to be very old Roman road.
From late medieval times are kept several documents relating to the village of Galda de Jos where are shown some buildings, such as the wooden church on the hill (1580) and a medieval castle built in the eighteenth century.
Cover paper 'Getica' of Vasile Parvan
Mures meadow, which reaches a width of 6-8 km, was considered the granary of the region. Material and documentary evidence attesting perimeter belonging of Galda de Jos zone to the voivodeship Balgrad (Alba-Iulia today), nucleus of a feudal organization.
The locality Galda de Jos is documented, for the first time, in 1287 with the name of Gáld (and in 1854 Alsó Gáld). The locality is dominated by the Castle of Kemény family, built in the late of nineteenth century, over the old Medieval Castle in the seventeenth century. Kemény Castle no great architectural value, being partially destroyed by the villagers during the revolutionary movements that preceded the Unification in 1918.
The Castle was used as a endow of repression of peasant movements in Transylvania, the most striking being the uprisings of 1784-1785 led by Horea, Closca and Crisan. This Castle was then used as a point of resistance for both Transylvanian nobility and as a point of detention for peasants, the latter being imprisoned and tortured here. The uprising of Horea, Closca and Crisan had a support from the population of villages Galda de Jos and Cetea; Horia was protected by villagers of Galda de Jos when there was prosecuted of imperial authority. In the Castle from Galda de Jos were imprisoned those five peasants who participated in the uprising from market Campeni in 1782, among whom was the Mayor of the Raul Mare town (currently, Albac), Dumitru Todea. In 1784 came on the Ariesului Valley, Closca intending to attack the Castle to release peasants imprisoned in Castle. Tibru truce prevented him doing so.
Kemény Castle in Galda de Jos
In the field Kemény, taken by family Albini meanwhile, worked a labor colony for political prisoners. Castle and dependencies, was handed over to the state, became between 1946-1948 dungeons and labor camps for political prisoners from the prison of Aiud.
In the years of communism, in Castle Kemény there was headquarters of the Agricultural Enterprise of State, Galda de Jos. Every year since 1985, the Kemény Castle was restored and modernized. Today, in the Castle is 'Neuropsychiatric Recovery and Rehabilitation Center', the largest asylum-hospital of this kind in the country, with about 380 inpatients and 150 employees. Currently, the Castle buildings are in very good condition.
Switching the Castle of Kemény family in possession of Albini family happened in very tense times, when Kemény family was forced to leave the area. When nationalization, owner was Aurel Albini, whose descendants claimed the ownership after 1989. In 2007 the Castle passed from the public domain in the private sector but the owners, descendants of the family Albini, decided not to change the destination of this building. Those entitled to receive back the castle from Galda de Jos, quite sympathetic, have expressed goodwill to let time needed for restructuring of 'Neuropsychiatric Recovery and Rehabilitation Center', institution that is ongoing in this castle, instead of a modest rent in relation to the high value of the property.
In Galda de Jos, near the Castle Kemény, is 'Church on the Hill', an architectural monument built in the late seventeenth century. The building has narthex with wooden tower, rectangular nave and altar semicircular. The narthex has ceiling, and the nave carries a barrel vault beams that support the wall buttresses and shorter exterior.
The altar wearing a cap pendants elliptical brick, building style widespread in Romanian Country in the late seventeenth century. The monument is mentioned in 1715, and the painting is dated 1752.
The church was, on the one hand, Albini family prayer chapel, which was heir of Kemény Castle, and church for community Galda de Jos, and secondly, place of worship for political prisoners in the Castle Kemény, located near.
'Church on the Hill', Galda de Jos
Cetea village (in Hungarian Csáklya) noted documentary in 1337, is recognized in the sixteenth century about Ioan Norocea Chancellor activity. As shown, in the Cetea village there are traces of the Hallstatt culture: hoard from the time of C. Julius Caesar and Octavian Augustus, deposits, workshops and spears. Material and documentary evidence, attesting perimeter belonging of the Galda de Jos region to the Balgarad (current Alba-Iulia), nucleus of a feudal type organization.
In some places in the village Cetea were found basalt stone grinder sponge, pottery fragments processed with wheel, dating from the second Iron Age (existing in Museum of Aiud), tiles ax with hole, two ax stones, pieces of stone for loom, whirligig clay, bronze objects, fragments of iron spears and pottery, fragments of bronze fibulae, a hammer stone, pottery from different eras, two arrowheads iron spearhead, dating from the Iron Age.
Cetea village of Galda de Jos commune is characterized by a peculiar history, its destiny is linked to that in the sixteenth century, belonged to the Romanian bishopric of Geoagiul de Sus, this one including and other villages of Galzii Valley, the head of the bishops being appointed bishop Sava, who came here from Romanian Country.
Archaeological research on the complex of sites 'La Pietri' at Cetea
Other documents about Cetea village are dated June 10, 1599, while is in mastering called Zamfira Logofat, direct descendant of the Ioan Norocea chancellor. Peter Logofat, Zamfira husband, had two children, a boy and a girl, Stefan and Marioara or Manca; the girl was married to a Hungarian nobleman Stefan Barati, to talk until the year 1782 about the chancellor law in line Barati of Cetea.
Galda de Sus village (in Hungarian Felső Gáld) is mentioned in a document since 1565, being very present in feudal era documents. Moreover, in the document since 1565, which abolishes the Roman-Catholic diocese of Alba-Iulia, among the 46 villages included in the Alba-Iulia domain, appearing and Galda de Sus (Coriolan Suciu - History of Romania, III, p. 221).
The present church in Galda de Sus (historical monument) is, apparently, the old church which is commemorated on the 1760 to 1762, in the statistics of Bucold, so about 1732 or 1744, partially demolished in 1804.
Here is kept a cross of hand in silver, with length 44 cm, which has, on the handle, engraved inscription:
'M(AGIASTER) IWENALIS FALCUS MCM DOM(US) METEVS BAS(ARAB)
WOIEVODINA, 1645 HANUL GOMAN'
Cross is considered a donation made by the ruler of Romanian Country, Matei Basarab (1642-1654), to the old church in Galda de Sus, evidence of strong cultural and spiritual ties between countries novels.
The Church in Galda de Sus preserves a collection of old books (from years 1699, 1743, 1773, 1760, 1776, 1793, 1804, 1805, 1825, 1850), all registered in national heritage.
Cross donated by Matei Basarab, 1645
Mesentea village (in Hungarian Kismindszent) possesses a wooden church from 1674, rebuilt in stone between 1778 to 1782, declared an architectural monument because special painting, made in traditional Byzantine manner.
The locality is dominated by the presence of this stone church in the eighteenth century, historical monument, according to the inscription in the church, dated 1674, it seems to be built on the old wooden church.
The frescoes are particularly valuable (traditional Byzantine), the works of painters Stan Zugravul and Popovici, 1783.
Inscription on church door, Mesentea
In the village Benic (in Hungarian Benedek or Borosbenedek), locality mentioned in documents in 1209, are the ruins of a church reformed during of XIII-XVI centuries, transformed in the eighteenth century, declared architectural monument.
Here stands the traces (ruins) of this fortified church, built on a hill on the northern edge of the village Benic, which keeps a Gothic altar in the fifteenth century and a nave transformed into the seventeenth century.
On the church tower is an inscription that mentions events that occurred in the period of 1786-1788 years.
Also here, in Benic, the early twentieth century, on the aristocratic estates of Chlotilde Reinbold, there was a park with swimming pool, which contained 100 species of rare trees essences which, unfortunately, does not exist anymore, being in most part deforested. The existence of this park is linked by existence of four specimen of edible chestnut in Cetea village.
Inscription on church tower, Benic
Oiejdea village, formerly Oiesdea, Oiestea (in Hungarian Vajasd, in German Butterdorf, Wajascht, Weiascht) is mentioned in documents in 1238. In Oiejdea village was built a wooden church in 1600, which disappeared in 1940.
Oiejdea village was completely destroyed during the Mongol invasion in Europe, which held in XIII century, led by Batu Han, son of Ginghis Han. Mongol invasion army in Transylvania was described by canonical Rogerius of Oradea, contemporary with events, in his book Carmen miserabile (Threnody).
In the XIV century, after retiring vast army and established 'Mongol peace', the village Oiejdea was repopulated with settlers Hungarians and Romanians. During the Protestant Reformation, the Hungarian population of Oiejdea passed to Calvinism.
In the seventeenth century and eighteenth century, the villages on Galzii Valley know a great development, due to the proximity of Alba-Iulia, important fortress, in whose sphere of influence is part. With the abolition of serfdom status of the peasant, villages population grows numeric, many houses are built and intensify agricultural activities and crafts.
The population of the commune Galda de Jos will be present both historical events related to the uprising of Horea, Closca and Crisan, and to the Revolution of 1848.
Cover of the book 'Carmen miserable'
Revolution of 1848 has been a period of strong social unrest in Transylvania. The ultimate object was national liberation and social. Many inhabitants of the villages of Galda de Jos commune were enrolled in the revolutionary army and participated in the battles in Galzii Gorge, which keeps still today the redoubt traces constructed in the gorge narrowing .
After 'Diet of Cluj' of 29 May 1848 which proclaimed the union of Transylvania with Hungary, which displeased the majority of Romanians Transylvanian, peasants in parts of the Galda de Jos commune go with them to fight.
In Galzii Gorge, ditches digging in mountain walls, builds dams and collects water, so that when the Hungarian army entered the strait between the mountain walls, there went the road, the peasants released stored water, and many Hungarians soldiers drowned.
Among the villages that formed the 'Auraria Gemina' Legion, lead by Avram Iancu, was part Galda de Sus village and, priest Nicolae Bucur, one who was tribune of Avram Iancu, was native of Galda de Jos village.
Traces redoubt of the Galzii Gorge
A tough time in life of Galda de Jos commune was the First World War (1914-1918) who, besides the huge damage, brought numerous human sacrifices. At its completion, the Austro-Hungarian Empire began to fall apart, and the struggle for national liberation was intensified in Galda de Jos commune, facts mentioned in the newspaper 'Alba-Iulia' of that time, who asseverate this fight.
Approaching the Unification has aroused great enthusiasm in Galda de Jos. Newspaper 'Unification' of 27 November 1918 published texts who called all the Romanians to People's Assembly, such as: 'Come with thousands and tens of thousands! Leave your worries at home one day because in this day we lay the foundation of a good and happy future for our entire Romanian nation'.
The 'National Assembly of Romanian nation in Hungary and Transylvania' from 1 December 1918 in Alba Iulia, historical stronghold of Romanian nation, adopted the 'Declaration of Alba-Iulia' memorable document of the Unification, to whom have contributed all political and social Romanian forces in Transylvania.
Newspaper 'Alba-Iulia' of 10 Feb. 1919
Newspaper 'Unification' of 27 Nov. 1918
Materialization of Great Unification has given new impetus to development and economic prosperity, development that was interrupted by the outbreak of Second World War (1939-1945) who brought many trouble materials to locals and many human sacrifices. Unfortunately, sufferings have continued, in good part, and after 1945.
Of the 50s - 60s dramas of village may be mentioned here that weeping villagers react to the expulsion of the royal family, hunting, arresting or killing opponents of communism, and unhappiness of peasants forced to cede land and agricultural carts and horses to enroll in agriculture collective.
In the twentieth century large areas were planted with vines, especially on the ridges of hills in Benic, Cetea, and Galda de Sus. Along known vineyards, in recent years in this beautiful valley were planted fruit trees, becoming one of the most important fruit centers of Alba county.
Leaders of CAP Galda de Jos, 1967
In 1913 was mentioned the village Raicani (in Hungarian Rajkány). Localities Lupseni, Magura, Zagris and Poiana Galzii, though they were up early in the twentieth century, received the status of village only in 1956, by then having hamlets regime.
At that time, the current villages of Galda de Jos commune appertain to Benic commune.
Presidents Nixon and Ceausescu in Galda de Jos, Aug. 3, 1969
According to the administrative-territorial organization in 1968, all villages from the commune Benic entered in Galda de Jos commune. In whole, Galda de Jos commune bears the imprint of major events in the history of the Romanian people. A history of facts and events compel to a present glorious and to a honorable future, according to the past. 'What will be the place that no bears traces of the past? A strip of clay that nothing says' or formulated unparalleled Nicolae Iorga, 'Who has no past, has no foundation to build future'. And if we look in retrospect, in time, to the present, we see that the evolution of the commune Galda de Jos, both socially and spiritually, is one for which the forerunners of these places can be proud.