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Iași

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Template:Romanian cities Infobox extended

Iaşi (also known as Jassy) 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.

Iasi was for centuries the capital of the kingdom of Moldova, until 1859 when the kingdoms of Moldova and Wallachia merged to form the Kindom of Romania, with Bucharest as capital. Being for so many centuries a capital, Iasi is an outstanding educational centre, strongly linked to the French culture. The city preserves a splendid architecture and a cosmopolite air, making it one of the most beautiful Romanian cities.

Population

  • 1900: 78,000
  • 1992: 344,425
  • 2002: 320,888

Source: National Institute of Statistics: http://www.insse.ro/rpl2002rezgen/5.pdf


Population density as of 2002: 3417/km2.

History

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).

The name of the city is probably derived from the tribe of the Iazyges.

It was often visited by the Moldavian court. About 1564, Prince Alexandru Lăpuşneanu, after whom one of the chief streets is named, chose Jassy for the Moldavian capital, instead of Suceava. It was already famous as a centre of culture.

Between 1561 and 1563, an excellent school and a Lutheran church were founded by the Greek adventurer, Jacob Basilicus. In 1643, the first printed book published in Moldavia was issued from a press established by Vasile Lupu. He also founded a school, the first in which the mother-tongue replaced Greek. Jassy was burned down by the Tatars in 1513, by the Turks in 1538, and by the Russians in 1686.

By the Peace of Jassy 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.

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 history. The Iaşi pogrom lasted from (June 29–July 6, 1941), and approximately 14,000 people, or half the Jewish population, was either systematically massacred by citizens, police, and soldiers, or else placed on "death trains" driven back and forth across the country until they died of thirst or heat.

Attractions

Churches

File:Trei ierarhi.jpg
Trei Ierarhi Church

Iaşi is the seat of the metropolitan of Moldavia, and of a Roman Catholic archbishopry. There are more than 40 churches. The two oldest churches date from the reign of Stephen the Great (1458-1504); perhaps the finest, however, are the 17th century metropolitan, St Spiridion 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.


Education, science

Iaşi is home to the oldest Romanian university ("Al. I. Cuza" University of Iaşi), opened by Prince Alexander John 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.


References

  • Public Domain This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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