Noi puncte de vedere privind începuturile oraşelor medievale ale Moldovei
New Perspectives on the Emergence of Medieval Moldavian Towns

Summary/Abstract: The issue of the emergence of Moldavian towns has long been the focus of many historians. Constantin C. Giurescu, Mircea D. Matei, Nicolae Grigoraş, Victor Spinei et al. have taken different stands when explaining this intricate historical process; they were forced to rely on the few sources available to us. Several researchers identified in sources elements which place a definite link between the urbanization process here to the structures of Central Europe; however, they were not able to provide a consistent explanation as to how these elements were introduced and how they ascribed specific features to towns in the region. This study will attempt to identify the elements connecting towns in the Moldavian area to those in Central Europe, especially Poland and Hungary. Our research will follow several directions: 1. the presence of large groups of colonists, both German, and Hungarian, settled by the representatives of the Hungarian king (during 1345/1347-cca. 1364) or by the first rulers of Moldovia (after cca. 1364) in or around older local settlements; 2. the way these colonists, of Catholic faith, settled (local topography, central marketplaces, regular settlement outlines), as well as the privileges they were granted; 3. the traces left by settlers in the administrative bodies of towns (şoltuz, voit, pârgar); 4. elements which favoured the adoption of „German law” in Moldavian towns. The transition to this ”law” did not only imply the adoption of legal norms, but was a part of the elaborate process of locatio civitatis, which made provisions for the foundation of towns on new principles (especially those where colonists settled). While we can only assume that in Wallachia the locatio was put into effect at least in Câmpulung, Moldavia provides us with arguments to support the existence of this process in several towns (Baia, Siret, Suceava, Roman etc.), but with specific, local features We believe that the rulers of Moldavia set into motion the transition of their towns to the ”German law,” but failed to complete it. This was because of unfavourable historical conditions, especially those in the 15th century, when Moldavia became the theatre of widespread internal political conflict, but also a target for forays from abroad (Mongol, Ottoman). All these took their toll on towns and their development, since the rulers did not relinquish part of the rights they had over them (the right over domain, more taxes, etc).

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