Documents Regarding the Gypsy Slaves of Moldavia (1654-1800) Cover Image

Documente privitoare la robii țigani din Moldova (1654-1800)
Documents Regarding the Gypsy Slaves of Moldavia (1654-1800)

Author(s): Costin Clit
Subject(s): Social history, Modern Age, 17th Century, 18th Century, Ethnic Minorities Studies
Published by: Muzeul de Istorie „Paul Păltănea” Galaţi
Keywords: Moldova; gypsy slaves; monasteries; boyars; authorities; exchanges; marriages; donations; divisions; testimonies;

Summary/Abstract: The literature regarding the fate of the Gypsy slaves in Moldova is a rather rich one, testimony being also the numerous documents published over time in the collections patronized by the Romanian Academy and various authors. The present documents indicate the origin of the Gypsy slaves from the princely and boyar donations, purchases, exchanges, divisions between monasteries and various owners, their run from Wallachia and Transylvania, self-enslavements or from birth. The correspondence kept reflects the status of the slaves also through the use of offensive epithets by some boyars or the coercive measures applied. Numerous documents are from the time of Paisie Velicicovschi, the abbot of the monasteries of Neamţ and Secu.

  • Issue Year: 2022
  • Issue No: LX
  • Page Range: 241-328
  • Page Count: 88
  • Language: Romanian