Deva, general view (Rohbock-Heisinger copper print, cca. 1850) © Copyright, Dr Radu Rautiu
Wheater in Deva (1) | (2)	The first Internet pages about Deva, est. 1996. Old Maps of Deva (in construction)

Deva

General and Historical Background

DEVA (de:va:) [45.9° N and 22.9° E] is a city situated on the left bank of the middle course of the MURES, (mu:resh) river, (mentioned by Herodotus c 484 BC as the Maris river, by Strabo as Marisos and by Iordanes as Marisia), and lies between the Western Transylvanian Alps ( Munt,ii Apuseni) and the Poiana Ruscãi Mountains at a height of 187 m above sea level. Traces of neolithic Iron Age occupation have been found together with evidence of Dacian (Thracian) and Roman civilisation. The name DEVA is thought to come from the ancient Dacian word "dava" meaning fortress or citadel. Other theories trace back the name DEVA to a Roman Legion, II Augusta transferred around Deva from Castrum Deva, now Chester in Britain; a Celtic connection links the name DEVA with similar pre-Roman Ibero-Celtic place names in Gallia and Iberia. DEVA known as Diemrich or Schlossburg in German and Déva in Hungarian appears on mediaeval maps as DEUA or DEWAN.   Nowadays, DEVA is the county capital (Hunedoara county) with more than 80,000 inhabitants (est. 2000) with mining, food, civil engineering and power industries, and a (private) University of Ecology and Tourism, founded in 1990.   Documentary evidence of the town's existence first appeared in 1269 AD . It became a Residential Town under a Duke (Voevode = Romanian Duke) in 1307 and later under the Voevode John Huniady (Iancu de Hunedoara, Ioannus Corvinus, Janos Huniady) became an important military and administrative centre. Partially destroyed by the Turks in 1550, was rebuilt and the fortress extended. In 1621 Count Gabriel Bethlen transformed and extended the Magna Curia Palace also known as the Bethlen Castle in the Renaissance style. Since 1882 it has housed the County Museum and houses one of the most important archaeological collections in Transylvania, with rich numismatic, ethnographic and natural science exhibits. DEVA is dominated by Citadel Hill (371 m =1,217 ft), a truncated volcanic plug, with stunning views of the Mures valley. Citadel Hill is a protected nature reserve thanks to its rare floral species and the horned adder ( Vipera Ammodytes ). Perched on the top of the hill are the ruins of the Citadel (Cetatea Devei) built in XIII c at the time of the Mongol invasions, on earlier Roman foundations. Under the protection given by the fortress, the city grew in the following centuries. An important military and administrative centre it has played a significant part in Transylvanian history. Plan of Deva Citadel, XIII c.

In 1849, just before the Central European Revolution defeat, after the general Bem retreat and occupation, the fortress was blown apart by a powerful blast in the storehouse filled with explosives. Since then, the ruins are silent and now a historical monument. Accessed by foot, on winding alleys up to the top of the hill the ruins can be visited and also a rewarding panorama of the surrounding valley delights the visitors. Another important historic monument is the Franciscan Monastery (also known as the Bulgarian Monastery) built in the XVII c.

Several important sites are situated around DEVA, the Bejan Forest natural reserve, unique in Europe for its variety of rare species of oak tree and flowering plants. The Simeria Arboretum, 6 miles from Deva, on the banks of Mures river has over 70 hectares of woodland and grassland, 250 years old, with rare species of trees and flowering plants from China, Japan and North America, together with some rare local species. Another important landmark is Mintia (the ancient municipium and castrum Micia ) , a Roman port on the Mures river, now with an archeological open site, rich in artifacts and also a coal-fired power station.

The origins of the name DEVA are still unclear:- first documented in Latin as Deva , since XII century, the name is believed by most of the historians to be of Dacian (Thracian) origin from DAVA= citadel, fortified place (cf. Piroboridava, Singidava, Dacian places near today's Deva). It appears on XVI - XVII c. maps as Dewan or Deua .Another likely possibility is the Roman connection with the II Legion (II Augusta) transferred from Britannia, from Castrum Deva, today's Chester in the UK. A Celtic connection was also suggested, as Celts were present all over Central and Eastern Europe. There was a Deva in the pre-Roman Gallia (Plinius, Ptolemy) and there are few placesnamed Deva in Asturias, Oviedo, of Celt-Iberian extraction. The other quit unlikely connection is Slavic from Djevoika=maiden. Another suiggested connection is through Sanskrit with the ancient Deva(s). Recent research (Nikolaos Trunte, In Quadam Civitate, Quae Lingua Gentis Illius Dowina Dicitur, Versuch eine Neulokalisierung, Zeitschrift fuer slavische Philologie, 2002) suggests the name Dowina.

Other places named Deva in: ....Spain, Basque country, near San Sebastian ....Nigeria, in the Mandara Mountains ....Spain, Provincia de Asturias, near Gijón ....between Egypt and Ethiopia, on the Blue Nile, near Lake T'ana ....in Kosovo, Yugoslavia, near Dakovica   © Copyright, Dr Radu Rautiu, 1996-2004

Deva Maps, Old and New
DEVA- map of road, rail connections (gif) Copyright Geostrategies DEVA- terrain map of surroundings (gif) Copyright Geostrategies	DEVA- satellite map of surroundings (gif) Copyright Geostrategies DEVA -city map (jpeg) DEVA -Old Maps (Ortelius Atlas 1570, van der Haagen 1687 - after Blaeu & Visscher)

Hunedoara County

(Judetul Hunedoara)

Hunedoara county is situated in the centre-west Romania in the province of Transylvania and has an area of 2,712 sq mi (7,025 sq km) (see maps of the Hunedoara county and the interactive map of Hunedoara county). Lying on the mid Mures-river course the county is guarded by the Western Transylvanian Alps (Apuseni Mountains) in the North, Orãstiei and Surianu mountains in the South-East, the Retezat Mountains, the Godeanu, Vâlcan and Parâng Mountains in the South and the Poiana Ruscãi Mountains in the South-West. Hunedoara county is crossed by the rivers Strei, Râul Mare (Big River), Cris,ul Alb (White Crish), and Jiu and has two large depressions, the Hatzeg Country (T,ara Hat,egului) and Zarand Country (T,ara Zarandului). The fertile river valleys and the rich hills and mountains made possible a very intense life pulsating since ancient times. Historical evidence, particularly rich and old, begins with traces of human habitation since early Palaeolithic times to the second half of the Iron age. This was the cradle of the Dacian (Thracian tribes) civilisation with a complex of fortresses from the Orãstiei Mountains, Piatra Rosie and Bãnita, the Roman conquest and the Daco-Roman civilisation. During the reign of King Decebalus , the capital of the kingdom was situated at Sarmizegetusa Regia , today the ruins of Grãdiste. After the Daco-Roman wars and the Roman conquest (105-106 AD) the capital moved to Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa , in the Hatzeg Country (T,ara Hat,egului). Pre-state formations emerge during the 1st millennium at Deva, Strei, Dobra, Hunedoara. At the beginning of the XIII c. Hunedoara became an independent county at the border between the Principality of Transylvania and the Banat region. Among historical personalities born in the Hunedoara county one can mention, John Huniady (Ioannus Corvinus, Iancu de Hunedoara, cca 1387-1456) Prince (Voevode) of Transylvania, Count of Temes, Ban of Severin, and father of King Mathias I Corvinus of Hungary (Matei Corvin), then Nicolaus Olahus (1493-1568) a mediaeval humanist scholar, Ioan Budai Deleanu a representative of the Transylvanian Scholastic Movement (Scoala Ardeleana), the great inventor and engineer Aurel Vlaicu, pioneer of modern aviation and many others. The area is rich in useful minerals, gold and silver ore from the Western Transylvanian Alps have been worked since Roman times, and the Romans used the natural thermal waters from the spas of Geoagiu, Cãlan and Vat,a de Sus. Non-ferrous ores are also abundant in the Brad area, known as Metalliferous Mountains. Iron ore and coal extraction from Poiana Ruscãi Mountains and Jiu Valley mirrored the English Industrial Revolution, Hunedoara county was one of the first European regions where cast iron and later steel were industrially produced since the XIV-XV centuries. Hunedoara county has three main cities (municipia), Deva , Hunedoara and Petros,ani, ten medium towns, 57 parishes and 460 villages and a total population of 550,800 (1996 est.). With a vast tourist potential, Hunedoara county offers a variety of attractions, a historical rich culture with a variety of sites of great natural beauty. The Retezat National Park is located in the Retezat Mountains , a natural reserve area exceeding 275 sq mi (700 sq km.), with over 60 peaks over 7,500 feet (2,300 m), more than 80 glaciary lakes (the Bucura Lake is the largest with over 11 ha), also rare and endangered alpine flora and fauna species, breathtaking scenery. © Copyright, Dr Radu Rautiu, 1996-2004

Hunedoara Castle

(Castelul Hunedoara)

Hunedoara Castle (Castelul Hunedoara) one of the most important examples of Gothic architecture in Central and Eastern Europe, was built sometimes before 1409 and later extended by John Huniady (1387-1456, Iancu de Hunedoara, Ioannus Corvinus, Huniady János), Prince (Voevode) of Transylvania and by his son, King Matthew Corvinus (Matei Corvin, Mathhias Rex, 1443-1490) in the XV century and by Count Gabriel Bethlen (Gabriel Bethlen Von Iktár, 1580-1629) in XVII century. The castle, beautifully preserved, was built in a gothic style with baroque and renaissance influences. The interior of the castle has halls with arms and artifacts and sometimes special presentations and "son et lumière" shows are organised here. The castle is situated in Hunedoara (Eisenmarkt, Hunyad Vajda), by the Zlas,ti river, in the Cerna valley and guarded by the Poiana Ruscãi Mountains. Mentioned since XII century as a hub for leather tanning , wool processing and clothing industry, Hunedoara became one of the main iron extraction and processing centres in Transylvania. Iron ores were extracted in the area since Dacian and later, in Roman times. During the XIV and XV centuries the iron foundries and works were famous for their swords and spears. The first tall industrial furnace for iron extraction was built in Toplit,a in 1750, and a later one in Govãjdia in 1806. Narrow gauge railways and suspended transporters for coal and extracted iron ore were built in the XVIII and XIX century and the Iron Works extended further. Around Hunedoara and into the mountains there is a famous area known as Tara Pãdurenilor or the Woodlanders Country, with breathtaking scenery and beautifully preserved costumes and folklore. © Copyright, Dr Radu Rautiu, 1996-2004

Decebalus Page

Decebalus was the last king of the Dacians. His name is allegedly translated as "The Braveheart". He led the Dacians side in the two Roman military campaigns (101-102 A.D. and 105-106 A.D.). Successful in the first campaign, he was nevertheless defeated in the second campaign but never caught alive, he preferred to take his own life. Sarmizegetusa Regia was the capital of Dacia between 82 BC and 107 A.D., when the Romans conquered this region. In Roman times, it was named Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa.   Sarmizegetusa is situated in the Hateg Country (Tara Hategului), in the Orãstiei Mountains and consists of two parts: the Profane City and the Area Sacra (sacred area). The latter is dominated by the Great Sanctuary, a horseshoe-shaped wooden structure surrounded by a carefully constructed stone circle (60 x 7 stones) and therefore quite an unique combination between a stone-henge and a wood-henge. The horseshoe opens towards south-east, with an ancient fireplace in the direction of the sunrise at winter solstice. There are more apsis-shaped monuments in Romania oriented towards the winter solstice, but none of them can match this Great Sanctuary. Geometry plays an important role at Sarmizegetusa. Rectangular and polygonal objects are quite common, there is a circular andesite sun-dial with a north-oriented stone-ray.   © Copyright, Dr Radu Rautiu, 1996-2004

Deva and Hunedoara in Encyclopaedia Britannica

HUNEDOARA, judet (county), western Romania, occupying an area of 2,708 sq mi (7,016 sq km). The Transylvanian Alps (Southern Carpathians) and the Western Carpathians rise above settlement areas in the valleys. The Mures River and its tributaries drain the county southwestward. Deva is the county capital. Roman and Dacian archaeological remains were discovered in several towns, including Deva, Orastie, Mintia, and Gradestea de Munte. Archaeological finds, dating from the Middle Neolithic Age (3500-2600 BC), were found in Turdas. Gurasada, Sântãmaria, and Strei are known for their 14th-century churches. Metallurgical industries operate in Deva, Cãlan, Hunedoara, and Sântuhalm. Copper, andesite, iron, and coal mines are worked in the county. The Ghelar and Teliuc iron mines have been operated since the Roman occupation. Chemicals and building materials are produced in Sântuhalu. Agricultural activities in the county include livestock raising and fruit and cereal cultivation. A bamboo grove is situated near Mintia, and an arboretum containing deer and aurochs (European bison), was established in the 18th century near Simeria. Silvas Forest and the national park of Retezat are other nature reserves. The Petrosani Basin contains karst formations. Deva, Hunedoara, and Orãstie are highway and railway centres. Pop. (1982 est.) 543,643. Pop. (1999 est.) HUNEDOARA , city, Hunedoara judet (county), west-central Romania, in the eastern foothills of the iron-ore-bearing Poiana Ruscãi Mountains, 185 miles (300 km) northwest of Bucharest. The ore deposits at nearby Ghelari and Teliuc were known in Roman times. Hunedoara Castle, west of the city, was completed by Matthias I Corvinus in 1453 on the ruins of a 13th-century predecessor. The first major development of the iron- and steelworks did not take place until 1884. After World War II, their expansion and modernization included blast furnaces, open-hearth furnaces, electric ore furnaces, coking and chemical works, a sintering plant, rolling mills, and related facilities. The city has become a major metallurgical production centre. Pop. (1982 est.) 86,871. Pop. (1999 est.)

DEVA , city, capital of Hunedoara judet (county), west-central Romania, on the banks of the Mures River, at an elevation of 590 feet (180 m). The town is dominated by Citadel Hill (1,217 feet), shaped like a truncated cone, which affords a commanding view of the Mures valley. Atop the hill are the ruins of a citadel, built in the 13th century at the time of the Mongol invasions. The city grew in the protective shadow of the citadel during the 13th and 14th centuries, but an explosion of an arsenal in the early 19th century destroyed the structure. At the foot of the hill rises Bethlen Castle, also known as Magna Curia, built in 1621; it now houses the regional museum. Deva has little industry, but there is some food processing, and nearby are small copper and andesite mines. Pop. (1982 est.) 72,362. Pop. (1999 est. 80,000).

DACIA, in antiquity, the area of the Carpathian Mountains and Transylvania, in present north-central and western Romania. The Dacian people had earlier occupied lands south of the Danube and north of the mountains, and the Roman province eventually included wider territories both to the north and east. The Dacians were agricultural and also worked their rich mines of silver, iron, and gold. They first appeared in the Athenian slave market in the 4th century BC; subsequently they traded with the Greeks (importing especially wine) and used Greek coins. They spoke a Thracian dialect but were influenced culturally by the neighbouring Scythians and by the Celtic invaders of the 4th century BC. The Dacians engaged Roman troops in 112, 109, and 75 BC. In about 60-50 BC King Burebista unified and extended the kingdom, which, however, split into four parts after his death. During the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus (ruled 27 BC-ad 14) and again in AD 69 the Dacians raided the Roman province of Moesia but were beaten back. The Dacian Wars (ad 85-89) under the emperor Domitian resulted in their recognition of Roman overlordship. The Romans under Trajan reopened hostilities in AD 101 and by 106 subdued the whole country. A large part of the population was either exterminated or driven northward. The Romans seized an enormous amount of wealth (the Dacian Wars were commemorated on Trajan's Column in Rome) and immediately exploited the Dacian mines. Roman influence was broadened by the construction of important roads, and Sarmizegethusa and Tsierna (Orsova) were made colonies. The new province was divided under Hadrian: Dacia Superior corresponded roughly to Transylvania and Dacia Inferior to the region of Wallachia. In AD 159 Antoninus Pius redivided the region into three provinces, the Tres Daciae (Dacia Porolissensis, Dacia Apulensis, and Dacia Malvensis), all subordinate to one governor of consular rank. Marcus Aurelius made the provinces a single military region in about AD 168. The limits of Roman territory were probably never clearly defined, but the Romans benefitted both militarily and materially from the occupation. DECEBALUS, (d. 106), king of the Dacians, a people who lived in the territory known presently as Romania. Decebalus unified the various Dacian tribes into one nation and led them in wars against the Roman emperors Domitian and Trajan. When Decebalus came to power in 85, he immediately organized an army and attacked the Roman province of Moesia (southeastern Balkans), killing its governor. In 86 or 87 Decebalus annihilated a Roman army under Cornelius Fuscus, but he was severely defeated by Tettius Julianus in 88. Fortunately for Decebalus, a pretender rebelled against Domitian and the German tribes in the West chose this moment to revolt against Rome. The new danger caused Domitian to come to terms quickly with Decebalus (89) and to provide the Dacians with a subsidy and loan of engineers in exchange for recognition of Roman overlordship. In 101 Trajan led an invasion of Dacia (First Dacian War). The capital of Sarmizegethusa (in modern Romania) was captured, and Decebalus was forced in 102 to accept Roman occupation garrisons. In 105 Decebalus defeated the occupation forces and invaded Moesia (Second Dacian War). But, after Trajan seized Sarmizegethusa a second time (106), the defeated king committed suicide, and in 107 Dacia became a Roman province.

DEVA (from Wikipedia, Free Encyclopaedia) is a Romanian city situated on the left bank of the middle course of the Murse river. The name Deva is considered to come from the ancient Dacian word 'dava'meaning fortress (eg Pelendava, Piroboridava, Zargidava, etc). Other theories trace back the name to the Roman legion II Augusta, transferred around Deva, from Castrum Deva, now Chester in Britain. On medieval maps, Deva (Diemrich or Schlossburg in German and Déva in Hungarian) appears as Deva or Dewan. Documentary evidence of the town's existence first appeared in 1269 AD. Under Voevode (Duke) John Huniady (Iancu de Hunedoara or Ioan Corvinul in Romanian, Ioannus Corvinus in Latin, János Huniady in Hungarian), Deva becomes an important military and administrative centre. Partially destroyed by the Turks in 1550, it was afterward rebuilt and the fortress extended. In 1621, Prince Gabriel Bethlen transformed and extended the Magna Curia Palace (also known as the Bethlen Castle) in Renaissance style. Today, Deva is the capital of Hunedoara County, with almost 100,000 inhabitants, inlcuidng the subordinated villages. Mining, food, civil engineering and power industries are present here. Also, a private University of Ecology and Tourism was established here in 1990, and the academic centres of Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca have opened branches in the city. Deva is dominated by Citadel Hill, a protected nature reserve because of its rare floral species and the presence of the horned adder. Perched on the top of the hill are the ruins of the Citadel built in the thirteen century.

© Copyright 2004 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. All Rights Reserved.