Slatina History, Romania

Slatina, History – Early Times

Archeologists have proved the existence of a human settlement in the old city through the numerous silex tools they found, belonging to “Prund” culture. More recent research have brought to light several unique pieces of ceramics belonging to “Vadastra” and “Cotofeni” cultures, the area being also populated by the Geti-Dacians on the right banks of the Olt River and by shepherd tribes with seasonal settlements. Archeologists have also discovered throughout time numerous iron agricultural tools, luxury and common Roman ceramics and monetary treasures as well as two Roman settlements identified in Strehareti point, Cireasov district. From the fourteen until the seventeen century, the material proofs of life on this areal are fewer, but for the eight until the thirteenth century there have been found remains belonging to “Dridu” and “Vadastra” cultures and others belonging to migrating people that passed by.

Based on the archeological proofs found here dating from the 6th to 10th centuries period and the Slave toponymy of the area, scientists concluded that the settlement from Slatina appeared as a rural settlement long before the 10th century. The most common opinion connected to its name is that it came from the archaic Latin and it was initially the name of a Roman colony installed here.

Slatina’s first documentary mentioning dates from the medieval period, on the 20 January 1368, in an official document in which Vladislav Vlaicu (1364-1377) offered free customs service for all traders coming from Brasov. Precious information on the city from the banks of Olt come from the travel book of Paul of Alep, who visiting the monasteries from this side of the country mentioned that ”on 27 August 1653, we passed through a city called Slatina, and crossed by ship the nearby Olt River.”

Other important moments in Slatina history is June, 1522 when Radu from Afumati wins a battle against the ottoman Turks and the moment when Mihai Viteazul restores the Clocociov Monastery as a reward for the local population’s help toward his politic activity. The monastery along with the Princely Church and the Streharet Monastery are the oldest and most important brick buildings dating from the second half of the seventeenth century. In the eighteen century in Slatina people built the first fountains where the water was brought from tapped springs, through ceramic tubes. In 1741 it is mentioned the existence of a princely school in town, the first public school and also the oldest in Slatina.

Slatina, History - Modern Times

In the first years of the nineteen century, based on the funds left by the important local philanthropist Ionascu Cupetu, Ionascu School was created, functioning initially until 1836 in the building of Ionascu Church. Besides the school, after a while, the first local public library was opened. Even before the eighteen century ended, in Slatina one of the oldest hospitals in Romania already functioned, and just like the school it was housed by the Ionascu Church’s buildings.

Politically, at the beginning of the nineteen century, Slatina deals with the great problems of the exploited ones. In that period the surrounding forests housed the famous outlaws who fought for justice, and the city served on numerous occasions as meeting place between them and Tudor Valdimirescu. In this modern period, Slatina participated actively in the 1821 Revolution, was the location where Tudor Valdimirescu met Iancu Jianu, the headman of the outlaws. After the tragic end of Tudor and the bloody quash of the Revolution, Slatina along with other cities implicated in the event were destroyed through fire. All these events had an important impact over the city and its inhabitants, creating even an architectural style called “Tudor”.

Locals were also actively implicated in all the major historic events like the 1848 Revolution, the 1877 Independence War, 1907 Peasants Revolution, 1918 Great Union and First and Second World War. During the Second World War the local workers fought against the military-fascist dictatorship, especially through sabotage actions.

to fin out more about the history of the area read our guides on Baia Mare and Satu Mare history