The History Of The Medieval Neamț Fortress In Moldavia, Romania
The medieval Neamț Fortress (known in Romanian as Cetatea Neamț or Cetatea Neamțului) is one of the most imposing medieval landmarks and citadels on the territory of Romania. This enduring stronghold was built during the late 14th century in the time of Petru I Mușat (and was first mentioned in a medieval document issued by Sigismund of Luxembourg, Holy Roman Emperor, which dates back to 1395), a renowned prince (or, as the title is known in Romanian, domnitor) of the Principality of Moldavia and is a symbol of anti-Ottoman resistance in Romanian medieval history as well as a noteworthy well-preserved castle in Eastern Europe. The citadel was fortified by Stephen the Great in the 15th century as part of the castle-based defence system scattered throughout the Principality of Moldavia, being among the seven of its kind, alongside the princely fortress of Suceava (also situated in Romania, more specifically to the north, being the county seat of the neighbouring Suceava County), the fortress of Hotin (nowadays part of Ukraine), the fort of Soroca (nowadays part of the Republic of Moldova), the fort of Orhei (nowadays part of the Republic of Moldova), the Tighina Fortress (nowadays part of the Republic of Moldova), Chilia fortress, and, last but not least, Cetatea Albă (i.e., the White Citadel or White Castle; nowadays part of Ukraine, situated in the historical region of Budjak and bordering the Black Sea). The fortress underwent reconstruction works funded by the European Union (EU) during the late 2000s. Since then, it has been open to both national and international tourism and, as such, it represents an important historical tourist attraction of the region of Moldavia.
Neamț Fortress interior, Neamț County, Moldavia, Romania. Image source: www.pixabay.com
The interior of Neamț Fortress, Neamț County, Moldavia, Romania. Image source: www.pixabay.com
The entrance within the Neamț Fortress with part of its long and slightly winding access bridge, as photographed by Vlad Ioan. Image source: www.pexels.com
The long and slightly winding access bridge which leads to the entrance inside Neamț Fortress, as photographed by Vlad Ioan. Image source: www.pexels.com
Part of the access bridge of the Neamț Fortress, as seen in April 2007. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
The medieval Neamț Fortress is situated near the small town of Târgu-Neamț in Neamț County, Moldavia, north-eastern Romania. Given its name, it might be possible that the town was founded by German settlers (most likely Transylvanian Saxons stemming from the neighbouring area of Bistritz/Bistrița, north-eastern Transylvania), yet this particular theory is debated among Romanian historians. Either way, ‘neamț’ (of Hungarian-Slavic origin) in Romanian is one of the two terms denoting ‘German’ (the other being ‘german’). At the same time, if a group of Transylvanian Saxons did not found Târgu-Neamț (known in German simply as ‘Niamtz’; it can be exactly translated as ‘Deutscher Markt’ as well, i.e., German market) it is probable that the Teutonic Knights did (the Teutonic Order had a significant military presence in Țara Bârsei or Burzenland as it is known in German during the 12th and early 13th centuries, before being permanently expelled by the Hungarian monarch in 1225). And, as its name clearly suggests, the town was an important commercial locality at the crossroads of Transylvania and the Principality of Moldavia (and the Transylvanian Saxons for instance are certainly known to have traded with both the Principality of Moldavia and the Principality of Wallachia in the past). Below you can take a closer look at an aerial footage of Neamț Fortress, seen in all its might and glory (video source: www.pixabay.com):
View of Neamț Citadel situated near Târgu Neamț, Neamț County, Moldavia, north-eastern Romania. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
View from inside Neamț Fortress. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
View from inside Neamț Fortress. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
View from inside Neamț Fortress (as seen in 2007). Image source: Wikimedia Commons
View from inside Neamț Fortress (as seen in April 2007). Image source: Wikimedia Commons
If I were to share my point of view, I’d say that these two theories are not far fetched and that at least one of them is highly likely to be real in the end, as there were definitely Transylvanian Saxons who settled in the northern territory/highlands of the Principality of Moldavia during the Middle Ages, namely in what is today Suceava County (in the towns of Baia/Stadt Moldenmarkt and Suceava/Sedschopff, possibly also Câmpulung Moldovenesc/Kimpolung and another locality now as Sesscoria which you can see on this map of the Ostsiedlung, i.e., the Eastern German settlement) and what the Austrians subsequently renamed ‘Bukovina‘ or ‘Buchenland’ (i.e., the land of the beech trees or ‘Țara fagilor’ in Romanian as well) after the respective territory was ceded to them from the aforementioned Romanian principality by the Ottoman Empire after the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca which put an end to the Russo-Turkish War that took place between 1768 and 1774.
The plan of the Neamț Fortress, on display nearby the fortress itself. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
The fortress is surrounded by a nearby forest and has a picturesque and long access ramp towards it which is also located at a certain height from the ground (as a matter of fact, the entire medieval stronghold stands at an altitude of 480 meters above ground level). Throughout its history, the fortress had successfully withstood foreign enemy attacks, being besieged by the Ottomans during the late 15th century (more specifically in 1476) and the Poles during the late 17th century (more specifically in 1691), both failing to conquer and capture the stronghold. During the Modern period, as the Ottoman Empire’s influence and power grew more and more in the region, several Moldavian princes attempted to destroy Neamț Fortress while others tried to save it. So it is that the stronghold had gradually lost its military power and strategic position nearby the Eastern Carpathians and later on became only a historical monument, reminding visitors of a bygone era of knights, legendary princes, and resistance against foreign aggression. Consequently, nowadays, Neamț Fortress can be visited by both national and international tourists which can discover the local museum within this imposing medieval fortification. In art, Neamț Fortress was painted by Carol Popp de Szathmáry on the occasion of a visit of Prince Carol I of Romania’s there and to Neamț Monastery at some point during the late 19th century. In addition, Neamț Fortress was also symbolically commemorated on two Romanian stamps, one from 2004 and another from 2015.
Neamț Fortress on a 2004 Romanian stamp. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
2015 Romanian stamp with Neamț Fortress and the bust of Stephen the Great of Moldavia. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Documentation sources and external links:
- Târgu-Neamț on www.britannica.com (in English)
- Neamț Fortress on www.tinutulzimbrului.ro
- Neamț Fortress: Medieval Wars and Legendary Princes on www.uncover-romania.com
