Vicina was a town on the
Danube
The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...
used as a tradepost (
Emporia) by the
Republic of Genoa
The Republic of Genoa ( lij, Repúbrica de Zêna ; it, Repubblica di Genova; la, Res Publica Ianuensis) was a medieval and early modern maritime republic from the 11th century to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast. During the Lat ...
, being part of the Genoese trade empire between the 13th and 14th century. At one time, it was the most flourishing port of the maritime Danube, but its importance declined with the development of other ports such as
Kilia and
Brăila
Brăila (, also , ) is a city in Muntenia, eastern Romania, a port on the Danube and the capital of Brăila County. The ''Sud-Est'' Regional Development Agency is located in Brăila.
According to the 2011 Romanian census there were 180,302 pe ...
. Although many locations have been proposed by both historians and archeologists as the remains of Vicina, it is still unknown where
this town was located.
Early history
The earliest reference to Vicina (
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
Βιτζίνα, ''Bitzina'') is found in the ''
Alexiad
The ''Alexiad'' ( el, Ἀλεξιάς, Alexias) is a medieval historical and biographical text written around the year 1148, by the Byzantine princess Anna Komnene, daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. It was written in a form of artificial ...
'', written in 1148 by
Anna Comnena
Anna Komnene ( gr, Ἄννα Κομνηνή, Ánna Komnēnḗ; 1 December 1083 – 1153), commonly Latinized as Anna Comnena, was a Byzantine princess and author of the ''Alexiad'', an account of the reign of her father, the Byzantine emperor, ...
, which described events from late 11th century.
She mentions that it was ruled by two
Pecheneg
The Pechenegs () or Patzinaks tr, Peçenek(ler), Middle Turkic: , ro, Pecenegi, russian: Печенег(и), uk, Печеніг(и), hu, Besenyő(k), gr, Πατζινάκοι, Πετσενέγοι, Πατζινακίται, ka, პა ...
chieftains, Sesthlav and Satzas. Soon, trade flourished and Vicina was named a rich town by an Arab traveler.
In the 12th century, the
Arab geographer
Medieval Islamic geography and cartography refer to the study of geography and cartography in the Muslim world during the Islamic Golden Age (variously dated between the 8th century and 16th century). Muslim scholars made advances to the map-maki ...
al-Idrīsī called the town ''Disina''.
Trade
The Mongol conquests led to a period of peace and stability (the so-called ''
Pax Mongolica
The ''Pax Mongolica'' (Latin for "Mongol Peace"), less often known as ''Pax Tatarica'' ("Tatar Peace"), is a historiographical term modelled after the original phrase ''Pax Romana'' which describes the stabilizing effects of the conquests of the ...
'') which favored trade. Within the Black Sea region, merchants from
Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...
and Genoa were active, with the Venetians using existing towns as their tradeposts, while the Genoese preferred to create their own towns.
Following the
Treaty of Nymphaeum (1261)
The Treaty of Nymphaeum was a trade and defense pact signed between the Empire of Nicaea and the Republic of Genoa in Nymphaion in March 1261. This treaty would have a major impact on both the restored Byzantine Empire and the Republic of Gen ...
, the Genoese gained the priority in the trade in the region.
The Genoese bought cereals, wax, fish and hides (which were produced in the Danubian regions and the Mongol-ruled
steppe
In physical geography, a steppe () is an ecoregion characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes.
Steppe biomes may include:
* the montane grasslands and shrublands biome
* the temperate grasslands, ...
s)
[Poncea, p.112] and sold manufactured products such as
Lombard cloth
[Poncea, p.111] and linen, as well as spices,
[Rădvan, p.135] servicing the territories of Wallachia and Moldavia even before the founding of the states, as well as the
Knyazate of Halych.
The town of Vicina, like other Genoese towns, was overseen by a consul.
[Rădvan, p.107]
Decline
At the end of the 14th century, Vicina was under Byzantine control, and according to a document from 1337-1338, it was ruled by "infamous heathens", presumably Mongols, Turks or Tatars.
Soon after that, another document noted the rise and fall of the
metropolis
A metropolis () is a large city or conurbation which is a significant economic, political, and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections, commerce, and communications.
A big c ...
of Vicina, as Vicina was "plagued by barbarians" and had only a few Christians. In 1359, the Metropolitan Hyacinth of Vicina moved to
Argeș with the approval of the
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
The ecumenical patriarch ( el, Οἰκουμενικός Πατριάρχης, translit=Oikoumenikós Patriárchēs) is the archbishop of Constantinople (Istanbul), New Rome and '' primus inter pares'' (first among equals) among the heads of th ...
.
The commerce of Vicina was severely affected during the
Genoese-Byzantine war of 1351–1352. After the war, the Byzantines lost the control of the Lower Danube to the Genoese, who gained control over the town of Kilia (today
Chilia Veche
Chilia Veche (Romanian pronunciation: /kiˈlija ˈveˈke/; meaning ''Old Chilia''; uk, Стара Кілія, translit=Stara Kiliia) is a commune in Tulcea County, Northern Dobruja, Romania, in the Danube Delta. It gave its name to the Chilia br ...
, Romania) The decline of Vicina also led to the rise of another port on the Danube,
Brăila
Brăila (, also , ) is a city in Muntenia, eastern Romania, a port on the Danube and the capital of Brăila County. The ''Sud-Est'' Regional Development Agency is located in Brăila.
According to the 2011 Romanian census there were 180,302 pe ...
, which became the largest port on the Danube in the region. This was also helped by the political stability within Wallachia, whereas Vicina was caught in fights between Mongols and Bulgarians, later also with the Turks.
[Rădvan, p.252]
Location
The exact location of Vicina is not yet known and it's a matter of debate among historians and archeologists.
Portolan chart
Portolan charts are nautical charts, first made in the 13th century in the Mediterranean basin and later expanded to include other regions. The word ''portolan'' comes from the Italian ''portulano'', meaning "related to ports or harbors", and whi ...
s place it right after ''Drinago'' (which is assumed to be modern
Brăila
Brăila (, also , ) is a city in Muntenia, eastern Romania, a port on the Danube and the capital of Brăila County. The ''Sud-Est'' Regional Development Agency is located in Brăila.
According to the 2011 Romanian census there were 180,302 pe ...
), south of the Danube. Based on this, many historians identified it with
Isaccea
Isaccea (; tr, İshakçı) is a small town in Tulcea County, in Northern Dobruja, Romania, on the right bank of the Danube, 35 km north-west of Tulcea. According to the 2011 census, it has a population of 4,955.
The town has been inhabite ...
,
[Rădvan, p.251] while archeologists identify it with
Păcuiul lui Soare
Păcuiul lui Soare is an island on the Danube in southeastern Romania, known for its Bulgarian and Byzantine fortress, built in the 8th century and abandoned by the 15th century.
The island belongs to the Ostrov commune in Constanța County. The ...
. Nevertheless, historians identified it with a variety of places:
*
Isaccea
Isaccea (; tr, İshakçı) is a small town in Tulcea County, in Northern Dobruja, Romania, on the right bank of the Danube, 35 km north-west of Tulcea. According to the 2011 census, it has a population of 4,955.
The town has been inhabite ...
:
Nicolae Grămadă,
Nicolae Bănescu,
Gheorghe Moisescu,
Ştefan Lupşa,
Alexandru Filipaşcu,
Constantin C. Giurescu
Constantin C. Giurescu (; 26 October 1901 – 13 November 1977) was a Romanian historian, member of the Romanian Academy, and professor at the University of Bucharest.
Born in Focșani, son of historian Constantin Giurescu, he completed his pri ...
[Poncea, p.113]
* Between Isaccea and Tulcea:
Nicolae Iorga
Nicolae Iorga (; sometimes Neculai Iorga, Nicolas Jorga, Nicolai Jorga or Nicola Jorga, born Nicu N. Iorga;Iova, p. xxvii. 17 January 1871 – 27 November 1940) was a Romanian historian, politician, literary critic, memoirist, Albanologist, poet ...
*
Niculițel
Niculițel is a commune in Tulcea County, Northern Dobruja, Romania
Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, H ...
:
Constantin Brătescu
Constantin Brătescu (March 8, 1892 – April 13, 1971) was a Romanian major-general during World War II.
He was awarded the Order of the Star of Romania, Officer class, on June 8, 1940. In 1941, he served first as Chief Propaganda Section Gener ...
*
Păcuiul lui Soare
Păcuiul lui Soare is an island on the Danube in southeastern Romania, known for its Bulgarian and Byzantine fortress, built in the 8th century and abandoned by the 15th century.
The island belongs to the Ostrov commune in Constanța County. The ...
:
Petre Diaconu
*
Mahmudia
Mahmudia is a commune in Tulcea County, Northern Dobruja, Romania. It is composed of a single village, Mahmudia. It included the villages of Beștepe, Băltenii de Jos and Băltenii de Sus until 2004, when these were split off to form Beștepe Com ...
:
Gheorghe I. Brătianu
Gheorghe (George) I. Brătianu (January 28 1898 – April 23–27, 1953) was a Romanian politician and historian. A member of the Brătianu family and initially affiliated with the National Liberal Party (Romania, 1875), National Liberal Par ...
*
Hârșova
Hârșova (also spelled ''Hîrșova''; ; bg, Хърсово, ''Harsovo'') is a town located on the right bank of the Danube, in Constanța County, Northern Dobruja, Romania.
The village of Vadu Oii is administered by the town. The village is l ...
-
Topalu
Topalu is a commune located on the right bank of the Danube in Constanța County, Northern Dobruja, Romania.
Administration
The commune includes two villages:
* Topalu (historical name: tr, Topal)
* Capidava (historical names: ''Calichioi'', t ...
area:
Octavian Iliescu
*
Vidin
Vidin ( bg, Видин, ; Old Romanian: Diiu) is a port city on the southern bank of the Danube in north-western Bulgaria. It is close to the borders with Romania and Serbia, and is also the administrative centre of Vidin Province, as well as o ...
:
Constantin N. Hurmuzaki
*
Măcin
Măcin () is a town in Tulcea County, in the Northern Dobruja region of Romania.
Location
Măcin is located in the north-western part of the Northern Dobruja region, in Tulcea County. The city is located at the intersection of the DN22 ( E87) an ...
:
Wilhelm Tomaschek
Wilhelm Tomaschek, or Vilém Tomášek (May 26, 1841, Olomouc – September 9, 1901, Vienna) was a Czech-Austrian geographer and orientalist. He is known for his work in the fields of historical topography and historical ethnography. ,
Konstantin Jireček
Konstantin Josef Jireček (24 July 1854 10 January 1918) was an Austro-Hungarian Czech historian, politician, diplomat, and Slavist. He was the founder of Bohemian Balkanology (or Balkan Studies) and Byzantine studies, and wrote extensively o ...
,
Nicolae Dobrescu
Nicolae Dobrescu (26 July 1874 – 10 July 1914) was a Romanian church historian and theologian within the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Biography
He was born into a peasant family in Celeiu, Romanați County, a village later merged into Corabia tow ...
,
J. Bromberg
*
Nufăru
Nufăru is a commune in Tulcea County, Northern Dobruja, Romania, thought to be the short-lived ancient capital of Kievan Rus, Pereyaslavets
Pereyaslavets ( East Slavic: ) or Preslavets ( bg, Преславец) was a trade city located near mou ...
:
Georgi Atanasov[Georgi Atanasov, "La Vicina médiévale et la forteresse de Nufaru", ''Études balkaniques''. 30/1 (1994) 109–128]
* somewhere in
Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
:
Alexandru D. Xenopol
Alexandru Dimitrie Xenopol (; March 23, 1847, Iaşi – February 27, 1920, Bucharest) was a Romanian historian, philosopher, professor, economist, sociologist, and author. Among his many major accomplishments, he is the Romanian historian credite ...
Notes
References
*
*Poncea, Traian-Valentin.
Geneza orașului medieval românesc Extra-Carpatic (secolele X-XIV)', Editura Biblioteca Bucureștilor, 1999, .
*Rădvan, Laurențiu. ''At Europe's Borders: Medieval Towns in the Romanian Principalities'', Brill, 2010, .
{{coord missing, Romania
Populated places on the Danube
Genoese colonies
Lost cities and towns
Republic of Genoa
Former cities in Romania
Romania in the Early Middle Ages
Byzantine sites in Romania
Medieval Dobruja
Territories of the Republic of Genoa