1689 - Data Points by Date/Period

Situated at the southern corner of Brașov Citadel, the historical center of the city, the Weavers' Bastion occupies a space spanning 1,616 square meters. Its walls range from a thickness of 4 meters at the base to 1 meter at the fourth level of construction. Crafted by the weavers' guild, this bastion stands tall with four levels, featuring embrasures, oil wells, and two watchtowers, making it a distinctive architectural marvel in Southeastern Europe. Unscathed by the devastating 1689 Brașov fire, the bastion has remained intact in its original design. Enveloped within the southwest fortifications complex of the city, the Weavers' Bastion holds the esteemed status of a historical monument. It was meticulously constructed, defended, and maintained by the linen weavers' guild, evolving through two phases from 1421-1436 and 1570-1573, demonstrating its capacity as an independent fortification. The initial stages of construction for the bastion occurred between 1421 and 1436, aligning with the establishment of Brașov's fortification walls. During this period, the first two levels of the three battle galleries were erected, equipped with sizable firing openings for large-caliber firearms (bombardes), embrasures for arquebuses, and fuel oil openings for projecting incendiary materials.

The Black Church, also known as the parochial church of Saint Mary within 'Brasov's Stronghold,' is believed to have been built around 1383 under the direction of priest Thomas Sander. It was constructed on the site of an ancient place of worship. The name 'The Black Church' was given to this structure after a significant fire in 1689. This church stands as the quintessential Gothic monument in this region of Europe, showcasing a cohesive architectural and sculptural design, particularly in the ancient part of the monument known as the church's choir. The choir features statues of saints adorning the arched buttresses, reflecting the Central-European style typical of Parler's stone masons family. Construction of the church began but was interrupted by a Turkish invasion in 1421. It resumed in the mid-15th century, resulting in a hall-like structure with three aisles, lateral stands, and two towers on the west side. Only the southern tower surpasses the building's height. During this phase, five portals of carved stone were added, crafted by stone masons brought from the building yard of Saint Elisabeth Church in Košice, Slovakia. The western portal is considered a reference to late Gothic architecture in Southeastern Europe. Above the southeastern entrance's tympanum, there is a preserved image of Virgin Mary with the Child, flanked by Saint Catherine and Saint Barbara, showcasing the artistic mastery of King Mathias Corvinul's era (1458-1490). The painting is protected by a threshold with a wooden door bearing the inscription '1477,' signifying the completion of construction works. Following the devastating fire in 1689, the interior of the Black Church was reconstructed in the Baroque style. This phase saw the addition of arches, the richly adorned lateral stands with arcades featuring sculptures, a painted wooden pulpit, and choirs associated with the artisans' guilds. In the Black Church's present-day courtyard, named after the humanist Johannes Honterus (1498-1549), a central figure in the religious Reform in Transylvania, the medieval graveyard once existed. It was enclosed by several now-vanished constructions, except for the parochial church (first documented in 1379 and expanded in 1776) and remnants of Saint Catherine chapel (1388), likely situated on the site of a premonstratensian monastery documented in 1235. This monastery's name is linked to the initial historical mention of Braşov.

The Council Square, also known as Piața Sfatului, is an area with a high concentration of architecturally significant landmarks. While its layout has evolved over the centuries, by 1420, the main market area in the heart of 'Brasov's Stronghold' had adopted the dimensions we see today, featuring the Council House at its center. A stream originating from the Schei neighborhood used to divide the market into Monastery Street (Muresenilor) and Gate's Street (Republicii), near The Pillory, where the Lies' Bridge once stood, first documented in 1523. The market's edges were named after the types of commerce conducted there, including The Flax Course (to the north), The Tubbers’ Course (to the west), The Flowers Course and the Fruits' Fair (to the south), and the Wheat’s Course (to the east). The buildings surrounding the market were largely rebuilt in a later period due to extensive renovations following a major fire in 1689. Nevertheless, remnants of medieval structures can still be found in some inhabited buildings, such as George Baritiu Street No. 2, Council Place No. 20, and No. 25. There are also Renaissance-era buildings, like the Merchants' House (No. 14), and houses belonging to the urban patriciate (No. 15-16), which have been carefully restored in recent years. The Seuler House (No. 27) dates back to the 18th century, with its facade later redesigned in the Baroque style. The 19th century saw the construction of The Safrano House (No. 23), and at the beginning of the 20th century, The Czell Palace (No. 26, currently housing a bank) and the parochial house of the orthodox church The Assumption were built in neo-Byzantine style on the eastern side of the square.

The Council House On December 23rd, 1420, the first mention of a chamber designated for 'dispensing justice' and hosting the meetings of the town's Magistrate appeared. This chamber was situated above the vault of the furriers' guild on the main market square of 'Brașov's Stronghold.' Subsequent documents detail the construction work carried out in 1503 on the building, referred to as Praetorium at the time. In 1521, references are made to the guardian's chamber and the prison within the Council's House. Additionally, the older tower, which had become part of the complex, underwent height extensions in 1515 and 1528. It was adorned with a pyramidal roof, surrounded by four smaller towers, symbolizing the highest judicial authority in town during the Middle Ages known as 'jus gladii.' Tragically, the Council's House fell victim to the devastating fire of 1689, which also affected many other prominent structures within 'Brașov's Stronghold.' The Council's House was subsequently rebuilt in the Baroque style between 1774 and 1778. Notable features of this reconstruction include the loggia embellished with the town's coat of arms and the retention of the tower's distinctive 'domed roof,' which remained in this form until 1910. During the late 18th century, the clock on the 'Trumpeters' Tower,' featuring quadrants painted by Joseph Moor in 1775, became one of the town's notable attractions.

Situated within the heart of Brașov's historic center, the Council House of Brașov (known as 'Kronstädter Altes Rathaus' in German and 'Régi brassói városháza' in Hungarian) stands as a prominent symbol. This old town hall, positioned in Council Square, holds significant historical importance for the city. It holds the title of being the foremost secular monument in Brașov. The structure is officially designated as a historical monument under code LMI BV-II-mA-11586 and is also cataloged in the National Archaeological Repertory with the code 40205.211.The Council House in Brașov, a significant architectural landmark, began as a watchtower and evolved into a central hub. Over time, it underwent modifications and expansions, with a bridge known as the 'Bridge of Lies' extending from the tower over a stream that divided the square. Construction began around 1420, but due to various factors like the Turkish invasion of 1421, it faced delays. The building transitioned into the town hall, officially known as the 'Praetorium,' by 1503. The structure included a watchtower and prison. Between 1521 and 1528, a tower elevation and building construction took place, solidifying the Council House as the town hall. A clock was added in 1528, bearing historical significance. In 1600, Michael the Brave convened the Diet of Transylvania here. Natural events like lightning strikes and earthquakes caused damages and reconstructions. The tower collapsed around 1662 due to an earthquake, requiring a three-year restoration. The fire of 1689 led to substantial destruction, leading to a gradual Baroque-style reconstruction over nearly a century. Refinements occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries, including attic rooms, roof renovation, and the introduction of gas lighting. It served as an administrative hub and housed the Brașov State Museum. The Council House narrowly escaped demolition in the early 20th century and later during the communist era. Today, it remains a historical artifact, characterized by its distinct pyramid-shaped roof and continued use as the Brașov County History Museum.

The Monastery of Bosie is situated on two levels, approximately 15 and 25 meters above the Răut River. It is part of the first cave complex in Orheiul Vechi, located to the extreme north of the row of caves, about 500 meters east of the church of Saint Mary. These spaces, believed to have been carved into the limestone rocks during the early Christian era, were possibly created by ancient Thracians or other prehistoric tribes for defense or spiritual purposes. The complex has suffered significant degradation over time due to historical weathering and natural disasters, including earthquakes. However, it remains an important component of the museum complex in the Răut valley. The ensemble is notable for the presence of 9 medieval inscriptions, believed to have been written over older texts from the 15th and 16th centuries. One of the inscriptions, written in Slavonic, mentions that the monastery was built by Bosie, a servant of God and priest of Orhei, along with his wife and children, in the year 7173 (1665). Another inscription in Romanian, using Cyrillic characters, records the names of Vasile Adeescul and Razmerita Leca, stating that they ruled in Ukraine and were in charge of the monastery in the year 7198 (1689), November 20. Some researchers speculate that Bosie may have only restored the nearby degraded monastic complex due to the fragility of the limestone rocks. The monastery consists of eight caves, with some of them interconnected. The cave church measures approximately 6 meters in length and 4.5 meters in width. Inscriptions on the rocks mention the presence of hieromonks Teofil Varlaam and Poenachie from Cotelnici. An icon, installed in 1772, was once present at the entrance of the monastery. Throughout the site, enigmatic signs, archaic crosses, and Cyrillic letters can be found on the stone walls, indicating that this place was used for rituals even before Pârcălabu Bosie's initiative.

Suli An or Voden An (Water Inn) was built by Ishak Bey; the second regional duke of Skopje, in the 15th century. It has been noted down as legacy of the Alaça Mosque. The structure was built near the Serava River, there from come the name Voden An. It is a large two-storied building. The Inn suffered from a big fire in 1689 and was later restored and used for trading activities. It collapsed in the 1963 earthquake and was subsequently completely reconstructed. Today it houses the Museum of the Skopje Old Bazaar and the Faculty of Fine Arts.

Koplik (also known as Koplik i Poshtëm) is a town and former municipality in the northwestern tip of Albania. At the 2015 local government reform, it became a subdivision, and the seat of the municipality Malësi e Madhe. It was the seat of the former Malësi e Madhe District. The population at the 2011 census was 3,734. It is situated north of the city of Shkodër. As of June 2016, Koplik has been registered and administrated as an international 'free economic trade zone' by the Albanian government. The name is of Slavic origin, its name occurs as Cupelnich around 1200 in the work of Presbyter Diocleas; Kupêlnik in 1348; Copenico in 1416; Chopilich in 1614 in the report of the Venetian writer Mariano Bolizza; Coppilico on the 1688 map of the Venetian cartographer Francesco Maria Coronelli; Coplico on the 1689 map of the Italian cartographer Giacomo Cantelli da Vignola; and as Copelico in the 1703 report of the Catholic Archbishop of Bar , Vincentius Zmajevich. Cupionich was mentioned by Mariano Bolizza in 1614, being part of the Sanjak of Scutari. It was Roman Catholic, had 60 houses, and 130 men at arms commanded by Pecha Campersa. Koplik, being a border town, has a long history of warfare. The historical importance of Koplik owes much to the Malësor tribesmen. Their fierce independent nature insured that Koplik was often embroiled in wars against the Ottomans and the Serbs though much of its history.In the town itself there is a monument commemorating the Battle of Koplik which took place in 1920 when the Albanian forces successfully defeated the Yugoslav forces.After the first world war and the partition of Malsia e Madhe into two component parts, the area surrounding Tuzi was given to the Kingdom of Montenegro whilst the area around Koplik remained Albanian with Koplik being created the regional capital of Malsia e Madhe. During the Ottoman occupation, many of the inhabitants of the town converted to Islam, although the rural population in Malësia e Madhe continued to be mainly Catholic.

There used to be Historical Site No. 380 Yeongjugwan, a major building of Jeju-mok Government Office, on this site, Yeongjugwan is the name of Gaeksadaecheong. Gaeksa means a major building of a government office complex in the Joseon Dynasty where a tablet was set to symbolize the king and a ritual called Manggowlrye was held to honor the king on the first and fifth day each month. It was also used to accommodate dispatched government officers from the royal court. Gaeksa was given the name of the province in which it was located. As such, the gaeksa in Jeju was named Yeongjugwan after the former name of Jeju, Yeongju. It is not known when the construction began. However, it is said that a provincial governor, Lee Woohang resumed the construction in 1689 and a provincial governor, Lee Gyuseong repaired the building in 1706 followed by an executive officer, Jo Gyeong-won in 1803. According to the record, Jeju Public Primary School (now Buk Elementary School) established in 1907 moved to this site in 1908 and this building was used as the school building. Various monuments from the latter part of the Tamna period (the United Silla period) to the Joseon Dynasty were excavated at this location from 2013 through 2015. Seven housing lots, six spots to set up a wall on, three drains and two furnaces from the Joseon Dynasty were discovered in the upper layer. Several pits to build a house from the Koryo Dynasty were partially discovered in the middle layer. Also found were fourteen pits to build a house from the Tamna period in the lower layer.

The British author Colin Thubron passes through the town of Nerchinsk in his journey along the Amur River. He describes with his powerful words the decline of Nerchinsk and its history linked to the now defunct mining industry. Thubron, with his immense knowledge of Russia, informs us of famous visitors who have travelled through Nerchinsk, one of them being Anton Checkov in 1890. Thubron guides the reader through the historical events of the 1689 Treaty of Nerchinsk and Russia - China historical relations. "Nerchinsk keeps the frail bone structure of a former dignity. Its restored cathedral, whose bell tower was destroyed long ago, overlooks a silent road near the town's heart." Book Title: The Amur River - Between Russia and China Author: Colin Thubron Reference Page: 62-70 ISBN - 978-1-784-74287-4 Publication date: 16/09/2021

1689 (9)

Other Dates/Periods

1740

15-04-1991

27-08-2022

30-06-1999

22-12-2009

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