Photo credit: (c) Alex TUDOR / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

Edifying traces (coins, jewelry etc.) dating from the Iron Age (800 BC — the 1st to the 3rd century AD), corresponding to the Dacian period, have been identified in the area of Brasov, Harman, Brasov, Codlea, Rasnov. Testimony from the time of the Roman rule was preserved in the form of the Rasnov (the ancient Cumidava) and Hoghiz castra, whereas the period of the completion of the formation of the Romanian people is illustrated by the findings at Cristian and Sercaia (4th century), Feldioara (4th — 9th century), Harman (6th — 13th century), Comana de Jos (8th — 9th century), Brasov (9th — 12th century). which all bear testimony to an intense habitation of the Barsa Land before the Saxon colonists settled here in the middle of the 12th century.

The territory of Brasov is mentioned in the documents of the 13th and 14th centuries as a separate administrative unit, with some of the Romanian districts and counties here carrying on until 1920, when, following the accomplishment in 1918, of the Romanian unitary national state, the new state of play called for the administrative reorganization of the Greater Romania.

It should be noted that a great part of the territory of Brasov County overlaps some old forms of territorial organization called ‘lands’. In this regard, the oldest distinct administrative unit is Barsa Land, which is mentioned in a document in 1211 under the name of ‘Terra Borza’, then Fagaras Land or Olt Land — which appears in documentary records in 1222 under the name of ‘Terra Blachorum’.

At the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th century, craft centers, especially the market town of Brasov, became Moldavia and Wallachia’s main suppliers of craft products. The development of Brasov’s trade connections with Wallachia and Moldavia, facilitated by the multiple natural passes that cross the Carpathians (Giuvala, Predeal, Predelus, Bratocea, Boncuta, a.s.o.) is also illustrated by the fact that the rulers of Walachia owned Fagaras Land until 1452, and voivode Mircea the Elder and his son, Mihail I, owned the Bran Castle for several decades (1395 — 1425).

An important document of the time is the letter the Brasov townsmen addressed on April 26, 1479 to Stephen the Great, Prince of Moldavia, praising his victories against the Turks, as he had thus safeguarded the interests of the three Romanian principalities; they also entreated the brave voivode to ”… graciously stay closer to this country and defend it against the horrendous Turks.”

In 1541, Transylvania, the present day territory of Brasov County included, became an autonomous principality under Turkish suzerainty.

During the battles for the unification of the three Romanian principalities, Michael the Brave lived in the fortress of Fagaras and after the battle of Miraslau (September 18, 1600) he retired with his family at Rasnov, which he considered as a fortress duly belonging to him.

In 1688 the Brasov townsmen opposed the entry of the Austrian armies and the incorporation of Transylvania by the Habsburg Empire, seeking to this end help from Wallachia ruler Serban Cantacuzino.

Yet the great rebellion of the Brasov craftsmen against the instatement of the Austrian rule was quashed and their leaders were sentenced to death. The uprising also marked the beginning of the anti-Habsburg battles of Transylvania’s population.

The middle of the 19th century is marked in Transylvania by the Revolution of 1848 — 1849 during which more than 3,000 people from Fagaras Land, acting under the command of Iovian Bradu and Nicolae Orhidan, set fire to many houses of the Hungarian aristocrats.

The dominant feature of the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century was the continuation of the political and cultural struggle of the Romanian intelligentsia of Transylvania for having the Romanians delivered from the ‘demeaning situation of tolerated people’ and granted democratic rights and freedoms equal to those enjoyed by other nationalities.

At the National Assembly of the Great Union of December 1, 1918 held in Alba Iulia, the county of Brasov was represented by 52 citizens from all social categories. After the unification of Transylvania with Romania on December 1, 1918, the economic, social and cultural life of Brasov County saw a considerable development, with the city of Brasov becoming one of the most powerful industrial and cultural centers of the country.

The population of Brasov County revolted against the fascist Vienna Award of August 30, 1940. Four years later, after August 23, 1944, when Romania joined the United Nations coalition, these realms witnessed fierce military confrontations. The Mountain Corps stationed here, acting under the command of General Ion Dumitrache, courageously engaged in the battles for the release of the city. Fierce battles also took place at Bod for the defence of the radio-broadcasting station, at Teliu, Prejmer and other localities.

As for the administrative divisions of Brasov County, a map published by E.A. Bielz in 1854 had the district (Kreis) of Brasov figured in south-eastern Transylvania, made up of ten sub-units (Bezirk) governed by praetors. In 1876 there was a reorganization of Transylvania that saw the establishment of Brasov County (1,499 sq km) that included the former district of Brasov and a part of the district of Fagaras and the Seat of Cohalm.

After the creation of the Greater Romania (1918), an administrative and territorial overhaul took place in 1921, when Brasov County was established; the new entity included the city of Brasov, 3 rural divisions (Barsa de Jos, Barsa de Sus, Sacele) and 23 communes.

Following the changes occurred in 1926, Brasov County incorporated Brasov city and 48 communes grouped into rural divisions (Barsa de Jos, Barsa de Sus, Sacele and Zarnesti). This structure was maintained until September 8, 1950, when an administrative-territorial reorganization was carried out after the Soviet model: the Stalin region was created (composed of 8 rayons, 20 towns and communes), whose name was changed on December 24, 1960 into that of Brasov region.

Under Law No. 2 of February 17, 1968 on Romania’s administrative and territorial organisation (as amended on January 23, 1981) Romania’s division into counties was restored and the region of Brasov became Brasov County, yet within narrower boundaries, and including 4 municipalities — Brasov, Fagaras, Sacele and Codlea. AGERPRES