A short history of city Soroca

The role and the importance of the city to medieval society are particular due to its different functions (economic, administrative, military and ideological-cultural). The medieval town represents a reflection of the epoch, or, its level of development depended directly on the stage of evolution of the society.

Soroca town, situated on the bank of the Dniester River, was certified documentary by the end of the 15th century. In Complete collection of Russian chronicles, Chronicle of Bihovets, Soroca is mentioned in the context of the narration about the confron-tation in 1497 between Ştefan cel Mare [Stephen the Great) and loan Albert (John Albert), which ends with the Poles defeat in Codrii Cosminului (Cosmin forests). The oldest documentary mention dates on July 12,1499. The Peace Treaty concluded on July 12, 1499 in Hârlău by Ştefan cel Mare and loan Albert, the King of Poland, among other signatories appiered „Constantinus alias Coztha porcalab Sorociensis”. Although the first documents which show the existence of the town date at the end of 15th – beginning of the 16,h century we agree with many historians who consider that Soroca town is much older than documentary mentions. That is the evidence of the name given to the land/ countryside concerned.

Soroca fortress was built of wood and earth by Petru Muşat. Ştefan cel Mare rebuilt the fortress in stone, and Petru Rareş, in his second reign (19.11.1541 – 3.IX.1543), repaired the fortress, its walls being preserved until today. As evidence a letter dated 23d of April, 1543 in Vaslui, evinces Petru Rareş asking for some craftsmen from the magistrate of Bistriţa town in Tran-sylvania. For that time Chilia and Cetatea Albă were lost, and then Soroca fortress became an important military-admin-istrative center. During the Polish occupation at the end of 17th century, the city has seen essential changes, which have increased its defense capability. However, by the end of 18th century the importance of Soroca town declined considerably. In addition to urban self-administration, which was presented in Soroca by Şoltuz, Pargars and High council, the reign had in the town a network of ministers, which caused the limit of it to a certain extent of rights, instead, they contributed to collecting taxes and ensuring the provision of various works. In Soroca for the investigated period we identified 64 Parcalabs, 35 captains, 8 Şoltuz and 45 stewards. We believe that several dynasties came to turn in the high official of Parcalab, such as Semion Afendic, grandson of Dumitru, Parcalab, and grandson of Parcalab Ştefan Lozan. We can assume also that the high official of captains had followers of a dynasty, such as Vartic family. Regarding stewardship institution, it was among the few digni-ties which maintained tsarist occupation. Stewards of Soroca often were nominated for the second time in this high official. Short-term performance function was probably to avoid corruption of high officials.

The overwhelming majority of the population of Soroca town consisted of Moldovans (Romanians). Poles, Greek, Armenians, Hebrew, Serbians and Romany lived with them in Soroca. We note that, numerically, Soroca town's population varies by state policy of the entire country and its position as a border town, being involved in military conflicts over the centuries. Over time rulers contributed somehow to the increase in the number of population, by taking some measures for repopulation. Unfortu-nately, catagrafiile not allow development of a general picture of the population of Soroca town. We still find that in 1656 the population numbered about 5000 people Soroca, in the years 1772-1773 - from 800 to 900 people and had 1782 inhabitants in 1819. Frequent presence of armies, looting, and other factors negatively influenced the demographic process.

Existing data indicate the city of Soroca different categories of the population: merchants, craftsmen, răzeşi şi mazili, ministers of religion, boyars. After the annexation of 1812, Russian govern-ment tried hard to change the social structure of the province, showing the nobles censuses, odnodvorţî, which in fact were boyars, deposed and ruptaşi. The many wars, but have hampered economic involution and disadvantages living in the city.

Sorocenii dealt mostly with agriculture, using the fruits of the plains and rivers wealth for ensuring their existence also for domestic and foreign trade. Residents were allowed to sell merchandise at 8 fairs organized annually in Soroca by country ruler.

Fair Soroca was trained and maintained trade relations with the Romanian country towns in the same way as with cities of other States, and in internai trade.

During the studied period Soroca town was one of trade centers in goods exchange. Crucial role in the exchange of goods had urban merchants who had commercial relations both between themselves and the merchants of neighboring coun-tries. Trade routes, conecting Soroca, Moldova towns and cities in neighboring countries, have contributed significantly to the prosperity of the city. Customs organized and strengthened by the rule, favored centralization of Moldavia's economy as one of the main sources of revenue in the royal treasury. In XV-XVII century Soroca was considered an important commercial center as well as Hotin, Orhei, Lapusna and Akkerman. In XVIII century - beginning of nineteenth-century, economic role of the Soroca city for Tara Moldovei was less impressive compared to other cities of Moldova, which is caused primarily by geographical position of the city, located always in the way of foreign inva-sions on the battlefield.

The structure of Soroca was not different than other cities of Moldavia, with fireplace, borders and bounds, identified in the documents. Soroca’s detour had at least six villages: Cosaceuţi (now - Cosauti), Tricinţi (possibly Trinca), Trifăuţi, Vasilcau, Strijacouţi (currently unidentified) and selistea Zăvadinele. Detour was broken, and villages were donated privately owned.

XVIII century intensifies the process of transition of cities from royal domain in secular and ecclesiastical property. By 1780 documents show Constantin Moruzi as holder of the fair, Prince of Moldavia between 1777 and 1782. In April 1781, he gives all „Soroca fair with estate to his beloved daughters Soltan, married with Hetman Scarlat Sturza, future governor of Basarabia. Become private property, fair Soroca could be sold to other masters. On July 4 1793 Michael Sutul-Voda former chan-cellor strengthens Nicholas Roset the estete of Soroca, bought at „Sultan auction (mezat)” with 35000 lei as those 2 rows of shops that reported documents.

In 1812, the town of Soroca is attached to the Russian Empire As the entire Basarabia. Under the laws of the Russian govern-ment in 1835 granted the first status of Soroca town and in 1836 became the administrative center of the district Soroca.

By the 30’s of XIX ’th century the city of Soroca with suburb Zastânca belonged to Cerchez landlord. Soroca with entire estate was purchased by Colonel Alexander Nikolayevich Cerchez and Ana Vasilievna Beclemiseva from the noble Costache Cerchez as proof of purchase reinforced by two acts oblastiei Court Basarabia. As confirmed the royal act, Soroca town government purchased two properties (city and suburb Zastânca) by the Cerchez boyars with the sum of 100,000 silver rubles. Between 1848 and 1849 the city of Soroca was not anymore a private property.

The sourse: Alina Felea. Soroca. Viață urbană și administrație. Chișinău, Pontos, 2009. Pp. 236-239.

The source of picture: magazine Moldova