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{{Infobox Settlement <!--more fields are available for this Infobox--See Template:Infobox Settlement--> |
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{{Infobox Settlement <!--more fields are available for this Infobox--See Template:Infobox Settlement--> |
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|official_name = Silistra |
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|official_name = {{PAGENAME}} |
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|subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]] |
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|subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]] |
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|subdivision_name = {{BUL}} |
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|subdivision_name = {{BUL}} |
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}} |
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}} |
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'''Silistra''' ({{lang-bg|Силистра}} {{IPA|[si.'lis.trə]}}, historically [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]: Дръстър, ''Drastar'', ({{IPA|['drəstər]}}) is a [[port city]] of northeastern [[Bulgaria]], lying on the southern side of the lower [[Danube]] at the country's border with [[Romania]]. Silistra is the administrative centre of [[Silistra Province]] and one of the important cities of the historical region of [[Southern Dobruja]]. |
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'''Silistra''' ({{lang-bg|Силистра}} {{IPA|[si.'lis.trə]}}, historically [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]: Дръстър, ''Drastar'', ({{IPA|['drəstər]}}, {{lang-ro|Dârstor}} (between 1913-1940), {{lang-tr|Silistre}}) is a [[port city]] of northeastern [[Bulgaria]], lying on the southern side of the lower [[Danube]] at the country's border with [[Romania]]. Silistra is the administrative centre of [[Silistra Province]] and one of the important cities of the historical region of [[Southern Dobruja]]. |
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== History == |
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== History == |
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The [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] built a fortress in 29 AD on the site of an earlier [[Celt]]ic settlement and kept its name, ''Durostorum'' (or ''Dorostorum''). It became an important military centre of [[Moesia]] and grew into a city at the time of [[Marcus Aurelius]]. In 388, Durostorum became the seat of a Christian bishopric and a centre of Christianity in the region, and Roman general [[Flavius Aëtius]] was born in the town in 396. After the Roman Empire was split, the town (known as ''Δουρόστολον, Durostolon'' in Byzantine Greek) became part of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. Durostolon also was source of Drastar - the Medieval Bulgarian name of the city.. |
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The [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] built a fortress in 29 AD on the site of an earlier [[Celt]]ic settlement and kept its name, ''Durostorum'' (or ''Dorostorum''). It became an important military centre of [[Moesia]] and grew into a city at the time of [[Marcus Aurelius]]. In 388, Durostorum became the seat of a Christian bishopric and a centre of Christianity in the region, and Roman general [[Flavius Aëtius]] was born in the town in 396. After the Roman Empire was split, the town (known as ''Δουρόστολον, Durostolon'' in Byzantine Greek) became part of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. Durostolon also was source of Dârstor (Romanian of Silistra)<ref>http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silistra Romanian article of Silistra</ref> and Drastar (Former Bulgarian name of Silistra). |
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[[Image:Silistra-art-gallery-Minkov.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Silistra Art Gallery building]] |
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[[Image:Silistra-art-gallery-Minkov.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Silistra Art Gallery building]] |
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Around the end of the 7th century, the town was incorporated in the [[First Bulgarian Empire]] and the bishop of Drastar was proclaimed the first [[patriarch of Bulgaria]]. The town was captured by the forces of [[Sviatoslav I of Kiev]] in 969, but two years later it was besieged by the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]] during the [[Battle of Dorostolon]]. Having been ceded to the Byzantines, it was renamed Theodoropolis, after military saint Theodore Stratelates, who is said to have come to Emperor John I Tzimiskes' aid during the battle. In [[976]], Tsar [[Samuil of Bulgaria|Samuil]] restored Bulgarian rule in the region until 1001, when it was once again incorporated within the bounds of the Byzantine Empire. |
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Around the end of the 7th century, the town was incorporated in the [[First Bulgarian Empire]] and the bishop of Drastar was proclaimed the first [[patriarch of Bulgaria]]. The town was captured by the forces of [[Sviatoslav I of Kiev]] in 969, but two years later it was besieged by the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]] during the [[Battle of Dorostolon]]. Having been ceded to the Byzantines, it was renamed Theodoropolis, after military saint Theodore Stratelates, who is said to have come to Emperor John I Tzimiskes' aid during the battle. In [[976]], Tsar [[Samuil of Bulgaria|Samuil]] restored Bulgarian rule in the region until 1001, when it was once again incorporated within the bounds of the Byzantine Empire. |
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In 1186, after the [[Vlach-Bulgarian Rebellion|Rebellion of Asen and Peter]], the town became part of the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]] until the Ottoman conquest of Bulgaria in 1396. |
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In 1186, after the [[Vlach-Bulgarian Rebellion]], the town became part of the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]] until the Ottoman conquest of Bulgaria in 1396. The town was also occupied by [[Principality of Wallachia]], during periods of 1389-1393, 1395-1397 and 1404-1420. |
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During [[History of Ottoman Bulgaria|Ottoman rule]], Silistra (''Silistre'' in [[Ottoman Turkish language|Ottoman Turkish]]) was part of [[Rumelia Province, Ottoman Empire|Rumelia Province]] and was the administrative centre of the Silistra [[sanjak]]. This sanjak was later upgraded to become the [[Silistra Province, Ottoman Empire|Silistra Province]] that stretched over most of the western [[Black Sea]] [[littoral]]. The town was captured by [[Imperial Russia|Russian]] forces numerous times during several [[Russo-Turkish Wars]]. |
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During [[History of Ottoman Bulgaria|Ottoman rule]], Silistra (''Silistre'' in [[Ottoman Turkish language|Ottoman Turkish]]) was part of [[Rumelia Province, Ottoman Empire|Rumelia Province]] and was the administrative centre of the Silistra [[sanjak]]. This sanjak was later upgraded to become the [[Silistra Province, Ottoman Empire|Silistra Province]] that stretched over most of the western [[Black Sea]] [[littoral]]. The town was captured by [[Imperial Russia|Russian]] forces numerous times during several [[Russo-Turkish Wars]]. |
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In 1878, following the [[Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878|Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878]], Silistra was included in the newly autonomous [[Principality of Bulgaria]], which became the [[Kingdom of Bulgaria]] in 1908. |
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In 1878, following the [[Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878|Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878]], Silistra was included in the newly autonomous [[Principality of Bulgaria]], which became the [[Kingdom of Bulgaria]] in 1908. |
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In May 1913, after unsuccessful Bulgarian-Romanian negotiations in [[London]], the two countries accepted the mediation of the [[Great Powers]], who awarded Silistra and the area in a 3 km radius around it to Romania at the [[Saint Petersburg]] Conference. Following the [[Second Balkan War]], the [[Treaty of Bucharest, 1913|Treaty of Bucharest]] (1913) granted Silistra and the whole of [[Southern Dobruja]] to [[Romania]]. Although Bulgaria regained the town during [[World War I]] with the [[Treaty of Bucharest, 1918|Treaty of Bucharest]] (1918), in which Romania surrendered to the [[Central Powers]] (including Bulgaria), the [[Treaty of Neuilly]] (1919) following [[World War I]] returned it to Romania. Silistra remained a part of Romania until the [[Axis Powers|Axis]]-sponsored [[Treaty of Craiova]] of 1940, when the town once again became part of Bulgaria, a transfer confirmed by the [[Paris Peace Treaties, 1947|Paris Peace Treaties]] of 1947. |
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In May 1913, after unsuccessful Bulgarian-Romanian negotiations in [[London]], the two countries accepted the mediation of the [[Great Powers]], who awarded Silistra and the area in a 3 km radius around it to Romania at the [[Saint Petersburg]] Conference. Following the [[Second Balkan War]], the [[Treaty of Bucharest, 1913|Treaty of Bucharest]] (1913) granted Silistra and the whole of [[Southern Dobruja]] to [[Romania]]. Although Bulgaria regained the town during [[World War I]] with the [[Treaty of Bucharest, 1918|Treaty of Bucharest]] (1918), in which Romania surrendered to the [[Central Powers]] (including Bulgaria), the [[Treaty of Neuilly]] (1919) following [[World War I]] returned it to Romania. Silistra remained a part of Romania until the [[Axis Powers|Axis]]-sponsored [[Treaty of Craiova]] of 1940, when the town once again became part of Bulgaria, a transfer confirmed by the [[Paris Peace Treaties, 1947|Paris Peace Treaties]] of 1947. |
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{{Wide image|SilistraPanorama1.jpg|1000px|A panorama of Silistra and the Danube}} |
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{{Wide image|SilistraPanorama1.jpg|1000px|A panorama of Silistra and the Danube}} |
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''High Couch of Silistra (1977). |
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''High Couch of Silistra (1977). |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{Commonscat|Silistra}} |
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{{Commonscat|Silistra}} |
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*[http://www.srebarnabirding.blogspot.com/ News from UNESCO nature reserve in Silistra] |
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*[http://www.srebarnabirding.blogspot.com/ News from UNESCO nature reserve in Silistra] |
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*[http://silistra.bg/ Official municipality website] (in Bulgarian and English) |
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*[http://silistra.bg/ Official municipality website] (in Bulgarian and English) |
