Focşani

Focşani (/fok'ʃanʲ/) (German: Fokschan) is the capital city of Vrancea County in Romania on the shores the Milcov river. It has a population (as of 2002) of 101,854.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Coat of arms
4 Famous natives
5 References
6 Notes

[edit] Geography

Focşani lies at a point of convergence for tectonic geologic faults, which raises the risk of earthquakes in the vicinity. It is one of the most popular wine-producing regions in Romania, Odobeşti being just to the NW. Weisse von Fokshan is a famous local wine, and the vicinity is rich in minerals such as iron, copper, coal, and petroleum.

[edit] History

As a town on the Moldavian-Wallachian border, Focşani developed as an important trade centre between Russia and Southeastern Europe. A congress between Imperial Russian and Ottoman diplomats took place near the city in 1772. Nearby the town, the Ottomans suffered a severe defeat at the hands of the allied forces of the Habsburg Monarchy under Prince Frederick Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Imperial Russia under Alexander Suvorov in 1789 (see Battle of Focşani).

Focşani Theater flanked by an apartment building

In the 1850s (after the Crimean War), Focşani grew in importance as the center of activities in favor of the union between Wallachia and Moldavia (the Danubian Principalities), leading to the double election of Alexander John Cuza in Iaşi and Bucharest.

On December 30-31, 1881, the First Congress of all Zionist Unions in Romania for the promotion of the colonization of Eretz Israel was held at Focşani. It was attended by 51 delegates, representing 32 organizations, two press editors, three newspaper reporters and important guests. This 1881 Congress, the first ever held, 16 years before the First Zionist Congress in Basel 1897 WZO, had an enormous influence on the Romanian Jews, and its proceedings became known outside the borders of Romania too.

The Union Square Obelisk

In 1917, during the Romanian Campaign, Focşani and Galaţi were part of a line of fortifications known as the Siret Line. An armistice was signed in the city on December 9, 1917, between the Kingdom of Romania and the Central Powers during World War I.

In 1944, during World War II, Focşani was supposed to be part of the fortified Focşani-Nămoloasa-Galaţi line, where 9 elite divisions were preparing to resist the Soviet Red Army's advance after the Battle of Târgul Frumos. However, due to the turn of events on August 23, 1944 (see Romania during World War II), this never materialized.

Focşani's role in the forming of the modern Romanian state is immortalized in the Union Square Obelisk.

[edit] Coat of arms

Focşani's location on the Milcov river which divided Wallachia and Moldavia is depicted on its coat of arms, which represents the heraldic emblems of both principalities and a handshake.