History & Culture
Großau was one of the first German settlements in Transylvania, founded in the 12th century at the invitation of King Geisa II to protect the crown. This makes Großau, located just 10 km west of Hermannstadt, older than many of today’s major cities – even around 100 years older than Berlin. The first documentary mention dates back to 1223 under the name “Insula Cristiana” (“Christian Island”), which emphasizes its importance as a Christian place of protection in a turbulent time. Over the centuries, Großau went by various names before the German place name was established. The community was one of the largest and most important in the historic Sibiu chair.
The foundation of Großau certainly belongs to the first wave of German settlers who were called to Transylvania by King Geisa II to protect the crown in the years 1141 – 1161.
Großau, like Hermannstadt, is therefore older than Berlin. While Berlin celebrated its 750th anniversary in 1987, Großau is around 100 years older. – It lies only 10 km west of Sibiu, the former “Vila Hermni”, upstream on the Zibins River. That is why it also belongs to the so-called “old country”. – Just as the legend tells of the founding of Sibiu, so it must have been with the founding of Großau. The leaders, barefoot and bareheaded, placed a clod of earth on their heads and swore allegiance to the king and the clod by the sword stuck in the ground.
The first documentary reference dates back to 1223, less than 100 years after the immigration but before the Mongol invasion (1241). It reads: “Insula cristiana”, i.e. “Christian island” or “Christian meadow”. However, there are also a number of other names from later decades and centuries. I will list some of them below: “Insula” (1359), “Magna insula” (1359), “Insular Maior” (1377). The first Hungarian name is “Keresztenzygeth” (1395) and the Romanian “Cristianu”, which is documented for the first time in 1787. The German place name Grossau first appears in the tax register of the Herzmannstadt chair from 1468. In later sources we find the old Saxon name: “Von der Hawin” (1478), “Von der Hawen” (1480) or “Von der Aw” (1484). The letter w has the phonetic value of u. – While the Romanian name “Cristian” follows the oldest place name “Insula Cristiana” (1223), the German or Saxon dialect name “Grossau” or “Grisa” has kept to the later documentary entries, namely “Insula magna” (1359). It is perhaps worth mentioning that the first documentary record of Grossau was made in connection with the establishment of the Hattert border between Michelsberg and Grossau. The Latin document mentions a path leading to “Insulam Cristanam”. Incidentally, Sibiu is also mentioned for the first time in the same document.
The fact that special emphasis was placed on the attribute “Christian” (Insula Cristiana) is fully understandable at the time, as the Crusades were deliberately waged to protect the Christian West against the “infidels” who threatened Western culture and the Christian faith, particularly through the advance of Islam. They wanted to be a Christian island against all dangers from the East, regardless of which heathen people they came from. – Pope Urban II called for the 1st Crusade in 1095. For 200 years, the Crusades had a significant influence on and shook the Christian West. In 1217, the Hungarian King Andrew II, the father of St. Elizabeth of Thuringia, undertook a crusade to the Holy Land, in which a significant number of Saxons also took part. It was the same king who issued the Saxons with the Golden Charter.
The tax register of the Sibiu chair shows that Großau was the second largest municipality in the chair after Heltau. Nevertheless, one should not imagine the communities of that time to be very populous and full of houses. The assumption of 40 houses per parish was an exaggeration. According to a document from 1337, there was also a “Kleinau”, in which the Catholic priest of Großau at the time had to look after the faithful. The document states: Henricus “de Maiori insula et de minori. Where might this Kleinau have been located? It can be assumed that it was very close to Großau and that the two grew together over time, or that Kleinau was destroyed in the Turkish wars and never rebuilt.
Our chronicle
13 century
1223
First mention of Großau (“Insula Christana” = Christian meadow) in a document. Settlement of the village, however, probably since the first wave of settlers under King Geisa II between 1141-1161; the founder of the village could also have been a settler leader named Christian (“Insula Christiani”); his sons Solomon and Herbord are mentioned in documents. (Solomon and Herbord are mentioned in 1323, so they can hardly be the sons of Christian).
13th century
Construction of a three-aisled Romanesque basilica dedicated to St. Servatius. The following remains of this church have been preserved: a) the lower part of the bell tower – b) the remains of the two side aisles next to the tower – c) a pillar attachment inside the church.
14 Century
1337
A “Kleinau” is mentioned. I wonder where it was located?
1339
The local judge of Großau is a member of the Seven Chairs and this proves,
, that our home town was a free royal borough.
1349
For this year, there is evidence that the village belongs to the Sibiu chapter
.
1372
Goblinus, the future bishop, is a priest in Großau.
1383
The smouldering dispute between the Sibiu See and the Romanians living in the Gebrige
is ended by a peace treaty concluded in Großau
. The representative of Großau is “Heyczmannus
Tawsintschon”.
1386
A Großauer, “Oswaldus de Insula de Septemcastris”, is enrolled at the
university in Vienna.
15 century
1449
The following Hattert names are mentioned in a document:
“mons Kakasfeye alias Hanenkap”, “fluvius Zybyn”, “fossatum Pokolarok
alias Buzgraben”, “mons Uyhegye alias Newberg”.
1468
Großau has 200 hosts this year.
1488
It is established that Großau, with 176 landlords, is the second largest
rural community in the Sibiu chair, after Heltau /228 landlords/
and ahead of Stolzenburg /167 landlords/ and Großscheuern /78 landlords/.
1493
Großau is burned by Turks.
1472 - 1498
Conversion of the Romanesque basilica into a late Gothic, three-nave hall church; the master builder is Andreas Lapicida from Sibiu. The nave is 18.3m long and 17.5m wide, the main choir 15.5m long and 8.4m wide, the ridge heights are 28.4m and 26.3m respectively.
16th century
Around 1500
To protect the church, double walls were built in the shape of an irregular pentagon, with a square defense tower at each corner. Two forecourts were built to the north in front of the fortified church – the rectory was built in the first, which had one of the few surviving “plague pulpits” to the north.
1529
Muntenian troops of the boyar Dragan, who besieged Sibiu in September, burn Großau.
1536
Großau has 101 innkeepers.
1548
Definition of the borders between Großau and Neppendorf by the
Nationsuniversität. Among others, the following Hattert names are mentioned:
“Kalckberg”, “Probstwyz”.
1553
Devastation of the community by cholera and plague (four further epidemics between 1706 and 1755).
Before 1570
In Großau, there is a particular school where Simon Muntschius
is a ludimagister who is ordained in Wittenberg in 1570. The northern side choir of the church is separated off and converted into a sacristy; the “angels’ gallery” is built above it.
Around 1580
In the south of the castle complex, the large octagonal tower is built on older foundation walls. This tower probably also served as a chapel for a time.
1592
Under Prince Sigismund Bathori, a Diet is held in the church of Großau.
1599
Capture of the fortified church by the Wallachian prince Michael (the Brave); gruesome murder of the priest Heintzius in the sacristy.
17 century
1612
Prince Gabriel Bathori states that the Romanians of Auendorf
(Gurarîului) once settled on Großauer Hattert with the consent of the Saxon national university
.
1658
Storming of the castle by passing Tartars who had besieged Sibiu; the village is burned again.
1690
A Diet is held in the fortified church, at which the Hungarian Emerich Tököly is proclaimed Prince of Transylvania.
18 century
1703 - 1711
The Kurucs extort cattle and food. As a result,
Großau later only had 63 innkeepers, fewer than Reußdörfchen.
1719
The church receives a new altar, a symbol of local Baroque art.
1721 - 1736
After epidemics and the consequences of war, there are only 63 farms left in Großau (in 1508 there were 176 farms), 32 farms are empty.
A part of the ring wall is rebuilt, which is commemorated by a keystone (Christ’s head) from the church embedded in the southern wall.
With help from Hermannstadt (Inspector Clockner), the desolate church can also be renovated.
1735 - 1738
Around 160 emigrants who had to leave Austria in the course of the Counter-Reformation were settled in Großau.
Others came to Neppendorf, Heltau and Großpold. They came from the Salzkammergut, mainly from the villages of Hallstatt, Ischl, Gosau, Lauben and Goisern.
1752 - 1756
Further emigrants from the Upper Austrian “Landl” (country dialect) arrive in the village.
Around 1750
The gate and access tower to the west of the castle falls victim to the Zibins floods.
A new entrance is built to the south and a castle guard’s dwelling is constructed next to it.
Large sections of the second curtain wall are demolished.
1775
The church receives the organ built by Johannes Hahn.
1786
Under Emperor Joseph II, the part of the Hatterts “Curăturile” of Großau
has to be ceded to Poplaca.
1794
Galleries are built in the choir and their wooden walls are painted with folk art motifs.
19th century
Around 1800
The vicarage is given its current main building, which faces the church and is attached to the medieval wing.
1805
The earthquake-damaged church tower is raised and the four corner towers are added. The Hattert of Großau is described in detail in a document deposited in the tower knob.
1848
36 farms are affected by fire damage.
1875
The Großau volunteer fire department is founded under chairman Josef Eckenreiter VI/12 and becomes a compulsory fire department in 1881.
1875
Under the direction of Rector Kraus, 8 farmers found the men’s choral society, which becomes the church choir after 1944.
1886
A strong women’s association is founded in terms of numbers and performance. Thanks to a generous donation of 200,000 lei from the association, a building for a childcare facility can be erected in the courtyard of the old school.
1887
The local branch of the agricultural association is founded, with 103 members in 1899.
1891
Großau is ravaged by a major fire.
1897
The railroad line towards Winz, which passes close to Großau, is completed.
1898
A “Protestant parish hall” is built, today’s “old hall”, now a Romanian church.
1899
At the suggestion of Pastor Konnerth, the first dairy cooperative is founded. In November of the same year, the first “Siebenbürger Dampfbutterei-Genossenschaft” is founded in Großau.
20th century
Around 1900
Großau gets its own doctor. The political community leadership, consisting of Protestants, provides housing and wood.
1907
Electricity is introduced in Großau on a trial basis. Großau has 2991 inhabitants.
1909
Construction of the municipal office building (“Kanzlei”), on which the cattle brand is affixed.
Around 1911
Construction of the steam butchery building (“bath”)
1914
A pharmacy is built.
1914 - 1919
52 men become victims of the war.
1916
The inhabitants flee from the advancing Romanian troops about 50 kilometers to Törnen (Păuca) and Enyed (Aiu
1921
The land reform is carried out, whereby 4172 yards of the 8981 yards of forest are expropriated from the 2991 inhabitants of Großau (2041 of whom are German).
1935
In Erlengasse (VII. Gasse), the building for a transformer is erected on the Zibinsufer. Since then there has been electric lighting in the town.
1937
The parish garden is parceled out and sold mainly to Protestant parishioners. In 1988, there are two lanes with stately houses on this area. This is the double alley XIX, called the 1st and 2nd parish garden.
1940 - 1949
During the Second World War, 64 men were killed in action and 50 military personnel remained missing.
1943
On the basis of the agreement concluded between the German Reich and the Romanian government, 4 transports of German community members go to the German army (primarily to the Waffen SS) this year. In addition to these organized transports, many – mainly young men – also volunteered for the German army.
January 1945
Deportation of German population to Russia – on 13.01.45, 348 parishioners are deported from Großau, 51 of whom die in Russia or en route. Some did not return until 1952.
March/ June 1945
The agrarian reform results in land expropriation and expulsion from farms and land.
The German-speaking population loses its citizenship and the right to vote (ex-lex position) – 98% of agricultural assets are transferred to Romanian ownership.
1972 - 1975
Extensive repairs and elimination of earthquake damage to the fortified church.
from 1974
Under Ceausescu, the emigration of the German population from Transylvania begins.
Of the former 2,640 Transylvanian Saxons (1974) in Großau, 1,871 remained until 1989, then only around 70 by 1996 – after the so-called revolution in 1990, 1,217 alone left the town for Germany or Austria.