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Silistra

Coordinates:44°07′02″N27°15′38″E/ 44.11722°N 27.26056°E/44.11722; 27.26056
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This article is about the Bulgarian city. For the Ottoman eyalet, seeSilistra Eyalet.For the province in Bulgaria, seeSilistra Province.For the municipality within the Silistra province, seeSilistra Municipality.
Silistra
Силистра
Silistre
Silistra,Dârstor
Town
View of the river Danube
View of the river Danube
Flag of Silistra
Flag
Coat of arms of Silistra
Coat of arms
Silistra is located in Bulgaria
Silistra
Silistra
Location of Silistra
Coordinates:44°07′02″N27°15′38″E/ 44.11722°N 27.26056°E/44.11722; 27.26056
CountryBulgaria
Province
(Oblast)		Silistra
Government
• MayorJulian Naydenov
Area
• Town27.159 km2(10.486 sq mi)
Elevation
6 m (20 ft)
Population
(2021)[1]
• Town29,498
• Density1,100/km2(2,800/sq mi)
•Urban
43,265
Time zoneUTC+2(EET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+3(EEST)
Postal Code
7500
Area code086
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website

Silistra(Bulgarian:Силистра[siˈlistrɐ];Turkish:Silistre;Romanian:SilistraorDârstor) is a town inNortheasternBulgaria.The town lies on the southern bank of the lowerDanuberiver, and is also the part of theRomanianborderwhere it stops following the Danube. Silistra is the administrative center of theSilistra Provinceand one of the important towns of the historical region ofDobruja.

Silistra is a major cultural, industrial, transportation, and educational center of Northeastern Bulgaria. There are many historical landmarks including arichly-decorated Late Roman tomb,remains of the Medieval fortress, anOttoman fort,and an art gallery.

Etymology[edit]

The name Silistra is possibly derived from the root of the oldThracianname of the lower part of theDanube"Istrum".

The name of the city is given asSilistriain theEncyclopædia BritannicaEleventh Edition.[2]

Geography[edit]

Silistra is in the northeastern part of Bulgaria on the southern bank of theDanubeRiver. It is located in the Bulgarian part ofDobruja.

Themunicipality of Silistracovers an area of 516 km2[3]and includes the town and 18 villages. The area of the city proper is 27.159 km2.[4]

Silistra is 431 km from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria; 141 km from Varna; and 119 km from Ruse.

Climate[edit]

Silistra has atemperate climate,with cold snowy winters and hot summers.

Climate data for Silistra (normals 2005-2013)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 3.2
(37.8) 		4.7
(40.5) 		11.9
(53.4) 		18.0
(64.4) 		23.9
(75.0) 		27.9
(82.2) 		30.1
(86.2) 		30.0
(86.0) 		23.9
(75.0) 		17.1
(62.8) 		11.1
(52.0) 		5.0
(41.0) 		17.2
(63.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.6
(33.1) 		1.6
(34.9) 		7.7
(45.9) 		13.3
(55.9) 		19.0
(66.2) 		22.9
(73.2) 		25.1
(77.2) 		24.8
(76.6) 		19.4
(66.9) 		13.2
(55.8) 		8.1
(46.6) 		2.6
(36.7) 		13.2
(55.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −2.1
(28.2) 		−1.5
(29.3) 		3.4
(38.1) 		8.7
(47.7) 		14.1
(57.4) 		18.0
(64.4) 		20.1
(68.2) 		19.7
(67.5) 		14.8
(58.6) 		9.6
(49.3) 		5.0
(41.0) 		0.3
(32.5) 		9.2
(48.5)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 51.0
(2.01) 		26.5
(1.04) 		22.8
(0.90) 		39.0
(1.54) 		51.5
(2.03) 		64.2
(2.53) 		45.8
(1.80) 		48.7
(1.92) 		43.8
(1.72) 		45.2
(1.78) 		23.5
(0.93) 		51.4
(2.02) 		513.4
(20.22)
Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) 10.1 8.8 8.1 8.4 10.1 8.9 6.3 4.8 6.6 7.4 6.1 9.9 95.5
Average snowy days 6.8 6.4 2.9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 0.9 4.6 21.7
Source: Meteomanz[5]

History[edit]

Eastern Moesia and Limes Moesiae
Durostorum

After the Roman province ofMoesiawas founded in 12 AD, theRomansbuilt a fort in 29 on the site of an earlierThraciansettlement and kept its name,Durostorum(orDorostorum). During the reigns ofClaudius(41-54 AD) and Nero (54-68), the eastern border of Moesia was extended to the mouth of the river Iatrus (the modern Yantra).[6]Durostorum was one of several important river points along theMoesian Limesfrontier. AfterTrajan's Dacian Warsthe fort was enlarged into a legionary fortress for theLegio XI Claudiawho stayed there from before 114 until c. 400.[7]It became an important military centre of the Roman province ofMoesia,and grew into a city at the time ofMarcus Aurelius.The city was strongly affected by an invasion of theCostobociin 170.

Large thermal baths have been discovered in thecanabaeand residential buildings to the south. There were six periods of construction between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD.

When the Roman Empire split into theEasternandWestern empires,the town became part of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Durostorum became the seat of a Christian bishopric and a centre of Christianity in the region. The earliest saints of Bulgaria are Roman soldiers executed at Durostorum during theDiocletian Persecution(303–313), includingSt. DasiusandSt. Julius the Veteran.Auxentiuswas expelled from Durostorum by an edict of Theodosius depriving Arian bishops in 383, and took refuge at Milan where he became embroiled in controversy with StAmbrose.[8]The Roman generalFlavius Aëtiuswas born in the town in 396.

As part of theBulgarian EmpireDurostolon was known asDrastarin Medieval times.

The fort of Silistra
Silistra Historical Museum
Dunavska Gradina Park

Around the end of the 7th century, the town was incorporated into theFirst Bulgarian Empireand the bishop ofDrastar(Дръстърin Bulgarian) was proclaimed the firstpatriarch of Bulgaria.In 895 (during theBulgarian-Hungarian Warof 894–896), the Hungarians, allies of the Byzantines, besieged the Bulgarian army under the personal command ofSimeon I the Greatin the fortress of the town but were repulsed.[9]The next year the Hungarians were decisively defeated in thebattle of Southern Buh.

The townwas capturedby the forces ofSviatoslav I of Kievin 969, but two years later it was taken by the Byzantines during theBattle of Dorostolon.In 976, TsarSamuelrestored Bulgarian rulein the region until 1001, when it once again became part of the Byzantine Empire asDristra.EmperorAlexios I Komnenossuffered a defeatat Dristra to thePechenegsin 1087.[10]

In 1186, after theRebellion of Asen and Peter,the town became part of the SecondBulgarian Empireand renamed Drastar.

In 1279, under EmperorIvailo,Drastar was attacked by theMongols;but after a three-month-long siege the Bulgarians managed to break through.[11]The town remained part of the Bulgarian Empire until theOttoman conquest of the Balkansaround 1400. Throughout the Middle Ages, Drastar (possibly known by the name Silistra too) was among Bulgaria's largest and most important cities.

DuringOttoman rule,Silistra (Ottoman Turkish:Silistre) was part ofRumelia Provinceand was the administrative centre of the Silistra district (sanjak). This district was later upgraded to become theSilistra Provinceand stretched over most of the westernBlack Sealittoral.In 1570 (Hijri977) the town of Silistra was inhabited by Muslims and Christians. It had 447 Muslim households in 20 neighbourhoods and 633 Non-muslim households in 15 neighbourhoods. The defter also recorded that there was a Jewish and a Christian Romani congregation.[12]

The town was captured and recaptured byRussianforces numerous times during severalRusso-Turkish Warsand was besieged between 14 April and 23 June 1854 during theCrimean War.Namık Kemalwrote his most famous play,Vatan Yahut Silistre( "Homeland or Silistre" ), a drama about thesiege of Silistra(Silistria), in which he expounded on the ideas of patriotism and liberalism. The play was first staged on 1 April 1873 and led to his exile toFamagusta.

The Ottoman Silistra Province was reduced in size, as the districts ofÖziandHocabeyand the region ofBessarabiawere ceded to the Russian Empire at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. Edirne Province was created from its southern regions in 1830. Finally, Silistra Province merged with the provinces ofVidinandNišin 1864 to formDanube Province.Silistra was downgraded to akazacentre inRusedistrict in this province in the same year.

Between 1819 and 1826,Eliezer Papo— a renownedJewishscholar — was therabbiof the community of Silistra, making this town famous among observant Jews. Up to the present, his grave is a focus ofpilgrimage,some pilgrims flying fromIsraeland even fromLatin Americato Bulgaria for that purpose.[13]

In 1878, following theRusso-Turkish War of 1877–1878,Silistra was included in Bulgaria.Romaniawas opposed to this as it wanted to acquire the city and established the short-livedSilistra Nouă County,which was abolished a year later.

In May 1913, following theSecond Balkan Warand after unsuccessful Bulgarian-Romanian negotiations inLondon,the two countries accepted the mediation of theGreat Powers,who awarded Silistra and the area in a 3 km radius around it to Romania at theSaint PetersburgConference. The 1913Treaty of Bucharestceded Silistra and the whole ofSouthern DobrujatoRomania.Bulgaria regained the town from 1916 duringWorld War I.This became finalised with theTreaty of Bucharestin 1918 after Romania surrendered to theCentral Powers(of which Bulgaria was a part). TheTreaty of Neuilly(1919) followingWorld War Ireturned it to Romania. Silistra remained a part of Romania until theAxis-sponsoredTreaty of Craiovain 1940, when the town once again became part of Bulgaria, a transfer confirmed by theParis Peace Treatiesin 1947. Between 1913 and 1938, Silistra was the capital ofDurostor County(except during Bulgarian rule). It became part ofȚinutul Mării( "Sea District" ) between 1938 and 1940 during Romanian rule. Following the establishment of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, Silistra developed as a center of industry and agriculture in the region, comparable to Ruse (because of the strategic position on the Danube) and Dobrich (due to the abundant fertile lands). This led to a major population increase which continued until 1985. After that, the population slowly started to decrease. Following the collapse of the People's Republic in 1989, many of its inhabitants migrated to other parts of the country or emigrated outside Bulgaria.

A panorama of Silistra and the Danube

Population[edit]

In January 2012, Silistra was inhabited by 35 230 people within the city limits, while theSilistra Municipalityalong with the legally affiliated adjacent villages had 50 780 inhabitants.[14]The number of the residents of the city (not the municipality) reached its peak in the period 1986–1991, when it exceeded 70,000.[15]The following table presents the change of the population after 1887.

Silistra
Year 1887 1910 1934 1946 1956 1965 1975 1985 1992 2001 2005 2009 2011 2021
Population 11,415 11,046 > 17,415[a] 15,951 20,350 33,041 59,296 70,537 49,304 41,952 39,358 37,837 35,607 29,498
Highest number70,537in1985
Sources: National Statistical Institute,[15][16]citypopulation.de,[17]pop-stat.mashke.org,[18]Bulgarian Academy of Sciences[19]
^a. Population in 1930: 17,415[20]

Ethnic, linguistic and religious composition[edit]

According to the latest 2011 census data, the individuals declared their ethnic identity were distributed as follows:[21][22]

  • Bulgarians:29,677 (88.3%)
  • Turks:3,458 (10.3%)
  • Romani:123 (0.4%)
  • Others: 190 (0.6%)
  • Indefinable: 180 (0.5%)
    • Undeclared: 1,979 (5.6%)

Total: 35,607

Notable people[edit]

Twin towns – sister cities[edit]

Silistra istwinnedwith:

Honour[edit]

Silistra KnollonLivingston Islandin theSouth Shetland Islands,Antarcticais named after Silistra.

"Silistra" is also the name of a fictional planet inJanet Morris' bookHigh Couch of Silistra(1977).

References[edit]

  1. ^"Population by districts, municipalities, place of residence and sex".National Statistical Institute.31 December 2021.
  2. ^This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Silistria".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 94–95.
  3. ^"Bulgaria Guide, Silistra Municipality".Retrieved30 July2009.
  4. ^"Bulgaria Guide, Silistra".Retrieved30 July2009.
  5. ^"Silistra - Weather data by months".meteomanz.Retrieved8 July2024.
  6. ^Rumen Ivanov, Romans on the Danube: Durostorum, Athena Review, Vol. 2, No. 3 (2000)https://www.athenapub.com/AR/7durost1.htm
  7. ^Lendering, Jona (26 May 2017). "Legio XI Claudia Pia Fidelis". Livius.org
  8. ^Mark O'Sullivan,The Social and Political Influence of Saint Ambrose as Reflected in his Letters,B.Phil thesis, Liverpool University, 1976.
  9. ^Andreev, J.The Bulgarian Khans and Tsars(Balgarskite hanove i tsare,Българските ханове и царе), Veliko Tarnovo, 1996, p. 95,ISBN954-427-216-X
  10. ^Rogers, Clifford J. (2010)."Dristra, Battle of".The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology.Oxford University Press. p. 549.ISBN978-0-19-533403-6.
  11. ^Andreev, J.The Bulgarian Khans and Tsars(Balgarskite hanove i tsare,Българските ханове и царе), Veliko Tarnovo, 1996, p. 226,ISBN954-427-216-X
  12. ^GÖKBİLGİN, M. TAYYİB (1956)."KANUNÎ SULTAN SÜLEYMAN DEVRİ BAŞLARINDA RUMELİ EYALETİ, LİVALARI, ŞEHİR VE KASABALARI".Belleten.20(78): 247–294.eISSN2791-6472.ISSN0041-4255.
  13. ^Maariv,12 September 2009,[1]
  14. ^(in Bulgarian)National Statistical Institute - 2012Archived2011-04-11 at theWayback Machine
  15. ^ab(in Bulgarian)National Statistical Institute - Towns population 1956-1992[permanent dead link]
  16. ^"НАСЕЛЕНИЕ КЪМ 31.12.2022 Г. ПО ОБЛАСТИ, ОБЩИНИ, МЕСТОЖИВЕЕНЕ И ПОЛ".nsi.bg(in Bulgarian).Retrieved3 January2024.
  17. ^"Population by districts, municipalities, place of residence and sex".National Statistical Institute.31 December 2021.
  18. ^България / Bălgarijapop-stat.mashke.org
  19. ^(in Bulgarian)Bulgarian Academy of SciencesArchived2011-07-06 at theWayback Machine
  20. ^Durostor County, as per 1930 Romanian census(in Romanian)
  21. ^(in Bulgarian)Population on 01.02.2011 by provinces, municipalities, settlements and age; National Statistical InstituteArchived2013-09-08 at theWayback Machine
  22. ^Population by province, municipality, settlement and ethnic identification, by 01.02.2011; Bulgarian National Statistical InstituteArchived2012-04-22 at theWayback Machine(in Bulgarian)

External links[edit]

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