Historical background

The beginnings of Breaza’s history, are certainty dating from the early sixteenth century. A historical document from 1503, named “Registrele vigesimale braşovene”, mentions that Neagoe of Breaza, being present in Braşov with trade businesses was supposed to be one and the same with the character mentioned in a royal charter, from 27th May, 1510. Signed by Vlad cel Tânăr, Prince of Romanian Country, the charter stated: “(…) I gave my rule through this present charter of my reign to the Honorable Vlastelin Neagoe of the Drăghici family so that, together with his sons (…) and his grandchildren, sons of Stoican, to rule over these villages: the entire Mărgineni (…) and the whole Breaza with its mountains, from Flora to Negraş (…) “

This documentary source from 1510 is complemented by another epigraphic one, discovered much later, in 1810, at the foot of the altar table, at Podu-Vadului. This epigraphic source mentions: the year 1510, the name of a certain Gheorghe Popa and the name of Breaza.

Among former owners of the estate of Breaza village in XVIth century are remembered: Stoican, who died after 1510, Spătarul Drăghici, Vel Vistiernicul Udrişte, who died died in 1548, and then his sons, Banul Udrişte and Spătarul Drăghici.

In the early seventeenth century, the estate Breaza was ruled by Elena from Mărgineni, the wife of Radu Şerban, ruler of Romanian Country between 1602-1611. Later, the owner becomes Elina from Sărata (daughter of Spătarul Drăghici and married with Stoica from Bucov), Maria and Stana, the daughters of Dumitraşco Filipescu.

A document from 19 June 1622 mentions four owners of Breaza estate: boyars Filipeşti, merchant Ghinea, Master Gregory and Helen of Mărgineni. The latter left her part of the fortune to her daughter, Elena (Elina), who became Cantacuzino by marriage (fact that was mentioned by Diata from 1667-1668).

After her death on March 2, 1687, her son Şerban Cantacuzino (ruler of Romanian County between 1678 -1688, has broken Diata in several times and impart the estate as he wished. His share of domain in Breaza remained in the possession of his son George Cantacuzino, while vel aga Matei Cantacuzino who owned another part of the estate, bequeathed, after his death (December 24, 1688), his share of his wealth in village Breaza to his son Thomas.

The two Cantacuzino, Gheorge and Toma raised their mansions to Breaza: the first one in Breaza de Sus, and the latter in Breaza de Jos (the neighborhood of Podu-Vadului). In 1711, the two Cantacuzino, Gheorge and Toma, were stripped of their estates because they have betrayed the country’s interests in Russo-Turkish war, part of the “Eastern Question” at the beginning of the eighteenth century.

At around 1717, the new ruler of Romanian Country, the Phanariot Nicolae Mavrocordat gave Breaza estate to vel chancellor Creţulescu Iordache.

During the turmoil from the eighteenth century occurred changes about Breaza estate. Thus, on January 28, 1747, Constantin Filipescu, former treasurer, sold his part of Breaza domain to Mărgineni Monastery.. Later on Marica Filipescu’s Diata from October 1, 1754, the boyars Filipeşti had no longer been masters of Breaza estate.

At the end of the eighteenth century, in 1798, Constantin Hangerliu,prince of the Romanian County between 1797 and 1799, bought Breaza estate, brutally canceling the local rights.

After 1799, Breaza estate (which included the villages Ocina, Fricoasa and Talea) was ruled alternately by Şerdar Nicolae Salgiu, his son Constantin Salgiu, and the treasurer vel Scarlat Grigore Ghica.

Being put up for auction for nonpayment of debts, in 1836, the estate Breaza was sold for 18,000 thalers to the treasurer vel Scarlat Grigore Ghica, subsequently mastered by Zoe Brâncoveanu Bibescu. At her death in 1892, Breaza estate was inherited by her daughter Eliza (married to Ion Filipescu) and Grigore Basarab-Brâncoveanu (who remained in the mind of the people of Breaza under the name of “Prince Brâncoveanu”). The latter changed the image and appearance of the palace which today is in the vicinity of the City Hall of Breaza, adapting it to the architecture of its time. Over here were to pass occasionally pass his relatives, Ana Brancoveanu and Martha Bibescu, who were personalities of European stature, who served with honor art, diplomacy and Romanian literature.

At the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, times have changed. The War for unifying the nation meant for people of Breaza suffering and pain. The years after 1918 no longer looked like the previous ones. Even during military operations in the summer of 1917, King Ferdinand I (1914-1927), promised to the soldiers from the front an agrarian reform through which to give them land. The reform was accomplished in 1921, changing economic and social realities of the community, and that explains why the great landowners have disappeared from the area.

The first half of the twentieth century was a time of flourishing cultural life around “The Great Romania” National Houses, that were established by General Ion Manolescu, in 1920. He also established the first vocational schools for girls and boys, the first Workshop for craft industries, and systematized the street that became the Heroes Boulevard. After 1935, General Ion Manolescu contributes, together with the ”Society of Heroes Cult” to the raising of the monuments dedicated to the heroes, from Gurga Hill and Breaza’s districts (Breaza de Jos, Breaza Centru, Breaza de Sus).

After the Second World War, the main events of the village (now city since 1956) were:

• the founding of “Art Housewife” Craft Cooperative (1948);
• the displace of Military High School from Predeal to Breaza (1949);
• the founding of Mixed Secondary School (Aurel Vlaicu High School) in 1950;
• the creation of UCECOM Crafts School (1960);
• the founding of Mechanical Precision Factory (Hidrojet SA) in 1974.

 

Vasile Focşeneanu, Teacher Mentor