Topalu Explained

Type:	commune
County:	Constanța
Population Total:	auto
Subdivisions:	Topalu, Capidava
Official Name:	Topalu
Leader Name:	Constantin Baltă^[1]
Leader Term:	2020 - 2024
Leader Party:	PSD
Area Total Km2:	79.29
Coordinates:	44.55°N 31°W

Topalu is a commune located on the right bank of the Danube in Constanța County, Northern Dobruja, Romania.

Administration

The commune includes two villages:

• Topalu (historical name: Turkish: Topal)
• Capidava (historical names: Calichioi, Turkish: Kaleköy)

Demographics

At the 2011 census, Topalu had 1,707 Romanians (99.94%), 1 others (0.06%).^[2]

History

Tabula Peutingeriana

Capidava is depicted in the form Calidava/Calidaua in Segmentum VIII of Tabula Peutingeriana (1st-4th century AD) on a Roman road between Axiopolis and Carsium. The map provides accurate data on the distances between Axiopolis, Capidava and Carsium. These distances coincide with the distances between the present localities of Hinog - Capidava and Capidava - Hârșova. This is also verified by the discovery of military marking pillar at Seimenii Mici that indicates the distance of 18,000 feet (27 km) from Axiopolis to Capidava.

Ancient times

The village Capidava is the site of the fortified Geto-Dacian center with the same name, Capidava.

After the Roman conquest of Dacia it became a Roman city and castra in the province of Scythia Minor (modern Dobruja).

Etymology

Capidava is a Getic toponym, meaning the "curve fortified settlement".

See also

• Dacia
• Roman Dacia
• List of ancient towns in Scythia Minor
• List of ancient cities in Thrace and Dacia
• Dacian davae

Further reading

• Book: Grumeza , Ion . Dacia: Land of Transylvania, Cornerstone of Ancient Eastern Europe. 2009. Hamilton Books. 978-0-7618-4465-5. The shores of the Danube were well monitored from the Dacian fortresses Acidava, Buricodava, Dausadava (the shrine of the wolves), Diacum, Drobeta (Turnu Severin), Nentivava (Oltenita), Suvidava (Corabia), Tsirista, Tierna/Dierna (Orsova) and what is today Zimnicea. Downstream were also other fortresses: Axiopolis (Cernadova), Barbosi, Buteridava, Capidava(Topalu), Carsium(Harsova), Durostorum(Silistra), Sacidava/Sagadava (Dunareni) along with still others....
• Early Byzantine Capidava
• Official Capidava Archaeological Site
• Official Capidava Fortress Site at Constanţa County Council
• Capidava at Encyclopedia Dacica
• Capidava at Turism Constanţa hosted by The Public Office for Tourism, Commerce and Public Services, part of the Constanţa County Council
• Capidava hosted by the Romanian National Institute of Historical Monuments
• Capidava article at ziare.com

External links

• Official Capidava Archaeological Site
• Official Capidava Fortress Site at Constanţa County Council
• Capidava at Encyclopedia Dacica
• Capidava at Turism Constanţa hosted by The Public Office for Tourism, Commerce and Public Services, part of the Constanţa County Council
• Capidava hosted by the Romanian National Institute of Historical Monuments
• Capidava article at ziare.com

Notes and References

1. Web site: Results of the 2020 local elections . Central Electoral Bureau . 15 June 2021 . dmy-all.
2. Web site: Constanța County at the 2011 census . February 2, 2012 . March 8, 2012 . . Romanian . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120324053940/http://www.constanta.insse.ro/phpfiles/COMUNICAT_RPL_CONSTANTA.pdf . March 24, 2012 .