Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-02-26
IN THE DAYS NEWS
BANAT

'Banat, in southeast Hungary,
wherey Rumanian and Serbian claims
conflict, is rich in agriculture, miner
ais and history" states a bulletin is
sued from Washington headquarters
of the National Geographic Society.
Political football of continental
power for centuries, battle-ground for
armies that turned the course of Bu-
ropean history, experiment station for
early reclamation projects and scene
of pioneer back to the farm move
ment, Banat never has cut a large
political figure on its own account.
1.-The district derives its name from
a form of government it never had.
A territory governed by a BAN Who
corresponds to the German '1narkgraf,'
or the early Polish pan meaning
master or lord, was known as a ba-
nat under former Hungarian desig-
nation. Banats of Dalnatia, Bosnia
and Croatia disappeared during the
Turkish wars but curiously the names
chung to the counties of Torentai,
Teme's and Ktasso- Szoteny, though
! this group never was ruled by ban
Long referred to as The Banat',
the region today commonly is called
Banat.' Sometimes it is described
more exactly as 'Banat of Temesvar',
| thus identifying 1t by it's principal
I
| Buda pest.
| Temevari picturesque and buhy be-
fore the world war, bears both scars
and monuments Of its eventful history.
| Its springs were known to the Romans
The Tartars destroyed it. It's diet
was the foundation for the Hungarian
representative system.
! Near Temesvaf were defeated the
peasant forces headed by Stephan
| Dossza, in their encounter with John
Szapolyai. Of Pennsylvania four CEN
| turtles ago. Dosza was captured, a
throne of fire was built in mock honor
of the king of peasants, and as he
was placed amid the flames red hot
crown was set upon his head. Thus
Dosza's name became Hungarian
by-word for heroisrn, and, according
to popular belief, Szapolyai was smlt-
ten with blindness for his cruelty.
Today the crumbling walls of the
inner city of Temesvar, from which
radiate avenues, like wheel spokes, to
four suburbs, bear testimony Of the
strong fortifcations built by King
Charles Robert, of Anjou, one of the
most powerful n1onarchs of his day.
Rich agricultural lands about the
city, and throughout Banat, recall the
drainage of marshes, swamps and
thick forests, Instituted by Maria
Theresa the Good Queen Bess' Of
Austrian history, who, Incidentally, al
most accomplished the overthrow of
Frederick the Great. She failed,
partly because Russia abandoned the
Allies of the Seven Years War.
IAN arsenal stands where Hunyadl
Janos built a castle fifty. years be-
fore Columbus set sail for America
That famous Hungarian general is
credited with being one of the first
military leaders to substitute strategy
and organization for personal courage
So successful was hts theory that he
all but drove the Turks out Of Europe
Conspicuous in Temesvar's prin-
cipal square is Gothic schsft, order
ed there by Emperor Francis Joseph
in recognition of the city's defenders
during the, Holiday Siege against
Hungarian fevoluti6nists Of is4s.
"Banat covers an area a little
! smaller. and has a population slight
y greater, than the State Of Maryland
/ Temesvar today has L population