1812
Centre of Bessarabia
Following the Russo-Turkish War of 1812,
when the area between Prut and Nistru was
attached to the Russian Empire, the centre
of Bessarabia was decided to be Chisinau.
As the city grew and became a market town,
a cultural, ecclesiastical and educational
centre began to emerge. The first school
organised and supported by the state and
the Metropolitanate of Moldova was
established in Chisinau in the 18th century.
The schools functioned alongside the city's
churches. [..]
1812 - Centre of Bessarabia
During a period of 40 years, several events took place, which led to the dismemberment of the Principality of Moldova and the annexation of the territory between Prut and Nistru to the Russian Empire. The first stage in the annexation of the territory was the organisation and carrying out of several tax censuses of the local population. Between 1772 and 1774, the first two general population censuses were carried out, with the first records of Chisinau, Ghețîoani, Durlești and Buiucani. The census materials are preserved in the Central State Archive of Old Records, "Moldovan and Montenegrin Files" collection. The official records were drawn up at the request of the commander of the Russian army, Marshal PA. Rumyantsev, who wanted to identify the material and human resources on which the Russian Empire could rely in the fight against the Ottoman Empire. Initially, during the Russo-Turkish war of 1768-1774. Chisinau became the residence of the Tsarist military administration, a regime maintained in the first years after annexation. Admiral P.V.Ciceagov, the military commander of the new province, resided here, as did the first governors of Bessarabia - Scarlat Sturdza. Harting. Bahmetiev and Inzov, all of whom were generals of the Russian army. This fact explains the decision to choose Chisinau as the main seat of the future governorate, instead of Tighina, which claimed the status of capital. From a military point of view, the city of Chisinau had a more successful strategic position. In 1813, in a report by Protopriest Petre Kunițki, the first rector of the Theological Seminary, the advantages of the new capital were highlighted: "The city of Chisinau is the most suitable for the residence of the regional or governmental office and for the reason that it is located in the middle of the region and that it has on the one hand the wood and stone for buildings, and on the other hand - wide steppe and spring water, as well as clean air. for which reason this city is more populated than the other cities in the region. In Chisinau, as well as in the towns of Balti and Falesti, large yards used to be organised, where fatteners buy large herds of oxen and horses and a lot of hides and wool, and export them with great profit to Austrian and German lands..."