Alba Iulia

Alba Iulia is a city located on the Mureş River in Alba County, Transylvania, Romania, with a population of 58,681 as of 2011^[update]. Since the High Middle Ages, the city has been the seat of Transylvania's Roman Catholic diocese.

During the Roman period the settlement was called Apulum (from the Dacian Apoulon, mentioned by Ptolemy). The early Slavic name of the settlement was Bălgrad (meaning "white castle" or "white town"). Its modern name Alba Iulia is an adoption of the town's medieval Latin name. It started to spread in Romanian vulgar tongue only in the 18th century.

In November 29, 1599, Michael the Brave, Voivode of Wallachia, entered Alba Iulia following his victory in the Battle of Şelimbăr and became Voivode of Transylvania. In 1600 he gained control of Moldavia, uniting the principalities of Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania under his rule, which lasted for a year and a half until he was murdered in 1601. The fortress Alba Carolina, designed by architect Giovanni Morando Visconti, was built between 1714 and 1738, at the behest of Emperor Charles VI of Habsburg.

1.     During the Roman period was called:

a)   Apulum

b)   Bălgrad

c)    Alba Iulia

2.     In 1599…became Voivode of Transylvania

a)   Stephen the Great       

b)   Michael the Brave

c)    Mircea the Old

3.     The fortress Alba Carolina, designed by architect Giovanni Morando Visconti, was built between:

a)   1710 and 1728

b)   1716 and 1740

c)    1714 and 1738

By Prof. Bianca Mitrea