Nobility and Written Culture in the South-Western Borderland
of the Principality of Transylvania

Abstract:

South western territory of Transylvanian Principality, nowadays Banat, was a true territory of nobility. These atypical elite, living in towns of Caransebeş and Lugoj, was closely connected to the realities of written culture. Dozens of documents indicates that at least a part of Banat nobility has access to literacy. In the first level, handwriting was usual for those noble able to produce literary or religious works (so called Banatian humanists). In a second level could be included all those capable to write an official or private correspondence or who manage to manifest in writing by small notes on the back of documents. A final level is perceptible through those nobles whose ability to write is limited to simple reproduction of their name (manu propria).

Keywords:

Principality of Transylvania, Banat, literacy, nobility, documents