The Diploma of the Royal Free City of Timișoara / The History of Romania in One Object

Our exploration of Romania’s history through vestiges and objects of outstanding symbolism and beauty brings forth an artifact that symbolizes a major turning point in the history of the Banat region and its capital, Timișoara: The Royal Free City Diploma, granted in 1781 by the Habsburg emperor Joseph II – a source of both political identity and economic development.

Text and video presentation by historian and curator Ciprian Glăvan. Film concept by Ana Tudor and Adrian Tudor. A series developed in partnership with The National Museum of Banat in Timișoara and Timiș County Council.

Watch and read on our FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE and WEBSITE from Monday, March 22, 2 p.m. EST (or anytime later).

Ciprian Glăvan is a historian and curator at the National Museum of Banat in Timișoara. His research focuses on the modern history of the Banat region. After graduating, in 2000, from the West University of Timișoara, the Faculty of History and German Language and Literature, he took his MA in History at the same university in 2002. In 2015 he received his Ph.D. from the “George Barițiu” History Institute of the Romanian Academy in Cluj-Napoca. Throughout his career as a museum curator, Dr. Glăvan has taken part in various national and international projects and exhibitions and has published several studies regarding the modern history of Banat.