Caraşova is a commune in Romania, known especially for its geographical placement and for the origin of its inhabitants, the Krasovani.
Caraşova is located in the Caraş-Severin county, at a distance of 15 kilometers of Reşiţa. It is found in a mountainous area, near the entering to the Semenic - Cheile Carasului National Park .
History
The first time attested in 1333 under the name of Karasow. Other similar names were later used, depending on which administration used them. (Nog Carassou and Kyskarassou - 1358, lead by the knyaz Bozorad, Krassowcz - 1535, Crassowcz - 1550, Crasso - 1597, Karasevo - 1690-1700, Karasova - 1717, etc).
Due to the citadel built nearby, Caraşova was in the past an important administrative, political and religious centre. In 1333, Caraşova was the headquarters of a Catholic diocese which appears to have existed since 1285, but this diocese ceased to exist after the events of 1537, the diocese being restored only in 1860, to be disbanded again in 1913.
In various documents of early 18th century, such as the census of 1690-1700 and the conscription of 1717, Caraşova was mentioned as having 400 houses, being one of the largest settlements in the area between the Tisa, Mureş and the Danube, being surpassed only by Timişoara and Caransebeş.
In the mid-18th century, according to the administrative organization prior to the Military Border of 1768, Caraşova was part of the Varşeţ county and it was the capital of the circle? with the same name which included 32 towns, including Reşiţa, Dognecea , Bocşa, and here were located an administrative office, a church and Roman Catholic church.
Population
Most of the people of Caraşova are Krasovani, which are named by the Banat Romanians cārşoveni, caraşoveni, cotcoreţi and cocoşi while the Banat Serbians call them Krašovani, Karašovani or Krašovanje.
Until 1989, most of the people called themselves caraşoveni and their language caraşoveană and considered themselves a people distinct to the other Slavic people around the area, such as Serbian, Croatian or Bulgarian.
After 1989, due to some political, economic, social and cultural factors, some of them started identifying themselves with the Croatians, a small part with the Serbians, but most of them still continue to call them "Krasovani".
More and more of the Krasovani chose the Croatian ethnicity, especially due to the attention given to them by the Croatian state, which also gives them the Croatian citizenship, while Serbia so far ignored them completely.
