The city is built near the Roman city of Caedonia, that was probably deserted at the beginning of the Dark ages, after the Roman withdraw. The city was founded in 1190 by German colonists "Transylvanian Saxons" (saşi) settled in this area. In the 14th century, it was already an important trade center and in 1376 a document mentions that the craftmen where divided in 19 guilds. It became the most important German city among the Seven Burgs of Transylvania and it was home of the Academia Saxorum -- a German Parliament of Transylvania. In the 17th century, it was the Eastermost city considered to be part of Western civilization (actually the Eastermost city that was included in the European postal routes).
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