Abrud (RO)
Abrud (Latin: Abruttus; Hungarian: Abrudbánya; German: Großschlatten) is a town in the north-western part of Alba County, Transylvania, Romania, located on the river Abrud.
It administers three villages: Abrud-Sat (Abrudfalva), Gura Cornei (Szarvaspataktorka) and Soharu (Szuhár).
Although first recorded only in 1271 in the form terra Obruth, the name of the town might have derived from a supposed (not attested) Dacian word for gold, *obrud. The Romans erected a small fortification here in the 2nd century AD. It was part of the defence system of the gold mines nearby, in "Alburnus Maior" (nowadays, Roşia Montană), but it was abandoned in the 3rd century. The town's modern name reflects a characteristic vowel shift (from o to a) of the medieval Hungarian language.
Abrud gained town status in 1427, during the Middle Ages. In 1727, the leaders of a revolt gained control of the town. Another serfs' revolt began in the area in 1784 with Horea, Cloşca and Crişan as leaders fighting the Austrian Imperial forces, Abrud being captured by the uprising's members on 6 November, before the revolt was crushed by the Austrian army.
Romanian Postmarks
Austro-Hungarian Postmarks
The post office opened on 15 February 1851.
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