REMEMBRANCE IN TIME - Index of

ZSUZSANNA LORÁNTFFY,
COMENIUS AND FAGARAS SCHOOL
Florentin OLTEANU 1 , Elena HELEREA 2 ,
Viviana MOLDOVAN 3
Abstract: During the 16 th and the 17 th centuries, in the Hungarian-Walachian region, the
educational system developed following the model of the Western schools. One of the most
important person in those times, Zsuzsana Lorantffy, had a great contribution to raising the
social-cultural Region of Fagaras. The paper presents a brief biography of the princess who ruled
the land of Fagaras, the importance of the encounter with the great Comenius, which had an
impact in the school organisation from Sárospatok. In Fagaras the princess organizes the
Romanian school, following the principles of the pedagogue Comenius. The certificate dated 3rd
of April 1657 which stated the foundation of the Romanian school in Făgăraş emphasizes the
modern vision of the princess that exceeded the limits of mentality and time, and anticipated the
future requirements.
Zsuzsanna Lorántffy – the wise princess
Zsuzsanna Lorántffy (1600-1660) was the wife of Prince George Rakoczy I
(1630-1648). Her unique personality, the feminine ideal model worth following even
today, astonishes with the grandeur radiating from the complexity of its many forms.
She was admired for her virtues, having rich knowledge in religion, trained for superior
theological controversies, her skills in managing the household. A strong woman, a
loving wife and mother, she has endured with courage and dignity the losses in her family
- three children and her husband.
But what is absolutely impressive is her taking action in the community, her relentless in
supporting culture, a generous person, a founder of the school, and her status as the first
author of Hungarian language. She remained with the image of a princess wise,
intelligent, with a perfect household spirit, economic and diplomatic
She was born in 1600, in a reformed family of noble landowners in the Zemplen
County. Her father was Lorantffy Mihaly and her mother Kamáras Zelenczei
Borbála. Her childhood was marked by the loss of her mother and then her father.
1 Negru Vodă Cultural Foundation, Făgăraş, Romania.
2 Transilvania University of Braşov, Romania.
3 Theoretical High School, Codlea, Romania.