Analysis of medieval walloon toponyms in Romania and Serbia

This paper examines toponyms of Walloon origin in the area of today's Romania and Serbia, especially in the regions of the former Kingdom of Hungary. Walloons emigrated to Hungary mainly because of economic reasons, but here the important role played the popular devotion in the 11th century and the importance of pilgrim sites (Jerusalem or Santiago de Compostela). Number of pilgrimage has increased since 1018, when the route leading through Hungary to Jerusalem was openend. Large number of Walloons setteld in Hungary at this time. Present-day Wallonia in the Middle Ages belonged to the Holy Roman Empire. In the 11th century, as elsewhere in Western Europe, there was a famine and lack of land. Walloons have found their new home in Hungary, they were engaged in viticulture and trade. They also often named the new locations by the home sites of Wallonia. In Romania, the Walloon sites were situated near Oradea and Sibiu. Walloons have created a specific phenomenon - the fortified churches. Many Walloons also received a noble title. In the area of Serbia we are located Walloon settlements in Srem, especially speaking about the cities of Francavilla and Eng. Based on the tithes paid for the Papal Curia from 1332-1337 we can reconstruct demographic data.