Mercydorf (Mercyfalva, named after the Lorraine general Mercy, who commanded the forces in the Banat) a small village founded 1735 only by Italians (the only Italian settlement in the Banat) received substantial reinforcement, repeated same in a second massive effort between 1763 and 1766. In 1756 Mercydorf consisted of a single street and provided shelter for 21 families from Lorraine. Because of further arrivals during the 1769-71 period, other streets had to be built and
Mercydorf became substantially “French.” Upper Lorraine, which originally had a German population, was “Frenchicised” early on. Occupied by the French in the
Polish Succession War, the duchy was taken from the husband of Maria Theresia by the Vienna Peace Treaty of 1738 (he received Tuscany in its
place) and given as sinecure to the Polish ex-king Stanislaus Leszczinsky, a protegee of France. In accordance with the Treaty, Upper Lorraine
reverted to France after Stanislaus’ death in 1766. The extensive feudal estates of Falkenberg (Faulque Mont), Forbach, Püttlingen (Puttelanges) and Mörchingen (Morhange) were added. Some districts of Luxemburg were also given to France (e.g., the free holding Rollingen in 1769).
Read more: The Colonization of the Banat Following its Turkish Occupation – With particular emphasis on emigration from Lorraine and Luxemburg (Southern Belgian
province of Luxemburg)
Did you know, of all the Banat villages, the church which lies furthest from the center of the village, i.e. at the edge of the village, is found in Mercydorf. Excerpt
from “Donauschwäbischer Volkskalender” of 1924 By Prof. Nischbach: Our Danube Swabian Banat Villages Have Their Own Character Did you know, the 6th
richest person in Romania lives in Carani? Nikolaus Mann, a mill owner with 10 million dollars. (Allgemeine Deutsche Zeitung für Rumänien 2003
Last updated: 09/03/2025