Editing Freidorf (section)

== History ==
Traces of [[Eneolithic]] habitation have been discovered here since the second half of the 19th century.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315768677 |title=Timișoara–Freidorf: cercetările arheologice preventive din anul 2006 |last=Mare |first=Mircea |display-authors=etal |publisher=Mega |location=Cluj-Napoca |date=2011 |isbn=978-606-543-214-7 |oclc=987156261 |page=33}}</ref> More recent research has attributed them to the [[Tiszapolgár culture|Tiszapolgár]] and [[Baden culture|Baden]] cultures with [[Coțofeni culture|Coțofeni]] influences.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://magazines.ulbsibiu.ro/arheologie/publicatii/bibliotheca/banat%20repertoriu%20mare/repertoriubanat.pdf |title=Descoperiri arheologice din Banatul românesc: repertoriu |last=Luca |first=Sabin Adrian |publisher=Altip |location=Alba Iulia |date=2006 |isbn=978-973-7724-84-7 |pages=250–251}}</ref>

According to Hungarian historian {{ill|Dezső Csánki|hu|Csánki Dezső}}, there would have been another village here in the Middle Ages, first mentioned as ''Zabadfalua'' in 1369, when it was in the possession of a certain Nexa family from [[Délvidék]] and the Bésáns of [[Belinț]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.arcanum.com/hu/online-kiadvanyok/Csanki-csanki-dezso-magyarorszag-tortenelmi-foldrajza-a-hunyadiak-koraban-1/ii-kotet-32A7/temesvarmegye-3306/helysegei-3361/ |title=Magyarország történelmi földrajza a Hunyadiak korában |last=Csánki |first=Dezső |volume=II |location=Budapest |publisher=Magyar Tudományos Akadémia |date=1894}}</ref>
=== German colonization ===
[[File:Temeswarer District Josephinische Landaufnahme pg054.jpg|thumb|left|Freidorf in the [[Josephinian Land Survey|Josephinian map]] of [[Banat]], 1769–72]]
The current Freidorf was originally a German settlement, founded in 1723 and exempt from taxes, which gave it the name Freidorf ("free village" in German).<ref name="simu">{{cite book |url=https://dspace.bcucluj.ro/bitstream/123456789/149722/2/BCUCLUJ_FG_BAL235_1924.pdf |title=Colonizarea șvabilor în Banat |last=Simu |first=Traian |location=Timișoara |publisher=Banatul |date=1924 |page=29}}</ref> The first settlers came from [[Alsace]], from a village also called Freidorf. They built here a church (1735), a school and a windmill. Initially it was a rather small village, built on the estate of Count {{ill|Franz Paul von Wallis|de}},<ref name="simu" /> commander of the [[Timișoara Fortress]] (1716–1729) after the capitulation of the Ottomans following the [[Siege of Temeşvar (1716)|siege of 1716]], with about 500 inhabitants and little arable land. In 1730, Wallis was transferred to Transylvania, on which occasion the tax office bought back the count's estates and Freidorf was obliged to pay taxes.<ref name="simu" />
[[File:Casa Freidorf.JPG|thumb|150px|House in Freidorf built in 1929]]
Although the place was not attractive, being surrounded by swamps, and the living conditions were precarious, the authorities' plans for Freidorf were increasingly ambitious. Colonization continued in 1732, when silk craftsmen from Italy were brought here. A significant enlargement also took place in 1764, under the Temesvár district chief Knoll.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.arcanum.com/hu/online-kiadvanyok/Borovszky-borovszky-samu-magyarorszag-varmegyei-es-varosai-1/temes-varmegye-19AF7/temes-varmegye-kozsegei-irta-reiszig-ede-dr-a-kozponti-szerkesztobizottsag-tagja-kiegeszitette-vende-aladar-szerkeszto-19BE1/szabadfalu-19D43/ |chapter=Temes vármegye községei |last=Reiszig |first=Ede |title=Magyarország vármegyéi és városai |editor-last=Borovszky |editor-first=Samu |publisher=Országos Monografia Társaság |location=Budapest |date=}}</ref>

=== 1848 revolution ===
Freidorf also played an important role during the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1848|Hungarian Revolution (1848–1849)]]. The city of Timișoara was besieged by Hungarian troops, but its military leadership remained loyal to the Austrian emperor. The leader of the Hungarian army, [[Józef Bem]], set up camp in Freidorf. He settled in the parish house, while his aides stayed in other houses in the village. Among them was Hungarian national poet, [[Sándor Petőfi]], who was promoted to major in the military camp between Timișoara and Freidorf. In 1889, a monument dedicated to Sándor Petőfi was unveiled. The park that exists today bears his name, and every year, on 15 March, hundreds of Hungarians gather to lay wreaths at the monument.
=== Demographic evolution ===
By 1741, 37 families lived in Freidorf.<ref name="simu" /> In 1836, the population was decimated by a [[cholera]] epidemic, and starting with 1850, Hungarian and Romanian families began to move into the village. They mainly focused on growing vegetables, raising animals and producing bricks, all production being destined for the expanding nearby city.
=== 20th century ===
The village was officially annexed to Timișoara in 1950.<ref>{{cite book |title=Timișoara: povestea orașelor sale |last=Buruleanu |first=Dan Nicolae |location=Timișoara |publisher=Mirton |date=2004 |isbn=9736612740}}</ref> During the communist period, a large industrial platform was built in the area, towards Utvin, which included the Sugar Factory, the Oil Factory and Comtim, and around it several blocks for workers. Also here is the wastewater treatment plant, which was built according to the plans of architect {{ill|Stan Vidrighin|ro}} and is still in operation today, since 1912.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://merg.in/timisoara/de-povestit/reportaje/o-plimbare-cu-bicicleta-prin-freidorf-5274.html |title=O plimbare cu bicicleta prin Freidorf |work=Merg.În |last=Tănăsescu |first=Claudia |date=5 February 2016}}</ref>