Mănăstirea Bistrița (Neamț) și Alexandru cel Bun. Revizii de interpretare

A recent archaeological and historical revision of Mănăstirea Bistrița (Neamț), Moldavia, challenges long-standing assumptions about its origins and the legacy of Alexandru cel Bun. The study confirms that the monastery was founded around 1407 on previously unoccupied land, marking a significant phase in the early state organization and church life of the Principality of Moldavia. Notably, it reveals that the first church, attributed to Alexandru cel Bun, underwent radical rebuilding during the reign of Ștefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great), with preserved masonry suggesting a layered construction history. The research also identifies a 'princely house' associated with Alexandru cel Bun, previously misinterpreted as a cellar, and questions the attribution of a tomb containing Renaissance-influenced garments to the ruler. Additionally, the study highlights the use of Byzantine marble spolia in the monastery's pavements, tracing their long history in Moldavian architecture from the 15th–16th centuries, which challenges prior chronological narratives.

RUSU, A. A. (2024). Mănăstirea Bistrița (Neamț) și Alexandru cel Bun. Revizii de interpretare. Studii Și Materiale de Istorie Medie, 41(1), 187–228. https://doi.org/10.62616/smim.2023.08