Pages: 177-212

At the beginning of 2013 in the Kherson Regional Museum, the author found a collection of epigraphic plates of the 15th c. from the Belgorod on the Dniester, which was considered lost for more than 100 years. Three plates contain inscriptions in Old Slavonic, one — in Greek. Three of them are surely relate to the walls of the fortress and can be used to refine the chronology of the defense complex.
The text on the first plate of 1440 indicates an autonomous position of Belgorod in Moldavian state during the reign of Stefan II. The appearance of this plate is associated with the construction of the southern line-walls of the Military court in anticipation of an expected Tatar raid.
The second plate — 1454 — was removed from the walls of one of the towers of the Military court. The text tells about the fortification works undertaken by pan Stanchul, awaiting of the attack the Turkish fleet of Temir-Kai.
The third plate, presented by N. E. Afanasyev, has no relation to the fortress. Probably, it belonged to the Moldavian church of 15th century in Belgorod (“Greek” church) and was established in 1480 to celebrate the end of the construction of the monastery (or a church).
The fourth plate from Main (Kiliya) gate dates to 1484, and was established during the renovation of the tower in anticipation of the Turkish siege of Belgorod by Sultan Bayazid II. This plate is an unique example in the document of 15th c. of the Moldavian Principality, bacause it is dated by AD.
The author proposes a new reading of the texts, which differs from the one previously suggested by other researchers, and clarifies some dates of the plates.

Keywords: fortress of Belgorod on the Dniester, 15th c., epigraphic, Fedorko, Stephen the Great, Stanchul

Information about author:

Andrew Krasnozhon (Odessa, Ukraine). Candidate of Historical Sciences. K. D. Ushinsky South Ukraine National Pedagogical University. Staroportofrankovskaya St., 26, Odessa, 65000, Ukraine
E-mail: [email protected]