JASSY (Rum. Iasi), the capital of the department of Jassy, Rumania ; situated on the left bank of the river Bahlui, an affluent of the Jijia, about io M. W. of the Pruth. Pop. (193o) 102,595 including a great number of Jews. Jassy communicates by rail with Galatz, Kishinev and Czernowitz. The surrounding country is one of uplands and woods, among which rise the monasteries of Cetatuia, Frumoasa, and Galata with its mineral springs, the water-cure establishment of Rapide and the great seminary of Socola. Jassy is the seat of the metropolitan of Moldavia and Suceava, and of a Roman Catholic archbishop. The two oldest churches date from the reign of Stephen the Great (1458-1504) perhaps the finest, however, are the 17th century metropolitan, St. Spiridion and Trei Erarchi, the last a curious example of Byzan tine art, erected in 1640 by Vasile Lupu (The Wolf), and adorned with countless gilded carvings on its outer walls and twin towers. The St. Spiridion Foundation (due to the liberality of Prince Gregory Ghika in 1727 and available for the sick of all countries and creeds) maintains hospitals and churches in several towns of Moldavia, besides the baths at Slanic in Walachia. There are six hospitals, the chief Rumanian university, a military academy and schools of art, music and commerce; three museums, a fine hall and a theatre ; the state library, where the chief records of Ru manian history are preserved ; an appeal court, a chamber of com merce and several banks. The city is the headquarters of the IV.
Army Corps. It has an active trade in petroleum, salt, metals, tim ber, cereals, fruit, wine, spirits, preserved meat, textiles, clothing, leather, cardboard and cigarette paper, and a considerable industry. Jassy is mentioned as early as the 14th century, and probably de rives its name from the Cuman "Jazyges" or bowmen. It was often visited by the Moldavian court. In 1565, Prince Alexander Lapusneanu moved the capital of Moldavia from Suceava to Jassy. It was already famous as a centre of culture. Between 1561 and 1563 an excellent school and a Lutheran church were founded by the Greek adventurer, Jacob Basilicus (see RUMANIA: History). In 1643 the first printed book published in Moldavia was issued from a press established by Vasile Lupu. He also founded a school, the first in which the mother-tongue took the place of Greek. Jassy was burned by the Tatars in 1513, by the Turks in 1538 and by the Russians in 1686. By the Peace of Jassy the second Russo-Turkish War was brought to a close in 1792. A Greek insurrection under Ypsilanti in 1821 led to the storming of the city by the Turks in 1822. In 1844 there was a severe confla gration. In 1861 the government of Rumania was removed to Bucharest ; but during the World War was again temporarily transferred to Jassy.