Formation of Transylvania History

Formation of Transylvania

• Hungarian kings conquered Romanian territories and established an autonomous principality called Transylvania under their control between the 9th and 13th centuries.
• Hungarian kings granted conquered Romanian lands to Hungarian nobles, leading to the creation of administrative units called "comitatus" mirroring Western European structures.
• The "Cronica lui Anonimus" documented three Romanian lands in conflict with Hungary in the 9th century: Voievodate of Gelu (Dăbăca), Voievodate of Menumorut (Bihor), and Voievodate of Glad (Banat).
• The "Cronica Sf.Gerard" records Romanian voievozds Gyula (Alba Iulia) and Ahtum (Banat) in the 11th century who fought against Hungarian kings

Hungarian Kings Restructure Transylvania

• Hungarian kings promoted the migration of Saxons (Germanic people) and Secui (related to Hungarians) to Transylvania, changing the ethnic landscape and encouraging development.
• Saxons established key cities such as Brasov, Sibiu, and Bistrita, making them centers of commerce and crafts.
• Secui settled in the Carpathian Mountains and played a vital role in defending the mountain passes, organizing into administrative units called "scaune."

Transylvania's Political and Institutional System

• Transylvania was organized as a principality in 1111 with Mercurius as the first prince.
• In 1176, Transylvania reverted to its traditional organization as a voivodeship with Leustachius as the first voivode. This system lasted until 1541.
• Between 1541 and 1691/1699, Transylvania became an autonomous principality under Ottoman suzerainty.
• Hungarian kings attempted to establish Catholicism in Transylvania.
  • Teutonic Knights were brought to Transylvania in the 13th century to spread Catholicism and combat Tatar attacks.
  • King Louis I of Anjou implemented a law in 1366 requiring Catholicism for land ownership and nobility, excluding Orthodox Romanians from political life leading to some relocating east.

The Voivode

• The voivode held military, administrative, and judicial power.
• Notable Transylvanian voivodes include Ladislau Kan, Roland Bora, and Iancu of Hunedoara.

Transylvania's Institutional Governance (1611-1700)

• Following the Turkish conquest, Transylvania was transformed into a pasalic and the prince, chosen by the diet and confirmed by the sultan, held military, administrative, and judicial powers.
• The Transylvanian diet consisted of nobles with judicial and administrative responsibilities.
• Gabriel Bethlen, a significant figure in 17th-century Transylvania, played a key role in the Thirty Years' War, allying with France against the Habsburg Empire.

Later Governance of Transylvania (1699-1918)

• From 1699 to 1918, Transylvania was part of Austrian/Austro-Hungarian provinces.
• Governance was carried out by:
  • A military governor
  • A district (Guberniu)
  • An imperial court (Cancelarie aulica) located in Vienna.