Lately posts
have been talking about Transylvania and independence. I have noticed that many
readers feel strongly about Transylvania being a part of Romania. Transylvania
has not always been a part of Romania though. It once belonged to Hungary. During
the Early Medieval Era, the Roman Empire had already pulled out, leaving
Transylvania open for the taking. The Magyar tribes stepped in, seeing land and
territory for the taking. The Hungarians ended up taking control of Transylvania
in the early part of the 11th century.
The Magyars tribes had gained control of Transylvania in the
5th century and were able to keep it until the Hungarians came into
the picture. It was in 1003 that King Stephen I started to bring Transylvania
under the control of Hungary. Stephen I had the support of both the Pope and
King Henry II, the Holy Roman Emperor, who was Stephen’s
brother-in-law. It was in 1018 that Stephen I gained control of southern
Transylvania when he defeated the legendary ruler Kean.
It was in the 12th and 13th centuries
Transylvania may have been under the control of Hungary, it was still subject
to invasions. In the early 13th century King Andrew II of Hungary
had to bring in the Teutonic Knights to help in the protection of Transylvania.
It was at this point in time that the Cumans were trying to invade
Transylvania. After them came the Mongol invasions.
Transylvania came under the rule of the Bathory family
for a period of time during the late 16th century. This family is
known as an infamous Hungarian noble family. They are infamous due to the one
member of their family, Elizabeth Bathory, became known as the Blood countess. They ruled over
Transylvania until the early 17th century.
It was in the mid-19th century the Magyars
officially proclaimed Transylvania as part of Hungary, even though they had
been a part of Hungary for a period of time. The Romanians in Transylvania
weren’t too happy about this. They tried to rebel, and for a time, the Austrian
military government had control of Transylvania. It was during the late 19th
century that Hungary regained control of Transylvania.
It was in 1920 that Hungary officially ceded by Hungary in
the Treaty of Trianon following World War I. However, Transylvania had officially announced their union with Romania two years prior
to this at a convention in Alba Iulia, where the Romanians and Saxon population voted to join Romania. Hungary did regain part of
Transylvania (Northern Transylvania) during World War II. at the end of the war, they did return Transylvania to Romania.
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