Transylvania is a region of Romania that was once its own country. It is also the supposed home of Count Dracula before he migrates to London to feed off of it's inhabitants' blood.
History[]
Transylvania's early history begins with the Dacians, who established the Kingdom of Dacia between 82 BC and 106 AD. This kingdom was a powerful entity in the region until it was conquered by the Roman Empire in 106 AD. The Romans exploited the area's rich resources, particularly gold, and introduced their administrative, military, and cultural influence. However, in 271 AD, the Roman legions withdrew, leaving the territory vulnerable to successive invasions.
Following the Roman departure, Transylvania became a battleground for various migratory tribes, including the Carpi, Visigoths, Huns, Gepids, Avars, and Slavs. During the 9th to 11th centuries, the region came under the control of the Bulgarians, further influencing its cultural landscape. One of the most debated topics among historians is whether the Daco-Roman population survived these turbulent times or whether Romanians arrived later, migrating from the Balkan Peninsula in the 13th century.
Hungarian Conquest and the Kingdom of Hungary[]
By the late 9th century, the Magyars (Hungarians) were expanding into Central Europe. According to the historical account Gesta Hungarorum, before their arrival, Transylvania was ruled by a Vlach voivode named Gelou. The Hungarian Kingdom, under Stephen I, is said to have gained control over Transylvania in 1003 after defeating a local ruler named Gyula. Historians continue to debate whether the Hungarians settled the region gradually or encountered an already established population.
Between 1003 and 1526, Transylvania was a voivodeship within the Kingdom of Hungary, governed by a voivode appointed by the Hungarian king. After the Battle of Mohács in 1526, which marked the collapse of Hungarian royal authority, Transylvania became part of the Kingdom of János Szapolyai. In 1570, it transformed into the Principality of Transylvania, ruled by Hungarian Calvinist princes. During this period, the ethnic composition of the region began shifting, with Romanians becoming a majority.
Habsburg Rule and Austro-Hungarian Influence[]
The Habsburgs expanded their control over Transylvania following the Battle of Vienna in 1683. By 1687, the rulers of Transylvania recognized the suzerainty of Emperor Leopold I, and the region was incorporated into the Habsburg Empire. Although officially part of the Crown of Saint Stephen, Transylvania was administered separately from Hungary. The Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699 legally confirmed the loss of Transylvania to the Ottoman Empire, though resistance persisted until the Peace of Szatmár in 1711, securing full Habsburg control. In 1765, Transylvania was officially declared a Grand Principality.
Following the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 (Ausgleich), Transylvania was fully integrated into the Hungarian-controlled half of the newly formed Austro-Hungarian Empire, a move that was opposed by the Romanian population. The Blaj Pronouncement was issued as a protest against the Hungarian dominance.
Union with Romania and Modern History[]
With the defeat of Austria-Hungary in World War I, the empire disintegrated. On December 1, 1918, representatives of Transylvania’s ethnic Romanian majority voted for union with Romania in the Proclamation of Union of Alba Iulia. This was later endorsed by Transylvania’s Saxon community and confirmed by the Treaty of Trianon in 1920. The treaty established new borders, placing all of Transylvania within Romania. However, Hungary strongly opposed this, as over 1.6 million ethnic Hungarians—representing 31.6% of Transylvania’s population—now found themselves within Romanian territory.
During World War II, the Second Vienna Award of 1940, arbitrated by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, granted Northern Transylvania to Hungary. However, this decision was nullified in 1944 by the Allied Commission, and the 1947 Treaty of Paris reaffirmed Romania’s sovereignty over the entire region. From 1947 to 1989, Transylvania, like the rest of Romania, was under communist rule.