Transylvania

Transylvania (German: Siebenbürgen) is a Central European region located in the eastern half of the Carpathian Basin, today in central Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historic Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, since 1919, Transylvania also encompasses, in the north-west, parts of the historical regions of Crişana, Maramureş and Partium, and in the west, eastern Banat.

Transylvania is an ancient land. After 106 AD the Roman Empire conquered Dacia and its wealth (gold and salt) was systematically exploited. After the Romans' withdrew in 271 AD, it was subject to various temporary influences and migration waves: Visigoths, Carpians, Huns, and Gepids (Slavs). Before the 10th century Magyar tribes slowly subdued Transylvania, which became part of the Kingdom of Hungary (11th–16th century). As a political entity, Transylvania is mentioned from the 11th century (after the Hungarian conquest) as a province of the Kingdom of Hungary. After the battle of Mohács it became an autonomous principality under the Ottoman Empire, before returning to Hungary, ruled by the Habsburgs in 1711, and subsequently part of Austria-Hungary in 1867.

Following the defeat of Austria-Hungary in The Great War Hungary was brutally dismembered by the victorious plutocratic western liberal Allies who awarded Transylvania to the Kingdom of Romania in the Treaty of Trianon despite Romania changing sides during the war, as well as their complete defeat.

Outside Romania, it is strongly associated with Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, while within Romania and Hungary the region is known for the scenic beauty of its Carpathian landscape and its rich history.

See also

• Transylvanian Saxons