120,000-- 100,000 B.C.
Neanderthal man appears on the territory of the future Transylvania [1]
8,000-- 5,000 B.C.
Archaeological evidence from Péterfalva (Petresti), Erősd
(Ariusd), and
elsewhere indicates that the Stone-Age stage of development has been
reached in Transylvania.
1,700 B.C.
People of the Wietenberg culture with rudimentary political organization
inhabit this territory.
500 B.C.
Herodotus mentions that Transylvania is inhabited by Agathyrs, Scythians,
and Celts.
60 B.C.
Burebista's Getic-Dacian domain includes the future Transylvania.
106 A.D.
Roman emperor Trajan destroys the Dacian domain of Decebalus, and its
territory becomes a Roman province for the next 165 years. (all subsequent
dates will be A.D.)
271
Emperor Aurelian evacuates the Romans from Dacia, and the Goths gain
possession of its territory.
376
The Huns push the Goths out and establish their own dominance.
453
Attila, ruler of the Huns, dies and his empire disintegrates. For a brief
period the territory of Transylvania is controlled by the Gepids.
567
Khan Bajan of the Avars pushes the Gepids out of this area. Besides the
Avars, traces of Slavic settlements appear after this date.
797
Near Tulln the Franks defeat the Avars. According to the Kézai Chronicle
it is at this time that the Székely remnants flee east and settle
in
Transylvania.
812
Bulgarian influence replaces Avar rule as Khan Krum pushes the frontiers
of his domain all the way north to the Tisza (Tisa, Theiss) River.
896
As the seven Magyar tribes sweep into the Carpathian Basin, the tribe of
the gyula (military warlord) and the tribe of the kende (titular ruler)
occupy
the area that will become Transylvania. The gyepü (military frontier)
defense system is established and henceforth Transylvania becomes the
organizational center of defense activities against threats from the East.
Military pressure from the Petchenegs is its first challenge.
895-1091
The Petchenegs control most of the area immediately east and south of
Transylvania. These territories will in the future become Moldavia,
Wallachia, and Dobruja (Dobrogea).
997-1038
The reign of István I (Saint Stephen) transforms the Hungarian kingdom
into a centralized state and imposes Western Christianity on the inhabitants.
1002-08
Saint Stephen establishes the bishopric of Gyulafehérvár
(Alba Iulia,
Karlsburg), consolidates his hold over Transylvania, and defeats the
decentralizing efforts of the Transylvanian leaders Gyula and of Ajtony.
1091
Cumans (Kumans) in alliance with Byzantium defeat the Petchenegs and
acquire dominant control over the lowlands east and north of the Danube
and south and east of the Carpathians. Cuman control over this area lasts
until the great Mongol (Tatar) invasion of 1241. Cuman incursions into
Transylvania occur sporadically after 1068 but are unable to wrest the
area
from Hungarian control because László I decisively defeats
the Cumans
near Orsova (Orsova) in 1091.
1111
Hungarian documents mention for the first time the title vajda (voivode)
of
Transylvania, specifically "Mercurius princeps."
1143
Géza II (1141--62) invites Saxon (German) settlers to populate those
areas
of Transylvania that are important to the defense of the kingdom and are
not yet peopled by the Székelys and Magyars.
1202
The Monastery of Kerc (Cirta) is founded in Szeben (Sibiu) County.
1209
In the Fogaras (Fagaras) area of southeastern Transylvania, the existence
of Vlach (Rumanian) settlements is mentioned in royal documents for the
first time.
1211
To counter Cuman incursions, Andrew II (1205--35) settles Teutonic
Knights in the Barcaság (Bîrsa) area of southeastern Transylvania.
1224
The Székely population migrates from southeastern Transylvania to
the
eastern corner of Transylvania. Their former area of settlement in
southeastern Transylvania is now settled by Saxons (Germans) who are
guaranteed certain privileges, autonomy, and exemptions by the Andreanum
of 1224.
1225
Andrew II of Hungary expels the Teutonic Knights from Transylvania after
they attempt to set up a state within a state. However, the other German
settlements continue to receive royal support and extensive rights to
autonomy.
1227
Mention is made of the establishment by Prince Béla of the first
Cuman
bishopric with its center at Civitas Milcovie (Odobesti today) east of
the
Carpathians in Moldavia.
1234
Papal bull mentions that in the southern part of Moldavia and the eastern
part of Wallachia there is a significant Vlach (Rumanian) Orthodox
population.
1241--42
The Mongol (Tatar) invasion sweeps through Transylvania, devastates the
land, and depopulates the countryside. The invasion also destroys and
scatters the Cuman settlements south and east of the Carpathians.
1247--91
Saint Michael's Cathedral is constructed at Gyulafehérvár;
it is one of the
most important Romanesque-style structures in Transylvania.
1266
Székelys repopulate the Aranyos (Aries, Aranyosch) area and Saxons
repopulate the area of Medgyes (Medias, Mediasch) to compensate for
Tatar devastations.
1279
Cumans are permanently settled along the Körös (Cris,), Temes
(Timis,
Temesch), and Maros (Mures, Mieresch) rivers as well as the Hungarian
plains between the Tisza (Tisa, Theiss) and the Danube rivers.
1284--85
A Tatar (Mongol) incursion sweeps through Transylvania.
1288
First mention is made of a general conclave of the nobility (congregatio
generalis) in Transylvania.
1291
Andrew III holds a meeting at Gyulafehérvár, (Alba Iulia,
Karlsburg)
where for the first time Vlachs (Rumanians) are also present besides the
Hungarian nobility and the representatives of the Székelys and the
Saxons.
1301
Andrew III, last king in the line of Árpád, dies.
1344
The general conclave (congregatio generalis) of the Székelys in
eastern
Transylvania is first mentioned in royal documents.
1348--49
The plague devastates Transylvania and other parts of the Hungarian
kingdom.
1352
The Crimean Tatars make an incursion into Transylvania but Vajda
(Voivode) Endre Lackfi defeats them.
1354--1444
Saint Michael's Church is constructed at Kolozsvár (Klausenburg,
Cluj). It
is one of the most important Gothic-style structures in Transylvania.
1366
Louis I begins a campaign to convert the Vlach (Rumanian) population to
Roman Catholicism.
1420
First major Ottoman Turkish incursion into Transylvania.
1437
Antal Budai Nagy leads a major peasant revolt at Bábolna (Bobîlna).
In
response to this social strife the Hungarian nobility, the Saxons, and
the
Székelys establish the Union of Three Nations (Unio Trium Nationum).
1441
János Hunyadi becomes vajda (voivode) of Transylvania and in this
same
year he defeats the Ottoman Turks near Marosszentimre (Sîntimbru),
Gyulafehérvár (Alba Iulia), and Nagyszeben (Hermannstadt,
Sibiu).
1446
János Hunyadi becomes regent of Hungary.
1456
János Hunyadi stops the Ottoman Turks led by Mohammed II at
Nándorfehérvár (Belgrade).
1467
Matthias Corvinus (Hunyadi) crushes the revolt of the Transylvanian
nobility.
1479
The Battle of Kenyérmező (Cîmpul Pîinii) takes
place where the armies of
István Báthory and Pál Kinizsi defeat Ottoman forces.
1482
The Saxons establish their own self-governing institution, the Saxon
Universitas.
1490
Matthias Corvinus dies.
1493--95
Ottoman incursions devastate some areas of Transylvania.
1499
Wladislaw II issues a letter of exemptions in which he reaffirms the
freedoms and privileges of the Székelys in eastern Transylvania.
1505
Székely conclaves in Agyagfalva (Lutita) and Székelyudvarhely
(Odorheiu)
establish the rules of appeal within the Székely judicial system.
1510
János Zápolya becomes vajda (voivode) of Transylvania.
1514
The peasant rebellion led by György Dózsa sweeps through central
Hungary and has reverberations throughout Transylvania. János Zápolya,
voivode of Transylvania, decisively defeats the peasant army near
Temesvár (Timisoara) and has Dózsa executed.
1523
The first significant Orthodox bishopric in Transylvania is established
at
Rév (Vadul Crisului).
1526
Suleiman II (the Magnificent) defeats the Hungarians in the Battle of
Mohács. Louis II, king of Hungary, and many of the nobility and
higher
clergy lose their lives in the battle. Consequently, the Hungarian kingdom
is
opened to Ottoman conquest and depredation. The defeat also sets the
stage for years of internal strife as the struggle for the succession pits
János Zápolya, voivode of Transylvania, against Ferdinand
II of the House
of Habsburg.
1538
The Treaty of Várad ([Nagyvárad], Oradea, Grosswardein) temporarily
terminates hostilities, leaving western Hungary under Ferdinand, while
Zápolya controls eastern Hungary and Transylvania.
1540
János Zápolya dies.
1541
Buda falls to the Ottoman Turks. The Hungarian kingdom is divided into
three parts, with the Habsburgs controlling the west, the Turks controlling
the central plain, and Transylvania becoming semiautonomous under
Hungarian princes beginning with János Zsigmond (1541--51, 1556--71)
son
of János Zápolya. Henceforth the rulers of Transylvania attempt
to
maintain their independence by accepting Ottoman supremacy. They
transform Transylvania into the main center of Hungarian culture and
national development until at least 1690.
1544
The national convention at Torda (Turda, Thorenburg [Thorda]) announces
the union of Transylvania with the Partium (the Hungarian plains east of
the
Tisza and to the west of Transylvania).
1546
A paper mill is set up in Kronstadt (Brassó, Brasov) to supply the
needs of
the fledgling publishing activities in Transylvania. Many of the works
that
appear reflect the religious ferment of the time and the tremendous impact
that the Reformation has had on Transylvanian intellectual development.
1556
The Diet of Transylvania proclaims that every person has the right to follow
the religion of choice. Transylvania thus becomes the first state in Europe
to declare a policy of religious toleration.
1567
Ferenc Dávid publishes "Rövid Magyarázat" ("A Brief
Exposition") at
Kolozsvár (Cluj, Klausenburg) and thereby establishes the Hungarian
version of Unitarianism.
1568
The Diet of Transylvania decrees the "accepted" status of the Roman
Catholic, Lutheran, Calvin Reformed, and Unitarian faiths.
1571
István Báthory becomes prince of Transylvania until 1581.
1575
István Báthory becomes king of Poland.
1581
István Báthory founds a Jesuit academy that becomes the precursor
of
contemporary higher education in Kolozsvár (Cluj, Klausenburg).
1581
Zsigmond Báthory becomes prince of Transylvania until 1597. He embroils
his state in the Fifteen Years' War on the side of the Habsburgs against
the
Turks (1591--1606). The bloodshed and chaos that ensue enable the
Wallachian voivode, Mihai Viteazul, to invade Transylvania.
1599--1600
Mihai Viteazul obtains control over Transylvania in October, 1599, and
holds sway until September, 1600. Although this interlude is less than
a
year, it has been presented in recent writings by Rumanian historians as
the
first "unification" of the "Rumanian countries." His rule is followed by
the
brutal Habsburg incursion of George Basta, who terrorizes Transylvania
from 1599 to 1604.
1604--06
The popular uprising led by István Bocskai finally re-establishes
order.
Bocskai defeats the Habsburg forces and is able to re-establish
Transylvanian independence. He is also successful in terminating the
Fifteen Years' War with the signing of the Treaties of Vienna (June 23,
1606) and Zsitvatorok (November 22, 1606).
1608--13
Gábor Báthory becomes prince of Transylvania and for a short
period also
claims to be voivode of Wallachia.
1613
Gábor Bethlen becomes prince of Transylvania and retains this position
until
his death in 1629. His reign is the "Golden Age" of independent
Transylvania. Commerce, construction, education, and culture flourish.
Transylvania plays an important role in the Thirty Years' War.
1621
The Treaty of Nikolsburg recognizes Transylvanian independence.
1630
Cyörgy Rákóczi I becomes prince of Transylvania and
reigns until 1648.
1639
Maize begins to appear as an important crop in Transylvania.
1643
Transylvania again becomes embroiled in the Thirty Years' War as an ally
of Sweden and France.
1645
The Treaty of Linz terminates Transylvania's involvement in the conflict
on
favorable terms, ceding to it seven counties of the Partium. The treaty
also
confirms the terms of the Treaty of Nikolsburg with the further stipulation
that religious toleration should also apply to the serfs.
1648
With the sponsorship of György Rákóczi I the first complete
Rumanian
translation of the New Testament (Noul Testament) appears in
Gyulafehérvár (Alba Iulia, Karlsburg).
1648
György Rákóczi II becomes prince of Transylvania and
reigns until 1660.
1653
The Approbatae Constitutiones Regni Transilvaniae is published. It
becomes the legal framework of Transylvania for the next 200 years.
1657
January-July György Rákóczi II undertakes his ill-fated
war to obtain the
Polish crown. Although he successfully captures Krakow and Warsaw, the
defection of allies and the stretched supply lines lead to his defeat and
the
capture of his army by the Tatars.
1657
Zsuzsanna Lorántffy, the widow of György Rákóczi
I, establishes a
Rumanian school in Fogaras (Fagaras).
1658
The Turks and their Tatar allies unleash a punitive expedition against
Transylvania. It devastates and depopulates the Szamos (Somes) Valley
and leads to the sack of such cities as Gyulafehérvár.
Transylvania - The Roots of Ethnic Conflict