1660
|
Várad
([Nagyvárad], Oradea, Grosswardein) is captured by the Turks. They also
defeat György Rákóczi II in the Battle of Szászfenes
(Floresti) and again devastate extensive areas of Transylvania.
Rákóczi dies from the wounds received in the battle.
|
1661
|
Mihály
Apafi becomes prince of Transylvania with the support of the Turks. He reigns
until his death in 1690 as the last ruler of an independent Transylvanian state.
|
1675
|
Transylvania's
Orthodox Church Synod at Gyulafehérvár (Alba Iulia, Karlsburg)
decides to suspend clergy who officiate in Slavonic rather than Rumanian.
|
1677
|
In
Warsaw, Imre Thököly, rebel (kuruc) leader from northeastern
Hungary, engineers an alliance with Apafi's Transylvania and Louis XIV of
France against the Habsburgs.
|
1686--87
|
Habsburg
imperial troops invade Transylvania.
|
1690
|
Upon
the death of Apafi, the Transylvanian Diet elects his son Mihály Apafi
II. However, the Habsburgs have by this time consolidated their position and
they begin to incorporate Transylvania into the empire. The Diploma
Leopoldinum of October 15, 1690, is the legal termination of Transylvanian
independence. The Ottoman Turks sponsor Imre Thököly as prince, but
he cannot wrest control of the land from the Habsburgs.
|
1697
|
The
synod convened in Gyulafehérvár (Alba Iulia, Karlsburg) by
Orthodox Metropolitan Teofil between March 27 and April 6 accepts "Union with
Rome," and many Transylvanian Orthodox Rumanians thereby become Greek Catholics
or Uniate Catholics. This decision is also reconfirmed in October by
Metropolitan Atanasie Anghel and thirty-eight archpriests. The Union with Rome
is seen as the way to obtain equality with the accepted religions.
|
1703--11
|
The
kuruc rebellion led by Ferenc Rákóczi II attempts to re-establish
an independent Hungarian state. In 1704, Rákóczi is elected
prince of Transylvania. However, he loses a battle at Zsibó (Jibou) and
this begins to undermine his influence and power in Transylvania.
|
1711
|
The
Treaty of Szatmár (Satu Mare) ends hostilities and consolidates
Transylvania and Hungary within the Habsburg empire.
|
1717
|
A
Tatar incursion sweeps through Transylvania.
|
1718
|
The
Treaty of Passarowitz brings to an end Ottoman Turkish control over territories
in the Carpathian Basin, specifically their last stronghold in the
Bánság (Banat) of Temes (Timis, Temesch). The areas depopulated
by the Turkish occupation are now recolonized by Swabian settlers, Serbs, and
Vlachs (Rumanians). Hungarians are specifically excluded from these former
Hungarian territories by the Habsburg policy of colonization and reconstruction.
|
1722
|
The
Transylvanian Diet confirms the Pragmatica Sanctio and thereby the
legitimacy of succession by Maria Theresa (1740--80) to the Habsburg throne.
|
1729
|
Ion
Inocentiu Micu-Klein is appointed Uniate bishop of Transylvania. Under his
leadership (until 1751) the Vlach (Rumanian) population acquires its first
effective spokesman for the recognition of their growth in numbers and of the
changed political circumstances. He effectively utilizes the "Union" with Rome
as a political weapon for enhancing the power of the Rumanians in Transylvania.
|
1754
|
The
establishment of a Uniate Catholic primary school, high school, and theological
seminary at Balázsfalva (Blaj, Blasendorf), transforms it into a center
of Rumanian self-consciousness and organization.
|
1762--68
|
Habsburg
efforts to formalize the organization of frontier defense in the Székely
regions and in three Vlach-inhabited counties leads to widespread resistance in
the region of Beszterce (Bistrita, Bistritz) and in the Székely
counties. The Habsburgs crush the resistance with the brutal massacre at
Mádéfalva (Siculeni) on January 7, 1764. Many Székelys
cross the Carpathians to Moldavia and settle there at this time. They are the
so-called Csángó Hungarians of present-day Rumania.
|
1765
|
Maria
Theresa raises the status of Transylvania from principality to "Great
Principality of Transylvania."
|
1769
|
On
November 11, the "Bizonyos punctumok" ("Special Points") are issued by Maria
Theresa to regulate the duties of bondsmen.
|
1769
|
Maria
Theresa issues a decree of toleration by which the Orthodox church is legally
recognized by the Habsburg monarchy.
|
1774--85
|
The
Bánffy Palace is constructed at Kolozsvár (Cluj, Klausenburg); it
is one of the most important examples of Baroque architecture in Transylvania.
|
1775
|
The
Institute of Surgical Medicine is established at Kolozsvár (Cluj,
Klausenburg).
|
1777
|
The
publication of the Ratio educationis provides a general reorganization
of the educational system for children between the ages of seven and thirteen
at both Catholic and non-Catholic schools. Instruction is to be in German and
in the mother tongue of the respective nationalities on the basis of Austrian
textbooks.
|
1778
|
Maria
Theresa orders the reannexation of the Bánság (Banat) of Temes
(Timis, Temesch) to the kingdom of Hungary. It is organized into the counties
of Torontál, Temes, and Krassó (Caras).
|
1778
|
Samuil
Micu writes the first study on the history of the Rumanians that represents the
Transylvanian School's effort to prove the Roman and Dacian origins of the
Rumanian people. This is followed by Micu's publication of the "Prayer Book for
the Piety of the Christian" in 1779. The latter is printed in Latin characters
and is the first public assertion of the Transylvanian School's ideology. This
is followed a year later (1780) by the publication of Samuil Micu's and
Gheorghe sincai's Elementa linguae daco-romanae sive Valachicae
(Vienna), which is the first printed grammar of the Rumanian language setting
out to prove the Latin origin of the Rumanian language. It advocates the
adoption of Latin letters and the enrichment of the vocabulary with Latin words.
|
1780
|
Maria
Theresa's death brings to the throne Joseph II whose reign lasts until 1790. He
is an "enlightened" despot. However, his zeal for efficiency, modernization,
and centralization produces unrest in many parts of the empire.
|
1784
|
On
May 1, Joseph II calls for the first official census of the empire, including
Transylvania. According to the data published in 1787, this census shows the
overall population of Transylvania to be 1,440,986.
|
1784
|
On
May 11, German is declared the official language of the empire in Hungary and
Transylvania as well as in the western provinces. German is to become the
official language of instruction in all schools of the empire within three
years.
|
1784
|
The
centralizing tendencies and certain raised expectations contribute to the
unrest of the population in Transylvania and spark the Rumanian peasant rising
led by Horea, Closca, and Crisan. The uprising begins on October 31 and lasts
until the end of December when the ringleaders are captured. Crisan commits
suicide in prison, while Horea and Closca are executed in
Gyulafehérvár (Alba Iulia, Karlsburg) on February 28, 1785.
Present Rumanian historiography sees this as both a social and national
uprising of great importance. While the conscious national sentiment of the
Rumanian peasants is questionable, it is clear that their wrath was directed
mainly against the Hungarians and others who did not adhere to the Rumanian
Orthodox religion. The pillaging and bloodletting is particularly extensive in
Fehér, Hunyad (Hunedoara), Torda, Kolozs, and Zaránd counties.
|
1784
|
The
Saxon Siebenbürger Zeitung begins publication in Brassó
(Kronstadt, Brasov).
|
1788
|
The
first German-language theater is established at Nagyszeben (Hermannstadt,
Sibiu).
|
1789
|
The
Hungarian Erdélyi Magyar Hírvivõ begins publication
in Kolozsvár (Cluj, Klausenburg).
|
1790
|
Emperor
Joseph II revokes (January 28) most of his reform decrees with the significant
exception of those that relate to religious toleration and the freedom of
movement of the serfs. He dies soon thereafter and is succeeded by Leopold II
on February 20.
|
1791
|
The
Transylvanian Diet declares that it wants Transylvania's reunification with
Hungary and the acceptance of Hungarian as the official language of the land.
Emperor Leopold's response is to continue separate chanceries for Hungary and
Transylvania.
|
1791
|
Rumanian
Orthodox Bishop Gherasim Adamovici and Uniate Catholic Bishop Ion Bob submit to
Leopold II the Supplex Libellus Valachorum, in which they request equal
status for the Rumanian people with the three officially recognized "nations"
(i.e., Magyars, Székelys, and Saxons) and in addition representation in
the Diet in proportion to their share of the population. The petition is
rejected by the emperor.
|
1792
|
Leopold
II dies on March I and is succeeded by Francis I. The former's short and stormy
reign contributes greatly to a deterioration of relations between Hungarians,
Saxons, and Rumanians, since he openly plays them off against one another.
|
1792
|
The
submission on March 30 of the II. Supplex Libellus Valachorum. It, too,
is rejected by the new emperor, Francis I.
|
1792
|
The
Hungarian Theater Society is organized at Kolozsvár.
|
1798
|
Ignác
Batthyány establishes the Batthyanaeum Library at
Gyulafehérvár.
|
1802
|
Chancellor
Sámuel Teleki opens the Teleki Library at Marosvásárhely
(Tirgu Mures, Neumarkt).
|
1806
|
Samuil
Micu completes his study Istoria, lucrurile si întîmplarile
românilor (History, Deeds and Events of the Rumanians) on the history
of the Rumanians. It is followed closely by Gheorghe sincai's Rumanian
history Hronicul românilor si a mai multor neamuri (Chronicle of the
Rumanians and of Several Other Peoples) in 1808 and Petru Maior's historical
analysis of 1813 entitled Istoria pentru începutul românilor
în Dachiia (History of the Beginning of the Rumanians in Dacia), all
published at Buda, Hungary. These works constitute the core of the
historiographical work of the Rumanian Transylvanian School and the attempt to
trace the origins and the development of the Rumanian people.
|
1813--17
|
An
extensive drought in Transylvania produces widespread famine.
|
1814
|
The
Hungarian Erdélyi Múzeum (Transylvanian Museum) begins
publication under the direction of Gábor Döbrentei.
|
1815
|
The
first Rumanian-language play is performed in Transylvania at Brassó
(Brasov, Kronstadt).
|
1817
|
The
Bruckenthal Library is founded at Nagyszeben (Sibiu, Hermannstadt).
|
1825
|
Samuil
Micu and Petru Maior publish their Lexicon
romanescu-latinescu-ungurescu-nemtescu (The Romanian-Latin-Hungarian-German
Dictionary), which is the first etymological and explanatory dictionary in
Rumanian and marks the beginning of modern Rumanian lexicography.
|
1833
|
János
Bolyai publishes an appendix to his father's (Farkas Bolyai) study
Tentamen. This Appendix provides the foundation for non-Euclidean
geometry.
|
1834
|
On
January 11, the Transylvanian Diet is called into session after not having been
consulted since 1811. It challenges the activities of local Habsburg
officialdom and appeals to the Hungarian Diet at Pozsony (Pressburg) and to the
emperor for redress. The complaints are not considered by the emperor, and he
has the Transylvanian Diet dissolved on February 6, 1835. Parallel to the
activities of the Hungarian, Saxon, and Székely representatives in the
Diet, the Rumanians become active under the leadership of the Orthodox and
Uniate Catholic bishops of Balázsfalva (Blaj, Blasendorf). They
reiterate their demands of 1791.
|
1838
|
The
Habsburgs sentence Miklós Wesselényi, the Transylvanian reformer,
to three years in prison.
|
1838
|
Under
the direction of George Baritiu the first overtly political Rumanian journal is
published as Gazeta de Transylvania. However, instead of working toward
some modus vivendi with the other nationalities, it strikes an alliance with
Vienna.
|
1840
|
The
monarch pardons Louis Kossuth and Miklós Wesselényi.
|
1841--43
|
The
Transylvanian Diet meets at Kolozsvár (Cluj, Klausenburg) to consider
proposals for making Hungarian the official language of Transylvania. The
Saxons and Rumanians oppose this. In 1842, Stefan L. Roth summarizes the goals
and the position of the Saxons in Der Sprachkampf in Siebenbürgen.
|
1843--47
|
Katalin
Varga organizes peasant unrest in the Transylvanian Érc Mountains
(Muntii Metaliferi, Erzgebirge).
|
1847
|
Lászlo
Kõvári publishes his study Erdély
statisztikája (Transylvanian Statistics).
|
1848
|
On
March 15, the anti-Habsburg revolt erupts in Pest and starts the 1848--49
revolution in Hungary. By late March, mass meetings in Transylvanian cities
express solidarity with the Hungarian Revolution. Cities like Kolozsvár
(Cluj, Klausenburg) Nagybánya (Baia Mare), Marosvásárhely
(Tirgu Mures), Udvarhely (Odorhei), Arad, and Nagyvárad (Oradea) are the
scenes of enthusiastic support for the twelve points of the Hungarian
Revolution, including the demand for reunification of Hungary with
Transylvania. The Rumanian intelligentsia gives its qualified support, with
reservations on the question of reunification. The Saxons are divided both on
the question of support and the question of reunification.
|
1848
|
On
April 18--30, a Rumanian mass meeting at Balázsfalva (Blaj, Blasendorf)
demands freedom for serfs and national rights. On May 2--14, a second Rumanian
mass meeting reiterates the demands of the first meeting and adds the demand
that no decision should be made on the question of union without consulting the
Rumanian people. The meeting selects delegations to convey this position to
both the government in Vienna and the Transylvanian Diet at Kolozsvár.
|
1848
|
On
May 29, the Transylvanian Diet declares union with Hungary and frees the serfs.
|
1848
|
On
September 15, the third Rumanian mass meeting at Balázsfalva (Blaj,
Blasendorf) declares that it does not recognize the union of Transylvania with
Hungary and calls for the arming of the Rumanian people and the setting up of
fifteen Rumanian legions to fight the Hungarian Revolution.
|
1848
|
During
October 16--17, the Székely mass meeting at Agyagfalva (Lutita) declares
its support of the revolution, and calls for interethnic solidarity and a
united front against Habsburg reaction. Habsburg forces defeat the
Székelys near Marosvásárhely (Tirgu Mures, Neumarkt) on
November 4 and occupy most of the Székely counties. However, during the
winter months, stiff Székely resistance confronts them under the
leadership of Áron Gábor.
|
1848
|
On
November 28, Kossuth appoints the Polish general József Bem to lead
Hungary's Transylvanian Army. A series of brilliant campaigns clears most of
Transylvania (with the exception of Gyulafehérvár and
Déva) of imperial troops by March 20, 1849. However, Avram Iancu's
anti-Hungarian Rumanian forces retain their position in the Érc
Mountains (Muntii Metaliferi). Pro-Hungarian Rumanians attempt to negotiate a
separate peace with Iancu between April 22 and May 6. The talks break down as
fighting is renewed.
|
1849
|
On
May 27, talks take place at Debrecen between Louis Kossuth and Nicolae
Balcescu, which lead to an agreement called "Projet de pacification" on July 14
at Szeged. This agreement promises some administrative decentralization and
extensive cultural and linguistic rights to the Rumanians.
|
1849
|
On
June 19, the czarist Russian forces break through the Tömösi Pass
(Pasul Predeal) and enter Transylvania on the side of the Habsburgs.
|
1849
|
On
July 31, czarist forces defeat General Bem at Segesvár (Sighisoara,
Schassburg). Sándor Petõfi dies in this battle.
|
1849
|
On
August 13, the main Hungarian army under Arthur Görgey surrenders at
Világos (siria) and the forces under Lajos Kazinczy surrender at
Zsibó (Jibou) on August 26. This is followed by Transylvania's immediate
subjugation to imperial absolutism, centralization, and punitive military
occupation.
|
1849
|
On
October 6, imperial authorities execute thirteen Hungarian generals at Arad.
|
1853
|
The
first telegraph line is completed between Vienna and Temesvár
(Timisoara).
|
1859
|
Moldavia
and Wallachia unite and become the new state of Rumania. Henceforth the
Transylvanian Rumanians have an independent state concerned with their fate.
|
1860
|
The
"Diploma of October" diminishes the centralization of the empire and returns
some autonomy to Transylvania (October 20).
|
1861
|
Transylvanian
Rumanians found the Transylvanian Association for the Literature and Culture of
the Rumanian People (ASTRA) with the objective of defending the cultural
interests of the Rumanians of Transylvania and of having them recognized as a
"politically independent nationality" with the right to use Rumanian in all
aspects of public life.
|
1862
|
On
May 18, Kossuth (in exile) publishes his plans for a multinational Danubian
Federation.
|
1863--64
|
The
Transylvanian Diet at Nagyszeben (Sibiu, Hermannstadt) proclaims three official
languages: Hungarian, Rumanian, and German.
|
1867
|
On
February 12, the Compromise of 1867 establishes the Dual Monarchy of
Austria-Hungary. It also leads to the reunification of Transylvania with
Hungary on February 17.
|
1868
|
On
December 6, Francis Joseph I approves the nationalities law no. 1868:XLIV,
which guarantees the Rumanians as well as other minorities extensive rights
within the Hungarian kingdom. Unfortunately, legislation to implement it is not
forthcoming.
|
1872
|
The
Francis Joseph University is founded at Kolozsvár (Cluj, Klausenburg).
|
1872
|
On
July 3, the leaders of the Transylvanian Rumanians meet at Balázsfalva,
(Blaj, Blasendorf) and issue a memorandum requesting that Rumanian be declared
the second official language of Transylvania.
|
1879
|
On
September 15, the Székely National Museum is founded at
Sepsiszentgyörgy (Sfîntul Gheorghe).
|
1881
|
During
May 12--14, the Rumanian National party of Hungary and the Banat unites with
the Transylvanian Rumanian National party and adopts the latter's name. In its
program it calls for Transylvanian autonomy and the right to use the Rumanian
language in administration and in legal proceedings.
|
1883
|
In
May, the law on instruction in high schools (1883:XXX) requires for the first
time that in national minority schools Hungarian history and Hungarian
literature be taught in Hungarian. The adoption of this law leads to
demonstrations in Nagyszeben, (Sibiu, Hermannstadt), Déva (Deva,
Schlossberg), and Balázsfalva (Blaj, Blasendorf).
|
1884
|
Temesvár
(Timisoara, Temeschwar) becomes the first European city to have its streets lit
by electricity.
|
1884
|
The
Transylvanian Party of moderate Rumanians is organized. It accepts the
dualistic order of Austria-Hungary.
|
1888
|
The
Hungarian Transylvanian Literary Association is founded and its periodical
Erdélyi Lapok (Transylvanian Pages) begins publication.
|
1890
|
On
December 7, the Social Democratic party of Hungary is organized with the
participation of all nationalities in Transylvania.
|
1891--96
|
The
Iron Gates are made navigable for large sea-going vessels.
|
1892
|
The
Rumanian National party (of Transylvania) sends a memorandum to Emperor Francis
Joseph with the political demands of the activists. Francis Joseph forwards the
memorandum to Budapest. The authors are then put on trial (May, 1894).
|
1892--95
|
Sándor
Márki writes the history of Arad county and city (Arad vármegye
és Arad város története).
|
1895
|
On
January 14, under the new Prime Minister Dezsõ Bánffy, a special
office is established to handle minority nationality problems.
|
1895
|
On
August 10, the minority nationalities hold a convention in Budapest to protest
various aspects of the government's policies. In part, this contributes to
Francis Joseph's amnesty for those who have been convicted in the "Memorandum
trial."
|
1896
|
Hungary
celebrates the 1,000th anniversary of its existence. In Transylvania, a
significant event during this year is the establishment of an artist's colony
in Nagybánya (Baia Mare) by Béla Iványi-Grünwald,
Károly Ferenczy, and others.
|
1898--99
|
The
first railway links between Hungary and Rumania are constructed, via the
Vöröstorony (Turnu-Rosu) and Gyimes (Ghimes,) passes through the
Transylvanian Alps.
|
1898--1904
|
ASTRA
sponsors the publication of three volumes of the Rumanian Encyclopedia
(Enciclopedia româna) at Nagyszeben.
|
1901
|
Extensive
strike activity spreads from the mining center of Resica (Resita) to other
cities in Transylvania, including Kolozsvár.
|
1902
|
János
Fadrusz completes his Matthias Rex memorial in Kolozsvár and his
Wesselényi memorial at Zilah (Zalau).
|
1903
|
Erdélyi
Munkás (Transylvanian Worker), the Hungarian Social Democratic
periodical, begins publication at Kolozsvár and the Adevarul, the
Rumanian language periodical of the Social Democrats, is founded at Budapest.
|
1905
|
On
January 10, the Rumanian National party meeting at Nagyszeben decides to turn
to activism rather than continue passive resistance.
|
1905
|
On
November 5, Rumanians hold a mass meeting at Lugos (Lugoj, Lugosch) to protest
nationality policies and demand increased opportunities for the use and
development of the Rumanian language.
|
1906--07
|
The
construction of the University Library is completed at Kolozsvár (Cluj,
Klausenburg).
|
1907
|
A
new educational law is adopted to regulate the language of instruction in
state-supported schools. The "Lex Apponyi," as it is called, is viewed by the
national minorities as a threat to their existing educational opportunities in
parochial schools.
|
1909
|
István
Apáthy founds the Zoological Institute at Kolozsvár.
|
1910
|
The
last Hungarian census is administered on the total territory of Transylvania.
|
1912
|
During
May 29--June 11, a Rumanian mass meeting at Gyulafehérvár (Alba
Iulia, Karlsburg) protests church-state relations in Hungary, particularly as
they affect Uniate Catholics.
|
1913
|
Jenõ
Janovics begins Transylvania's film industry at Kolozsvár.
|
1914
|
On
October I, Russia and Rumania sign a secret pact according to which Russia
recognizes Rumania's territorial integrity and agrees to protect the same. It
also includes Russia's support for Rumanian territorial claims against the
Austro-Hungarian Empire in return for Rumanian neutrality.
|