Transylvania

Transylvania, region, central Romania, before 1918 a part of Austria-Hungary. The region is an elevated plateau entirely surrounded by the Transylvanian Alps, a range of the Carpathian Mountains. The mountains curve around the region like a wall and in various places encroach inward. The chief rivers are tributaries of the Tisza. Transylvania has an area of about 62,160 sq km (24,000 sq mi), and its terrain is suitable for growing fruits, cereals, and sugar beet. Wine is also produced, and livestock is raised. Transylvania is rich in minerals, including gold, silver, salt, and coal.

Part of the Roman province of Dacia, the region became part of the kingdom of Hungary in 1003. In 1526, after the defeat of Hungary by the Ottoman Turks, Transylvania became a separate principality under the protection of the Turkish sultan. Austria, which had previously claimed Transylvania, obtained possession of the region by the 1699 Treaty of Karlowitz, which ended a war with Turkey. In 1765 the region was made a grand principality of Austria, and in 1849 an Austrian Crown land. However, it was reunited with the Hungarian Kingdom in 1866 upon the formation of the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary. Transylvania became a part of Romania in December 1918 following World War I. Hungary persisted in claiming the area because of its large Magyar population, the major ethnic group in Hungary. In 1940, during World War II, the northern part of Transylvania, including 44,030 sq km (17,000 sq mi) with a population of 2,700,000, was given to Hungary by the Italo-German award of August 30. Following the war, the ceded area was returned to Romania. In 1993, the characteristic fortified churches of Transylvania were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list; the site was extended in 1999.