Transylvania (Erdely) forms the Eastern part of Hungary. It was formerly an independent principality, but was made an integral part of the Kingdom in 1848, and is now merely a geographical "idea", without any political significance. It forms a plateau, surrounded by mountains and inhabited by diverse nationalities (Hungarians, Szekelys, Saxons and Romanians); it is thus protected on all sides by natural boundaries, and is only connected with Hungary by means of a few river valleys. Only four railways run from Hungary to Transylvania, of which the lines from Nagyvarad to Kolozsvar, and from Arad to Tovis are the most important.

This part of the Kingdom, was, in the 16th Century, after the disaster of Mohacs, the political centre of independent Hungary, and held this position for a long time. Certain of its princes, notably Stephen Bocskay and Gabriel Bethlen, played an important role; Bethlen was also the protector of science and literature; he called together numerous scientific men, and founded the superior school of Nagyenyed.

Table of contents    Previous    Next

Adapted from Illustrated Description of Hungary and its Capital