Principality of Transylvania (1570–1711)
The Principality of Transylvania (Hungarian: Erdélyi Fejedelemség; Latin: Principatus Transsilvaniae; German: Fürstentum Siebenbürgen; Romanian: Principatul Transilvaniei / Principatul Ardealului; Turkish: Erdel Voyvodalığı / Transilvanya Prensliği) was a semi-independent state ruled primarily by Hungarian princes. Its territory, in addition to the traditional Transylvanian lands, also included the other major component called Partium, which was in some periods comparable in size with Transylvania proper. The establishment of the principality was connected to the Treaty of Speyer. However, Stephen Báthory's status as king of Poland also helped to phase in the name Principality of Transylvania. Although the principality was essentially independent, it existed as an Ottoman vassal state for the majority of the 16th and 17th centuries, overseen by Ottoman Turkish sultans but ruled by Hungarian princes. At various points during this period, the Habsburgs also exerted a degree of suzerainty in the region.
Principality of Transylvania Principatus Transsilvaniae | |||||||||
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| 1570–1711 | |||||||||
Administrative map of the Principality of Transylvania, 1606–60 | |||||||||
| Status | Vassal state of the Ottoman Empire; Hungarian crown land; Polish fiefdom | ||||||||
| Capital | Alba Iulia (Gyulafehérvár) 1570–1692 Cibinium (Nagyszeben/Hermannstadt/Sibiu) 1692–1711 | ||||||||
| Common languages | Latin (in administration, science and politics) Hungarian (vernacular, language of Diet and legislation) German (vernacular, business, some official functions and instruction) Romanian, Ruthenian (vernacular). | ||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism, Calvinism, Lutheranism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Greek Catholicism, Unitarianism, Judaism | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Transylvanian | ||||||||
| Government | Elective principality | ||||||||
| Rulers | |||||||||
• 1570–1571 (first) | John II Sigismund Zápolya | ||||||||
• 1704–1711 (last) | Francis II Rákóczi | ||||||||
| Legislature | Transylvanian Diet | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
| 1003 | |||||||||
| 16 August 1570 | |||||||||
| 28 September 1604–23 June 1606 | |||||||||
| 23 June 1606 | |||||||||
| 31 December 1621 | |||||||||
| 16 October 1690 | |||||||||
| 26 January 1699 | |||||||||
| 15 June 1703 – 1 May 1711 | |||||||||
| 29 April 1711 | |||||||||
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| Today part of | Romania Hungary Slovakia Ukraine | ||||||||
The principality continued to be a part of the Lands of the Hungarian Crown and was a symbol of the survival of Hungarian statehood. It represented Hungarian interests against Habsburg encroachments in the Habsburg-ruled Kingdom of Hungary. Traditional Hungarian law had to be followed scrupulously in the principality; furthermore, the state was predominantly Protestant. After the unsettled period of Rákóczi's War of Independence, it was subordinated to the Habsburg monarchy.
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