European Kingdoms

Transylvania

Transylvania means "beyond the forest". Although the language of its people was largely Romance-derived, Transylvania was historically part of Hungary. Largely surrounded by mountains, the plateau of Transylvania (known as Dacia to the Romans), was relatively isolated and protected from the grassy lowlands around it, through which various Steppe incursions passed. The name most commonly associated with Transylvania is that of (Count) Dracula, who was in fact Prince Vlad of Wallachia.

1415 - 1438

Lorand Lepes

Prince of Transylvania, under Hungarian suzerainty.

1441 - 1456

Iancu of Hunedoara

Prince of Transylvania, under Hungarian suzerainty.

1526 - 1699

Conquered by the Ottoman Empire. Transylvania is then largely ruled through appointed princes in the same style as neighbouring Wallachia and Moldavia.

1526 - 1540

John Zapolya

First Prince of Transylvania, under Ottoman suzerainty.

1540 - 1571

John Sigismund

1571 - 1572

Gasnar Bekesy

1572 - 1576

The Polish occupy the region.

1576 - 1581

Christopher Bathory

1581 - 1598

Sigismund

1599 - 1600

Andrew

1600 - 1601

Michael the Brave

1602 - 1603

Moyses Szekely

1602 - 1605

The Austrians occupy the region.

1605 - 1606

Stephen Bocskai

1607 - 1608

Sigismund Rakoczi / Ragotski

1608 - 1613

Gabriel Bathory

1613 - 1629

Gabriel Bethlen

1630

Stephen Bethlen

1630 - 1648

George Rakoczy I

1648 - 1660

George Rakoczy II

1658 - 1660

Achatius Bocskai

1661 - 1662

Johann Kemeny

1661 - 1690

Michael Apafi I

1682 - 1699

Emerich Tokoli

1690 - 1699

Michael Apafi II

1699 - 1919

The archduchy of Austria, through its control of the Holy Roman Empire, conquers the region. Transylvania is then ruled again from Hungary, this time without local princes.

1704 - 1711

Francis Rakoczy

1919

The region passes to Rumania as part of the dismemberment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after the Great War. During the Second World War, Germany passes part of Transylvania back to Hungary.