Transylvania and Romania: 1919 and Beyond

The country of Romania has changed a lot in the last century.  Romania became a nation in 1859.  This new nation was a merging of the Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia, and the Prince of the newly formed country was Alexander Cuza.

It wasn't until 1919 that Transylvania became a part of what was known as Greater Romania.  It took 60 years for this event to take place.  In 1919, there were many different cultures in Transylvania:  Ethnic Hungarians, Germans, Romanians and Jews were some of the largest groups. (At this point, and at least since about 1730, the majority of people who lived in Transylvania were of a cultural Romanian origin although there was no Romania at this time)

After 1919, there was another turning point for many people who lived in Transylvania (including the Saxons and Hungarians). After World War I, there was a push for more rights for the Romanians who lived in Transylvania and also for the freedom of the Romanian Orthodox Church.  There were other disputes and arguments, but for the most part, these disagreements remained peaceful.

Although Transylvania as a whole has not been part of any other country since that time, Northern Transylvania became a part of Hungary between 1940-1945, as a part of the Vienna Awards.  Transylvania and Romania have, over the years, built a good economy which has helped  much of the rest of Romania grow.  One of the main sources of income is tourism based on Dracula and Bran Castle.