History of Transylvania in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: October 31, 2025

Transylvania is a historical and cultural region located in central Romania, bordered by the Carpathian and Apuseni Mountains. Some broader definitions include the Crișana, Maramureș, and Banat regions. Historically, it also incorporated parts of Western Moldavia and Bukovina. Its rich history and geographical features make it a notable region in Central Europe.

1910: Hungarian Census

In 1910, the Hungarian census indicated that the Hungarian population of Transylvania had increased to 31.6% due to Magyarization policies.

December 1918: Union of Transylvania with the Kingdom of Romania proclaimed in Alba Iulia

In December 1918, after the end of World War I, representatives of the Romanian population of Transylvania gathered in Alba Iulia to proclaim the union of Transylvania with the Kingdom of Romania.

December 1918: Union with Romania proclaimed

In December 1918, elected representatives of the ethnic Romanians from Transylvania, Banat, Crișana and Maramureș backed by the mobilization of Romanian troops, proclaimed Union with Romania following Austria-Hungary's defeat in World War I.

December 1918: Union of Transylvania with Romania

In December 1918, the National Assembly of Romanians from Transylvania proclaimed the Union of Transylvania with Romania following the end of World War I.

1918: Union of Transylvania with Romania

After World War I, in 1918, the declaration of the union of Transylvania with Romania led to a significant increase in the Romanian majority.

1920: Treaty of Trianon

In 1920 the Treaty of Trianon settled the Western border of Transylvania, although geographically the two are not identical.

1920: Territory lost

In 1920, Romania lost territory in the Treaty of Trianon.

1920: Treaty of Trianon establishes borders

In 1920, the Treaty of Trianon established new borders, making much of the proclaimed territories part of Romania, which led to protests from Hungary.

1920: Transylvania becomes part of the Kingdom of Romania

In 1920, the Treaty of Trianon made Transylvania part of the Kingdom of Romania.

August 1940: Hungary gains Northern Transylvania

In August 1940, under the Second Vienna Award, with the arbitration of Germany and Italy, Hungary gained Northern Transylvania, including parts of Crișana and Maramureș.

1940: Northern Transylvania reverts to Hungary

In 1940, as a result of the Second Vienna Award, Northern Transylvania reverted to Hungary.

1940: Soviet Union offers banners to the Horthy government

In 1940, the Soviet Union offered the banners captured by Tsarist troops after the surrender of the Hungarian Army at Világos in 1849 to the Horthy government.

March 1944: Northern Transylvania under German control

In March 1944, following the Nazi invasion of Hungary, Northern Transylvania came under German control.

September 1944: Second Vienna Award voided

In September 1944, the Allied Commission voided the Second Vienna Award through the Armistice Agreement with Romania (Article 19).

1945: Migration within Romania begins

Starting in 1945, internal migration began within Romania, with people moving from the Old Kingdom to Transylvania and vice versa.

1945: Factories production data

Until 1945, Transylvanian factories built over 1,000 warplanes and over 1,000 artillery pieces of all types.

1947: Start of Communist Regime

From 1947, Transylvania, along with the rest of Romania, was under a communist regime.

1947: Borders reaffirmed

In 1947, the Treaty of Paris reaffirmed the borders between Romania and Hungary as originally defined in the Treaty of Trianon.

1948: Orthodox Church favored by the state

Even though before 1948, the population of Transylvania split between Eastern Orthodox, Greek Catholic and other forms of Christianity, during the Communist Period the Orthodox Church was much more favored by the state which has led to Eastern Orthodoxy being the religion of the majority of Transylvanians.

1977: Migration data

By 1977, estimates show that since 1945, some 630,000 people had moved from the Old Kingdom to Transylvania, and 280,000 from Transylvania to the Old Kingdom.

1989: End of Communist Regime

In 1989, the communist regime ended in Transylvania and the rest of Romania.

March 1990: Ethnic clashes of Târgu Mureș

In March 1990, the ethnic clashes of Târgu Mureș between ethnic Romanians and Hungarians occurred after the fall of the communist regime.

1992: Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula Movie

In 1992, Francis Ford Coppola directed a Hollywood movie about Dracula, which was based on the novel by Bram Stoker. The movie contributed to the association of Transylvania with vampires in popular culture.

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1998: Romania divided into development regions

Since 1998, Romania has been divided into eight development regions, divisions that coordinate and implement socio-economic development at regional level.