Avram Iancu

Avram Iancu (Janko Avram in Hungarian; 1824, in Vidra [de Sus], today Avram Iancu in Alba county, Romania—September 10, 1872, in the same area) was a Transylvanian Romanian lawyer who played an important role in the local chapter of the Austrian Empire Revolutions of 1848-1849. He was especially active in the Ţara Moţilor region and the Apuseni Mountains. The rallying of peasants around him, as well as the allegiance he paid to the Habsburgs got him the moniker Crăişorul Munţilor ("The little Emperor/King of the Mountains", also translatable as "The little Emperor/King in the Mountains", present in other, more explicit forms —such as Împăratul Munţilor, "Crăişorul", "The Emperor of/in the Mountains"). This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... 1824 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Avram Iancu (Hungarian: FelsÅ‘vidra) is a commune located in Alba County, Romania. ... Alba (Hungarian: Fehér) is a Romanian county (JudeÅ£) in Transylvania. ... September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). ... 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Small castle in Trascau Mountains, Å¢ara MoÅ£ilor Å¢ara MoÅ£ilor, also known as Å¢ara de Piatră (The Stone Land) is an etnogeographical area in the Apuseni Mountains, on the superior basin of the ArieÅŸ and CriÅŸul Alb rivers. ... The Apuseni Mountains is a mountain range in Transylvania, Romania, which belongs to the Western Carpathians. ... Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy; also used as the flag of the Austrian Empire until the Ausgleich of 1867. ... A moniker (or monicker) is a pseudonym, or cognomen, which one gives to oneself. ...

Early life

Born into a family of peasants that had been emancipated from serfdom, Avram Iancu could attend school, studying humanities in Cluj, and then graduating from law school. He became a law clerk in Târgu Mureş, where he learned about the events of March 1848 of Vienna and Pest. His attitude at the time showed the nature of the conflict that was to engulf Transylvania: while Iancu welcomed the transition, he was indignant at the fact that Hungarian revolutionaries (many of whom were landowners) refused to debate the abolition of serfdom (which, at the time, covered the larger part of the Romanian population in Transylvania). Costumes of Slaves or Serfs, from the Sixth to the Twelfth Centuries, collected by H. de Vielcastel, from original Documents in the great Libraries of Europe. ... The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view. ... Map of Romania showing Cluj_Napoca Cluj_Napoca (Hungarian: Kolozsvár, German: Klausenburg, Latin: Claudiopolis), the seat of Cluj county, is one of the most important academic, cultural and industrial centers in Romania. ... // A law school is an institution where future lawyers obtain legal degrees. ... Panorama of Targu Mures Târgu MureÅŸ (Hungarian: Marosvásárhely, also known as Vásárhely; German: Neumarkt am Mieresch) is a city in MureÅŸ county, Transylvania, Romania. ... 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Vienna (German: Wien [viːn]; Slovenian: Dunaj, Croatian and Serbian: Beč Romanian: Viena, Hungarian: Bécs, Czech: Vídeň, Slovak: Viedeň, Romany Vidnya;) Vienna is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ... Pest (in Slovak Pešť, pron. ...

Back in the Apuseni, he started rallying the peasants in Câmpeni, organizing protests that were recognized as peaceful by the authorities, but nonetheless got them worried. Iancu and his associate Ioan Buteanu quickly became the main figures of the Romanian-led actions in the area, especially after they took part in the Blaj Assemblies starting in April. In Blaj, both opted for the main, radical wing of the movement. Centered on Alexandru Papiu Ilarian, the group opposed the Hungarian revolutionary option of uniting Transylvania and Hungary. It got into conflict with the minor wing around Greek-Catholic Bishop Ioan Lemeni, one which chose not to boycott the elections for the Hungarian Parliament. County Alba County Status City Mayor Andres Ioan Calin, since 2004 Area  km² Population (2002) 8080 Density  inh/km² Geographical coordinates 46°22′N 23°3′E Web site Câmpeni (alternate spelling: Cîmpeni, German: Topesdorf, Hungarian: Topánfalva) is a city in Alba County, Transylvania, Romania. ... Blaj (Hungarian: Balázsfalva; German: Blasendorf) is a city in Alba county, Transylvania, Romania. ... The Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic (in Romanian: Biserica Română Unită cu Roma, Greco-Catolică) is an Eastern Rite or Greek-Catholic Church ranked as a Major Archiepiscopal Church, which uses the Byzantine liturgical rite in the Romanian language. ...

While the union was carried of on May 30 1848, the majority of Romanian activists looked towards Vienna and Emperor Ferdinand, sharing the cause of the Transylvan Saxons. Things became heated after July 11, when Hungary declared its independence. Austria started to open itself to the Romanian demands, while bloody conflicts ensued between the Hungarian nobles and their Romanian serfs. The last Assembly in Blaj saw the Habsburg governor, Anton Freiherr von Puchner, approve of the arming of National Guards for Romanians and Saxons. On September 27, the lynching of Austrian plenipotentiary General Lemberg by a Pest crowd cut off any dialogue between the two centers. The new Emperor Franz Joseph and the Austrian government granted the Romanians numerous liberties and rights; although Lajos Kossuth's government abolished serfdom, this was no longer a match for the Imperial offer. May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... Emperor Ferdinand Ferdinand I Karl Leopold Joseph Franz Marchlin Emperor of Austria King of Hungary and Bohemia (April 19, 1793 – June 29, 1875) succeeded his father (Franz II Holy Roman Emperor/Franz I of Austria) as Emperor and King in 1835 and was forced to abdicate in 1848. ... The Transylvanian Saxons (German: Siebenbürger Sachsen; Hungarian: Erdélyi szászok, Romanian: Saşi) are a people of German origin who settled in Transylvania from the 12th century onwards. ... July 11 is the 192nd day (193rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 173 days remaining. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 95 days remaining. ... Lynching is violence, usually murder, conceived by its perpetrators as extra-legal execution, or used as a terrorist method of enforcing social domination. ... Franz Joseph I. Francis Joseph I (in German often abbreviated Franz Joseph or Franz Josef, and in English also Francis Joseph) (August 18, 1830 – November 21, 1916) of the Habsburg Dynasty was Emperor of Austria and King of Bohemia from 1848 until 1916, and Apostolic King of Hungary from 1867... Lajos (Louis) Kossuth (Ľudovít Košút in Slovakian) (Monok, September 19, 1802 – Turin, March 20, 1894) was a Hungarian lawyer, politician, and for a time was regent. ...

Conflict

The Austrians clearly rejected the October demand that the ethnical criteria become the basis for internal borders, with the goal of creating a province for Romanians (Transylvania grouped alongside the Banat and Bukovina), as they did not want to replace the threat of Hungarian nationalism with the potential one of Romanian separatism. Yet they did not declare themselves hostile to the rapid creation of Romanian administrative offices within Transylvania, one which prevented Hungary from including the region in all but name. Banat (Romanian: Banat; Serbian: Банат or Banat; German: Banat; Hungarian: Bánát or Bánság; Slovak: Banát) is a geographical and historical region in Southeastern Europe divided among three countries: the eastern part belongs to Romania (the counties of Timiş, Caraş-Severin, Arad, and Mehedinţi), the western... Bukovina (Ukrainian: Буковина, Bukovyna; Romanian: Bucovina; German and Polish: Bukowina; see also other languages) is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains. ... Separatism involves setting oneself or others apart. ...

The territory was organized in prefecturi ("prefectures"), with Avram Iancu and Buteanu as two prefects in the Apuseni. Iancu's prefecture, the Auraria Gemina (a name charged with Latin symbolism), became the most important one as it took over from bordering areas that were never really fully organized. Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ...

In the same month, the administrative efforts were put to a halt, as Hungarians under Józef Bem carried out a sweeping offensive through Transylvania. With the discreet assistance of Imperial Russian troops, the Austrian army (except for the garrisons at Alba Iulia and Deva) and the Austrian-Romanian administration retreated to Wallachia and Wallachian Oltenia (both were, at the time, under Russia's occupation). Avram Iancu's remained the only resistance force: he retreated to harsh terrain, mounting a guerrilla campaign on Bem's forces, causing severe damage and blocking the route to Alba Iulia. He was, however, challenged by severe shortages himself: the Romanians had few guns and very little gunpowder. The conflict dragged on for the next months, with all Hungarian attempts to seize the mountain stronghold being overturned. Józef Bem Józef Zachariasz Bem (1794-1850) was a Polish general and a national hero of Poland and Hungary. ... Imperial Russia is the term used to cover the period of history from the expansion of Russia under Peter the Great, through the expansion of the Russian Empire from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean, to the deposal of Nicholas II of Russia, the last tsar, at the start... Alba Iulia (Hungarian: Gyulafeh r, German: Karlsburg) is a city in Alba county, Transylvania, Romania with a population of 66,369, located on the Mureş river. ... County Hunedoara County Status County capital Mayor Mircia Munteanu, since 2000 Area  km² Population (2002) 80,000 Density  inh/km² Geographical coordinates , Web site http://www. ... Map of Romania with Wallachia in yellow. ... Map of Romania with Oltenia highlighted Oltenia or Lesser Wallachia is a historical province of Romania. ... Guerrilla War redirects here. ...

In April 1849, Iancu was approached by the Hungarian envoy Ioan Dragoş (in fact, a Romanian deputy in the Hungarian Parliament). Dragoş appeared to have been acting out of his own desire for peace, and he worked hard to get the Romanian leaders to meet him in Abrud and listen to the Hungarian demands. Iancu's direct adversary, Hungarian commander Imre Hatvany, seems to have taken profit on the provisoral armistice to attack the Romanians in Abrud. He did not, however, benefit from a surprise, as Iancu and his men retreated and then encircled him. In the interval, Dragoş was lynched by the Abrud crowds, in the belief that he was part of Hatvany's ruse. Abrud (Hungarian: Abrudbánya, German: Großschlatten) is a city in Alba county of Transylvania, Romania, situated on the river with the same name. ... A white flag is traditionally used to represent a truce. ...

Hatvany also angered the Romanians by having Buteanu captured and murdered. While his position became weaker, he was permanently attacked by Iancu's men, until the major defeat of May 22. Hatvany and most of his armed group were massacred by their adversaries, as Iancu captured their cannons, switching the tactical advantage for the next months. Kossuth was angered by Hatvany's gesture (an inspection of the time dismissed all of Hatvany's close collaborators), especially since it made future negotiations unlikely. May 22 is the 142nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (143rd in leap years). ... A small Civil War-era cannon on a carriage A cannon is any large tubular firearm designed to fire a heavy projectile over a considerable distance. ...

However, the conflict became less harsh: Iancu's men concentrated on taking hold of local resources and supplies, opting to inflict losses only through skirmishes. The Russian intervention in June precipitated things, especially since the Poles fighting in the Hungarian revolutionary contingents wanted to see an all-out resistance to the Tsarist armies. People like Henryk Dembiński mediated for an understanding between Kossuth and the Wallachian émigré revolutionaries. The latter, understandably close to Avram Iancu (especially Nicolae Bălcescu, Gheorghe Magheru, Alexandru G. Golescu, and Ion Ghica) were also keen to inflict a defeat on the Russian armies that had crushed their movement in September 1848. Henryk DembiÅ„ski Henryk DembiÅ„ski (1791‑1864) was a Polish engineer, traveler and general. ... Émigré is a French term that shows how Martin B. loves stephanie. ... Nicolae Bălcescu Nicolae Bălcescu (1819-1852) was a Romanian historian, writer, and revolutionary. ... General Gheorghe Magheru (1802, Bârzeiul de Gilort in Gorj—1880) was a Wallachian Romanian revolutionary and soldier, and political ally of Nicolae Bălcescu. ... Alexandru G. Golescu (1819-1881) was a Romanian politician that served as a Prime Minister of Romania in 1870 (between 14 February and 1 May). ... Ion Ghica (1817-1897) was a Romanian diplomat and a prime minister of Romania between 1866 and 1867 and also between 1870-1871. ...

Bălcescu and Kossuth met in May 1849, in Debrecen. The contact has for long been celebrated by Romanian Marxist historians and politicians: Karl Marx's condemnation of everything opposing Kossuth had led to any Romanian initiative being automatically considered "reactionary". In fact, it appears that the agreement was in no way a pact: Kossuth meant to flatter the Wallachians, by getting them to champion the idea of Iancu's armies leaving Transylvania for good, in order to help Bălcescu in Bucharest. While agreeing to mediate for peace, Bălcescu never presented these terms to the fighters in the Apuseni. His personal documents (commented by Liviu Maior) show that the un-realistic assumptions of Kossuth had made him view the Hungarian leader as a "demagogue". Debrecen â–¶(?) (approximate pronunciation: deh-breh-tsen, DebreÅ£in in Romanian, Debrecín in Slovak, Debreczyn in Polish) is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest. ... Link titleghjhjhjhjyhjInsert non-formatted text here #REDIRECT Insert textItalic text To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Karl Heinrich Marx (May 5, 1818 Trier, Germany – March 14, 1883 London) was an immensely influential German philosopher, political economist, and revolutionary organizer of the International Workingmens Association. ... Reactionary (or reactionist) is a political epithet typically applied to conservatism. ... Bucharest (Romanian: BucureÅŸti ) is the capital city and industrial and commercial centre of Romania. ... A demagogue (sometimes spelled demagog) is a leader who obtains power by appealing to the gut feelings of the public, usually by powerful use of rhetoric and propaganda. ...

Even more contradictory, the only thing Avram Iancu agreed to (and which no party had asked for) was his forces' "neutrality" in the conflict between Russia and Hungary. Thus, he secured his position as the Hungarian armies suffered defeats in July, culminating in the Battle of Segesvár, and then the capitulation of August 13. Battle of Segesvár took place on July 31, 1849 between forces of Hungarian Transylvanian Army under command of general Józef Bem and Russian V corps under Russian general Luders and Austrian intervention group under general Dick. ... August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (226th in leap years), with 140 days remaining. ...

Later years

Avram Iancu agreed to disarm as soon as the Austrians took over, and wrote a detailed report to the new governor of Transylvania, General Ludwig von Wohlgemuth (in 1850). In order to avoid suspicion of Romanian separatism, the document does not mention the contacts with the Wallachians. As the Austrians granted the abolition of serfdom, they also forbade all representative institutions in Transylvania. While Hungarian nationalism was slowly fitting in the pattern that would make the Ausgleich acceptable for both sides involved, the Romanian option raised more and more irritation. The revolutionary zeal it had found under Iancu, although profiting the Monarchy, could also prove to be a weapon used for very different goals (the Austrians were especially fearful that the Eastern Orthodox faith of the Romanians would accommodate itself with Pan-Slavism, completing the gap between Serbia and the Russian Empire). The German term Ausgleich (Hungarian kiegyezés) refers to the compromise or composition of February 1867 that established the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary, which was signed by Franz Joseph of Austria and a Hungarian delegation led by Ferenc Deák. ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... Slavic flag proposed by the Pan-Slav convention in Prague in 1848 Pan-Slavism was a movement in the mid 19th century aimed at unity of all the Slavic people. ... Serbia and Montenegro  â€“ Serbia    â€“ Kosovo and Metohia        (UN administration)    â€“ Vojvodina  â€“ Montenegro Official language Serbian1 Capital Belgrade Independence- Declared from the Ottoman Empire Gained autonomy 1817 Independence July 13, 1878 Area – Total – % water 88,361 km² n/a Population – Total (2002) (not including data for Kosovo and Metohia Province) – Density 7. ...

It is very possible that Iancu was not able to properly observe the changes. While decision for his initial arrest (in December 1849) was quickly overturned after local protests (and explained as an abuse), he was censored throughout his life, had his library confiscated, and was placed under surveillance. He was even arrested a second time, in 1852, after it was presumed that his presence alone served to inflame local sentiments. Soon after his release, Iancu visited Vienna and attempted to petition the Emperor. He was prevented to do so by the police, a public humiliation which provoked the nervous breakdown from which he never recovered. He became an alcoholic and a vagabond, wandering through the Apuseni region on foot. Although not a medical term, the phrase nervous breakdown is often used outside medical circles to describe a sudden and acute attack of mental illness—for instance, clinical depression or anxiety disorder—in a previously outwardly healthy person. ... Alcoholism is the compulsive consumption of alcohol. ... A vagabond is a generally poor itinerant person. ...

He asked for his body to be buried under Horea's tree in Ţebea (by tradition, the place where the Revolt of Horea, Cloşca and Crişan had started). Horea Horea (1731-1785) was a Romanian leader of the Revolt of Horea, CloÅŸca and CriÅŸan from 1784-85. ... CriÅŸan CloÅŸca Horea The Revolt of Horea, CloÅŸca and CriÅŸan began in the Zarand county of Transylvania on 2 November 1784, but it soon spread all throughout the Apuseni Mountains. ...

References

• Keith Hitchins, Românii 1774-1866, Bucharest, Humanitas, 1996
• Liviu Maior, 1848-1849. Români şi unguri în revoluţie, Bucharest, Editura Enciclopedică, 1998
• Ion Ranca, Valeriu Niţu, Avram Iancu: documente şi bibliografie, Bucharest, Editura Ştiinţifică, 1974 (most contemporary documents about Avram Iancu, including his report to Wohlgemuth)