The Transylvanian Saxons (German: Siebenbürger Sachsen; Romanian: Saşi, Hungarian: Szászok) are a people of German origin who settled in Transylvania from the 12th century onwards. Ethnic Germans (usually simply called Germans, in German Volksdeutsche) are those who are considered, by themselves or others, to be ethnically German rather than anything else but who do not live within the Federal Republic of Germany nor hold its citizenship. ... Jump to: navigation, search Transylvania (Romanian: Transilvania or Ardeal; Hungarian: Erdély; German: Siebenbürgen; see also other languages) forms the western and central parts of Romania. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ...

The colonization of Transylvania by Germans was begun by King Géza II of Hungary (1141-1162). For decades, the main task of the German settlers was to defend the southeastern border of the Kingdom of Hungary. The colonization continued until the end of the 13th century. Although the colonists came mostly from the western Holy Roman Empire and generally spoke Franconian dialects, they were collectively known as Saxons because of Germans working for the Hungarian chancellery. Events February 2 - Battle of Lincoln. ... Jump to: navigation, search // Events June 3 - Thomas Becket consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury. ... The Kingdom of Hungary (Hungarian: Magyar Királyság) is the name of a multiethnic kingdom that existed in Central Europe from 1000 to 1918. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Jump to: navigation, search This page is about the Germanic empire. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Chancellery is the office of the chancellor, sometimes also reffered to as the chancery. ...

Medieval settlements

The initial phase of German settlement began in the mid-12th century with colonists travelling to what would become the Altland or Hermannstadt Provinz (Sibiu County). Although the primary reason for Géza II's invitation was border defense with the Szeklers against invaders, Germans were also sought for their mining expertise and ability to develop the region's economy. Most colonists from this era came from Luxembourg and the Moselle River region. Sibiu (Hungarian: Szeben) is a county (JudeÅ£) in the center of Romania, in Transylvania region, with the capital city Sibiu (population: 170,038). ... The Székely (Szeklers in English, Secui in Romanian) are a Hungarian-speaking ethnic group, historically centered in the Transylvanian town of Székelyudvarhely, (now Odorheiu Secuiesc, Harghita county, Romania). ... Moselle River/Germany The Moselle (French Moselle, German Mosel, from Latin Mosella, little Meuse) is a river flowing through France, Luxembourg and Germany, joining the Rhine river at Koblenz. ...

A second phase of German settlement came during the early 13th century consisting of settlers primarily from the Rhineland, Flanders, and the Moselle region, with others from Thuringia, Bavaria, Wallonia, and even from France. A settlement in northeastern Transylvania was centered on the town Nösen, the later Bistritz (Bistriţa), located on the Bistriţa river. The surrounding area became known as the Nösnerland. Continued immigration from the Empire expanded the area of the Saxons further to the east. Daughter settlements from the Hermannstadt region spread into the Harbachtal ("Hârtibaciu River Valley") and to the feet of the Zibin (Cibin) and Mühlbacher (Sebeş) mountains. The latter region, centered on the city of Mühlbach (Sebeş) was known as the Unterwald. To the north of Hermannstadt was settled the Weinland near Mediasch (Mediaş). Jump to: navigation, search The Rhineland (Rheinland in German) is the general name for the land on both sides of the river Rhine in the west of Germany. ... Flanders (Flemish, Fleming) (Dutch: Vlaanderen (Vlaams, Vlaming), French: Flandre(s), (flamand, flamand), German: Flandern, (flämisch, Flame) has two main designations: a constituent community of the federal Belgian state through its social and political organisations, and through the institutions of the Flemish Community (with its own Flemish government and Flemish... The Free State of Thuringia (German Freistaat Thüringen) lies in central Germany and is among the smaller of the countrys sixteen Bundesländer (federal states), with an area of 16,200 sq. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Free State of Bavaria (German: Bayern or Freistaat Bayern), with an area of 70,553 km² (27,241 square miles) and 12. ... Jump to: navigation, search National motto: Walon todi ! (Walloon forever!) Official languages French, German Capital Namur Minister-President Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe Area  - Total 16,844 km² Population  - Total (2002)  - Density 3,358,560 inhabitants 199. ... BistriÅ£a (-Romanian, Hungarian: Beszterce, German: Bistritz, archaic Nösen) is the capital city of BistriÅ£a-Năsăud county, Transylvania, Romania. ... The BistriÅ£a is a river in the Romanian region of Transylvania, county BistriÅ£a-Năsăud. ... The Nösnerland (-German, Romanian: Å¢ara Năsăudului, Hungarian: Naszód) is a historic region of northeastern Transylvania in present-day Romania centered between the BistriÅ£a and MureÅŸ rivers. ... SebeÅŸ (Hungarian: Szászsebes, German: Mühlbach) is a town in Alba county, Romania, located on the SebeÅŸ river. ...

In 1211 King Andrew II of Hungary invited the Teutonic Order to settle and defend the Burzenland in the southeastern corner of Transylvania. To guard the mountain passes of the Carpathians against the Cumans, the knights constructed numerous castles and towns, including the major city of Kronstadt (Braşov). Colonization in the Burzenland region consisted mostly of settlers from the Altland. Alarmed by the knights' rapidly expanding power, in 1225 Andrew II expelled the Order which henceforth relocated to Prussia in 1226, although the colonists remained in the Burzenland. Events The oldest extant double entry bookkeeping record dates from 1211 Canons regular of the Order of the Holy Cross founded September 14 1211 Births Deaths Monarchs/Presidents France - Philippe II, Auguste King of France (reigned from 1180 to 1223) Mongol Empire - Genghis Khan, Mongol Khan (from 1206 to 1227... Andrew II (1175-1235) (Hungarian: , Slovak: Ondrej II) was a son of Bela III of Hungary and succeeded his nephew, the infant Ladislaus III, in 1205. ... Teutonic Knights, charging into battle. ... The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... This is about the terrestrial mountain range. ... The Cumans, also known as Polovtsy (Slavic for yellowish) were a nomadic West Turkic tribe living on the north of the Black Sea along the Volga. ... BraÅŸov (Hungarian: Brassó, German: Kronstadt) is a city in Romania, residence of BraÅŸov county. ... Events Births Thomas Aquinas, Christian philosopher and theologian (d. ... Jump to: navigation, search The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701-1918 The word Prussia (German: Preußen, Polish: Prusy, Lithuanian: PrÅ«sai, Latin: Borussia) has had various (often contradictory) meanings: The land of the Baltic Prussians (in what is now parts of southern Lithuania, the Kaliningrad... Events Carmelite Order approved by Pope Honorius III Frederick II calls Imperial Diet of Cremona Births Deaths October 3 Saint Francis of Assisi founder of the Franciscan Order and patron Saint of animals and the environment Canonized by Pope Gregory IX in 1228 November 8 King Louis VIII of France...

The Kingdom of Hungary's medieval eastern borders were therefore defended in the northeast by the Nösnerland Saxons, in the east by the non-German Szeklers, in the southeast by the castles built by the Teutonic Knights and Burzenland Saxons, and in the south by the Altland Saxons.

Medieval organization

Legal organization

Although the knights had left Transylvania, the Saxon colonists remained, however, and the king allowed them to retain the rights and obligations included in the Andreanum Act (in German: Goldener Freibrief der Siebenbürger Sachsen) of 1224. This document conferred upon the German population of the territory between Draas (Drăuşeni) and Broos (Orăştie) both administrative and religious autonomy and obligations towards the kings of Hungary. The territory that was colonized by Germans covered an area of about 30,000 km². During the reign of the King Charles I of Hungary (probably 1325-1329), the Saxons were organized in the Saxon Chairs. Events Foundation of the University of Naples Livonian Brothers of the Sword conquers Latgallians Births Deaths Monarchs/Presidents Aragon - James I King of Aragon and count of Barcelona (reigned from 1213 to 1276) Castile - Ferdinand III, the Saint King of Castile and Leon (reigned from 1217 to 1252) Holy See... Orăstie (Hungarian: Szászváros, German: Bros) is a city in Romania, Hunedoara county. ... Charles I of Hungary (Anjou France 1288 or 1291 - Hungary July 16, 1342), also called Charles Robert, Carobert and Charles I Robert, was the king of Hungary from August 27, 1310. ... Events Muhammed Tughlaq succeeds his father Ghiyas al-Din Tughlaq as Sultan of Delhi. ... Jump to: navigation, search Events Antipope Nicholas V is excommunicated by Pope John XXII. Aimone of Savoy becomes Count of Savoy. ...

Religious organizations

Along with the Teutonic Order, other religious organizations important to the development of German communities were the Cistercian abbeys of Igrisch (Igriş) in the Banat region and Cârţa in Fogarasch (Făgăraş). The Order of Cistercians (OCist) (Latin Cistercenses), otherwise Gimey or White Monks (from the colour of the habit, over which is worn a black scapular or apron) are a Catholic order of monks. ... Banat (Romanian: Banat; Serbian: Банат or Banat; German: Banat; Hungarian: Bánát or Bánság; Slovak: Banát) is a region in Southeastern Europe divided among three countries: the eastern part belongs to Romania (the counties of TimiÅŸ and CaraÅŸ-Severin), the western part to Serbia-Montenegro (the Serbian... FăgăraÅŸ (Hungarian: Fogaras, German: Fogarasch) is a city in central Romania, county BraÅŸov. ...

The earliest religious organization of the Saxons was the Provostship of Hermannstadt (Sibiu), founded 20 December 1191. In its early years, it included the territories of Hermannstadt, Leschkirch (Nocrich), and Groß-Schenk (Cincu), the areas that were colonized the earliest. Jump to: navigation, search Sibiu (German: Hermannstadt, Hungarian: Nagyszeben) is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 170,000. ... Jump to: navigation, search December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search // Events May 12 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. ...

Fortification of the towns

The Mongol invasion of 1241-1242 devastated much of the Kingdom of Hungary. Although the Saxons did their best to resist, many settlements were destroyed. In the aftermath of the invasion, many Transylvanian towns were fortified with stone castles and an emphasis was put on developing towns economically. Many towns were defended by Kirchenburgen, or fortified churches with massive walls. The rapid expansion of cities populated by the Saxons led to Transylvania being known in German as Siebenbürgen, referring to seven of the fortified towns (see Etymology of Transylvania): The Mongol invasions of Europe were centered in their destruction of the Rus states, especially Kiev. ... Events April 5 - Mongols of Golden Horde under the command of Subotai defeat feudal Polish nobility, including Knights Templar, in the battle of Liegnitz April 27 - Mongols defeat Bela IV of Hungary in the battle of Sajo. ... // Events April 5 - During a battle on the ice of Chudskoye Lake, Russian forces rebuff an invasion attempt by the Teutonic Knights. ... Jump to: navigation, search The first document in which the term Ultra siluam is used referring to the area dates from 1075, its meaning is beyond the forest. The terms Partes Transsylvanæ (parts beyond the forest) dates from the same century (in Legenda Sancti Gerhardi) and after that becomes the...

• Bistritz (Bistriţa)
• Hermannstadt (Sibiu)
• Klausenburg (Cluj-Napoca)
• Kronstadt (Braşov)
• Mediasch (Mediaş)
• Mühlbach (Sebeş)
• Schässburg (Sighişoara)

BistriÅ£a (-Romanian, Hungarian: Beszterce, German: Bistritz, archaic Nösen) is the capital city of BistriÅ£a-Năsăud county, Transylvania, Romania. ... Jump to: navigation, search Sibiu (German: Hermannstadt, Hungarian: Nagyszeben) is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 170,000. ... 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. ... BraÅŸov (Hungarian: Brassó, German: Kronstadt) is a city in Romania, residence of BraÅŸov county. ... SebeÅŸ (Hungarian: Szászsebes, German: Mühlbach) is a town in Alba county, Romania, located on the SebeÅŸ river. ... Clock tower SighiÅŸoara (Hungarian: Segesvár, German: Schäßburg, Latin: Castrum Sex) is a town on the Târnava river in Transylvania, Romania. ...

Privileged class

Along with the (largely Hungarian) Transylvanian nobility and the Szeklers, the Transylvanian Saxons were members of the Unio Trium Nationum, or "Union of the Three Nations", signed in 1438. This agreement preserved political rights for the three inclusive groups and excluded the largely Romanian peasantry from political life. Jump to: navigation, search The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the Windows of the Lodge of the Heralds. ... The Székely (Szeklers in English, Secui in Romanian) are a Hungarian-speaking ethnic group, historically centered in the Transylvanian town of Székelyudvarhely, (now Odorheiu Secuiesc, Harghita county, Romania). ... Unio Trium Nationum (Latin for Union of the Three Nations; also known as Fraterna Unio - Brotherly Union) was a pact of mutual aid formed in 1438 by the Transylvanian Hungarian, the Saxon and Szekler nobility in order to keep the social status quo. ... Events Pachacuti who would later create Tahuantinsuyu, or Inca Empire became the ruler of Cuzco January 1 - Albert II of Habsburg becomes King of Hungary March 18 - Albert II of Habsburg becomes King of Germany Eric of Pomerania, King of Sweden, Denmark and Norway looses direct control of Sweden. ... Categories: 1911 Britannica | Historical stubs | Feudalism ...

During the Reformation, most Transylvanian Saxons converted to Lutheranism. As the semi-independent Principality of Transylvania was one of the most religiously tolerant states in Europe, the Saxons were allowed to practice their religion. The Habsburgs promoted Roman Catholicism to the Saxons during the Counter Reformation, but the majority remained Lutheran. The Protestant Reformation was a movement which began in the 16th century as a series of attempts to reform the Roman Catholic Church, but ended in division and the establishment of new institutions, most importantly Lutheranism, Reformed churches, and Anabaptists. ... Jump to: navigation, search Lutheranism is a Christian tradition committed to the main theological insights of Martin Luther. ... Jump to: navigation, search Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy; also used as the flag of the Austrian Empire until the Ausgleich of 1867. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... The Counter-Reformation or the Catholic Reformation was a strong reaffirmation of the doctrine and structure of the Catholic Church, climaxing at the Council of Trent, partly in reaction to the growth of Protestantism. ...

Warfare between Austria and Hungary against the Ottoman Empire from the 16th-18th centuries decreased the population of Transylvania Saxons. When the Principality of Transylvania came under Austrian Habsburg rule, a smaller third phase of settlement commenced which helped to revitalize the Saxons. Germans served as administrators and military officers, especially during the Habsburg Monarchy's wars against the Ottoman Turks. The German-populated Hermannstadt was an important cultural center within Transylvania, while Kronstadt was a vital political center for the Saxons. Jump to: navigation, search Imperial motto (Ottoman Turkish) Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (the Eternal State) The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Bursa (1335 - 1365), Edirne (1365-1453), İstanbul (Constantinople) (1453-1922) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah of the Osmanli... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Habsburg (sometimes spelled Hapsburg, but never so in official use) was one of the major ruling houses of Europe. ... The Ottoman Turks were the ethnic subdivision of the Turkish people who dominated the ruling class of the Ottoman Empire. ...

Loss of elite standing

Emperor Joseph II attempted to revoke the Unio Trium Nationum in the late 18th century. His actions were aimed at the political inequality within Transylvania, especially the political strength of the Saxons. Although his actions were ultimately rescinded, many Saxons began to see themselves as being a small minority opposed by nationalist Hungarians and Romanians. Although they remained a rich and influential group, the Saxons were no longer a dominant class. Jump to: navigation, search Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II Joseph II (March 13, 1741 – February 20, 1790) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790. ...

During the Revolutions of 1848, the Saxons ultimately supported the Romanian attempt to acquire equal political standing. The Hungarians, on the other hand, supported complete unification of Transylvania with the rest of Hungary. Stephan Ludwig Roth, a pastor who led the German support for Romanian political rights, was executed by Hungarian radicals during the revolution. The European Revolutions of 1848, in some countries known as the Spring of Nations or the Year of Revolution, were a series of revolutions triggered by the Revolution of 1848 in France, which erupted in February 1848 in Paris and soon spread to the rest of Europe. ...

Although the Hungarian attempt to acquire greater control over Transylvania was defeated by Austrian and Imperial Russian forces in 1849, the Ausgleich compromise between Austria and Hungary in 1867 did not bode well for the political rights of the Saxons. During the years of Austria-Hungary, the Hungarians engaged in a policy of Magyarisation to combat the rising nationalism of other ethnicities within the Hungarian kingdom. Jump to: navigation, search Big Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire, adopted in 1882 Flag of Russian Empire 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... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 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. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1867 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... Magyarisation was the official effort of the Hungarian government and institutions to linguistically and nationally unify the Kingdom of Hungary in 19th century. ...

After the end of World War I, the Saxons largely supported the unification of Transylvania with the Kingdom of Romania. They were promised full minority rights, but these guarantees were not always followed and many Saxons lost their land. Jump to: navigation, search World War I was primarily a European conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, stalemate trench warfare, and the use of new, devastating weapons - tanks, aircraft, machine guns, and poison gas World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War, the War... From 1859 to 1877, Romania evolved from a personal union of two principalities (Moldavia and Wallachia) under a single prince to a full-fledged kingdom with a Hohenzollern monarchy. ...

World War II and afterwards

During World War II, many disaffected Transylvanian Saxons sided with Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union. When Romania signed a peace treaty with the Soviets in 1944, the German military began withdrawing the Saxons from Transylvania; this operation was most thorough with the Saxons of the Nösnerland. Around 100,000 Germans fled before the Red Army, but Romania did not conduct the expulsion of Germans as in neighboring countries at war's end. However, more than 80,000 Saxons were arrested by the Soviet Army and sent to labour camps in Siberia for alleged cooperation with Germany. The remaining Saxons were persecuted by the Communist Romanian government and lost many political rights. Jump to: navigation, search World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atom bomb. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article is about the armed forces of the Soviet Union. ... The expulsion of Germans after World War II was the mass deportation of people considered Germans (both Reichsdeutsche and Volksdeutsche) from Soviet-occupied areas outside of the Soviet occupation zone of Germany, and is one major part of the German exodus from Eastern Europe after World War II. The process... Involuntary settlements in the Soviet Union took several forms. ... Jump to: navigation, search Siberia Siberia (Russian: , common English transliterations: Sibir’, Sibir; from the Tatar for “sleeping land”) is a vast region of Russia and northern Kazakhstan constituting almost all of northern Asia. ... The Soviets pressed for inclusion of Romanias heretofore negligible Communist Party in the post-war government, while non-communist political leaders were steadily eliminated from political life. ...

Since the fall of the Eastern Bloc in 1989, numerous Germans have emigrated to Germany due to being considered Auslandsdeutsche, or "foreign Germans", by the German government; many are therefore allowed to enter Germany and become German citizens. Due to this emigration from Romania the population of Transylvanian Saxons is dwindling. During the Cold War,the Eastern Bloc (or Soviet Bloc) comprised the following Central and Eastern European countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Poland, Albania (until the early 1960s, see below), the Soviet Union, and Czechoslovakia. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Auslandsdeutsche (Germans abroad; adj. ...

20th century population figures

• 1910: 800,000
• 1956: 384,708
• 1977: 359,109
• 1992: 111,301
• 2002: 60,008

Jump to: navigation, search 1910 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1956 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Jump to: navigation, search 2002(MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Expulsion of Germans after World War II
• Ethnic German
• Volksdeutsche
• Baltic Germans
• Volga Germans
• Carpathian Germans
• Danube Swabians

The expulsion of Germans after World War II was the mass deportation of people considered Germans (both Reichsdeutsche and Volksdeutsche) from Soviet-occupied areas outside of the Soviet occupation zone of Germany, and is one major part of the German exodus from Eastern Europe after World War II. The process... Ethnic Germans (usually simply called Germans, in German Volksdeutsche) are those who are considered, by themselves or others, to be ethnically German rather than anything else but who do not live within the Federal Republic of Germany nor hold its citizenship. ... Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans) is a historical term which arose in the early 20th century to apply for Germans living outside of the German Empire. ... The Baltic Germans (Baltendeutsche, Balten, and Deutschbalten respectively), were the ethnically German inhabitants of that area on the Eastern shore of the Baltic Sea which forms today the countries of Latvia. ... The Volga Germans are ethnic Germans living near the Volga River and the Black Sea, maintaining German culture, German language, German traditions and religions: Evangelical Lutherans or Roman Catholic. ... Carpathian Germans (German: Karpatendeutsche, Slovak: karpatskí Nemci), sometimes simply called Slovak Germans (German: Slowakeideutsche), is the name for a group of German language speakers on the territory of present-day Slovakia. ... The Danube Swabians (German: Donauschwaben; sometimes Donau Schwabians in English) is a collective term for Germans who lived in the former Kingdom of Hungary, especially in the Danube (Donau) river valley. ...

External links

• Map and list of Transylvanian Saxon villages
• Transylvanian placenames in different languages (in German)
• General site on the Transylvanian Saxons (in German)
• General forum for the Transylvanian Saxons (in German)
• The History of Transylvania and the Transylvania Saxons by Dr. Konrad Gündisch