Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Vol. 2 (51) - 2009 Series VII: Social Sciences and Law A PAGE FROM THE HISTORY OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF TRANSYLVANIA Mariana BORCOMAN 1 Abstract: The history of the Principality of Transylvania was marked by great political unrest. The small region was coveted on one hand by the Turks and on the other hand by the Hapsburgs. The internal policy led by the princes of Ardeal contributed for Transylvania to keep pace with the evolved Occident. Through the participation in the War of 30 years, the small principality asserted itself as a power that should be taken into consideration at the demarcation between Central and South-Eastern Europe. Key words: principality, religious reform, autonomy, politico-diplomatic arbitration. 1. Introduction Hungarian nobility and the policy of the The historical period of Transylvania, princes from Ardeal was quite permissive comprised between 1540-1699, is known in this respect. The nobility that had taken under the name of Principality. This is the shelter there had stated for all that period period when the expansion of the Ottoman that in Transylvania there was being Empire in the central part of Europe remade part of the lost kingdom of reaches a maximum level. The Turkish Hungary. The policy of the princes from army led by the sultan Soliman the First Ardeal within the external framework led conquered Serbia and great part of to the positioning of the small Principality Hungary, following the victory from Buda among the great European powers of the 1540. The Turks’ initial intention was to time and to the participation in the War of further advance towards the centre of 30 years. These actions were also Europe, however they came across the accompanied by a powerful cultural Hapsburg Empire. This way, in the middle effervescence manifested through the of the 16th century, great part of Hungary dissemination of the Reform in had been transformed into pashalik Transylvania, through the development of (province of the Ottoman Empire) and education and of the printing houses. Transylvania, through the policy of its princes, had managed to maintain its 2. Principality of Transylvania between autonomy. Its status was as autonomous Autonomy and the Intervention of the Principality under Ottoman suzerainty and House of Hapsburg it paid tribute to the Porte. This situation, 2.1. Policy Led by the Emperors of the was however, much more advantageous House of Austria than the one of Hungary. Under this The Hapsburg Empire represented a situation, Transylvania will turn into a danger for the independent Principality, place of refuge for great part of the reformed and reorganized from the 1 Dept. of Communication and Social Work, Transilvania University of Braşov. 230 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Vol. 2 (51) - 2009 • Series VII interior. That one carried on negotiations (1575-1612), who would reign in parallel with the Ottoman Empire with respect to with his brother Mathias. Rudolf was a Transylvania and Hungary. The result of great lover of the arts, of the beauty by the Austrian reforms was their offensive in excellence. He fully developed this taste the 17th century against the Turks. by edifying another capital at Prague. That This way Maximilian the First, regent time was a very tense period between the at 1486 and emperor between 1508-1519 Catholics and the Protestants, and the army aimed first of all at solving the financial had to face the frequent wars with the situation. That one was to be subordinated Turks. Finally, Rudolf made a compromise to the Hofkamer. His entire policy was and elaborated in 1619 a decree with based on a strong centralization and on a respect to the Protestants’ liberty within strong control of the provinces. In the the empire. middle of the 16th century, there were felt 2.2. The War of 30 Years and its within the Empire, as well as in the Consequences for the House of majority of the European countries, the Hapsburg effects of the Reform. Rough measures In the framework of that European against the Protestants were taken by conflict there were involved two branches Ferdinand the First (1531-1564). During of the House of Hapsburg: the one from his entire reign, he had to face the reaction Vienna and the one from Madrid. At the of the protestant noblemen, powerful and leadership of the Spanish universal numerous in Superior Austria and monarchy there was Carol and at Vienna Steiermark. He even attempted at there were successively Ferdinand the 2nd achieving conciliation with the Protestants and Ferdinand the 3rd. Mathias’ main in the framework of the Council of the policy was to drastically control the Protestants from Trient, however with no provinces and to enforce the Catholicism. result. Ferdinand’s death made the empire That last direction was one with small to be theoretically divided among his three momentarily concessions, such as the sons: Maximilian- who would control the Majesty Letter from 1619, through whose Austrian lands of the Danube, Bohemia intermediary there were given some and Hungary; Ferdinand- Tirol and Carol- political liberties to the Reformed Czechs. the areas within Austria. However, their rights were not observed Also supported by influent people from and that automatically determined the the Court, the elder son Maximilian the outburst of a conflict. Second would become emperor between The episode is known in history as the 1564-1576. Defenestration from Prague, in which 2 His main energy was channelled towards members of the Council of Regency were the efforts of fighting against the Turks thrown out of the palace, in fact a reaction (that was the moment of the Turks’ great of the Czech noblemen against offensive under the leadership of Soliman Catholicism and absolutism. the Magnificent) and towards the attempt The Czech period (1618-1620) at controlling Transylvania. A second side confronted two camps: Czechoslovakia of his activity was the fight against the which had on its side the German Protestants (he led rough actions, he protestant princes (on whose side Gabriel imprisoned the supporters and confiscated Bethlen- the prince of Transylvania their wealth). entered into conflict, in the hope he would His reign suddenly stopped and there conquer again the throne of Hungary) and came to the throne Rudolf the 2nd Austria- Spain. On the throne of Austria, Borcoman, M.: A Page From the History of the Principality of Transylvania 231 there came in Aug. 1619 Ferdinand the 3rd, The emperor apparently controlled the younger and more determined to do so that German spaces. the balance would turn on the Catholics’ The French period (1635-1642). side. Between the 2 camps, there began Ferdinand the 3rd moved to determined negotiations, the emperor also personally actions against France. That was the period treated with Gabriel Bethlen and Vienna when Transylvania, under the leadership of gained therefore time to defeat the Czechs G. Rakozi the 1st, entered into war beside at the White Mountain on the 8th of the French camp (however military actions November 1620, a decisive victory, which were not led, because the prince of again transformed Bohemia and Moravia Transylvania had to correct his attitude in in provinces of the empire. Here, Vienna accordance with the Porte he depended would lead again a policy of forced on). Following several victories of catholicization. Sweden, Austria was compelled to ask for The second stage of the war was the peace. Danish period (1625-1629), which The peace was clinched at Westphalia, presented a much greater proportion of in fact the treaties were clinched in two forces than at the beginning of the war. localities: at Osnabrück and Münster. Against the Hapsburgs’ interests, there That peace greatly meant the gathered the great forces: England, the reorganization of the system of forces in United Provinces, Denmark and Sweden. Europe. Among the losers, there also was The allies’ stake was not to allow the the Hapsburg Empire, which had to cede Hapsburgs to reach the Baltic Sea and certain territories to France, respectively: prejudice the interests of Hansa. The most the episcopates Metz, Toul and Verdun, active power was Sweden. Ferdinand beside Alsace. The emperor’s authority entrusted the leadership of the empire power from the past was now diminished armies to Albert of Wallenstein- military by the obligation to consult the German with high ambitions and able politician (he princes and the Diet. The Court from introduced the policy of the maintenance Vienna began being interested in the of the armies by the territories in which territories from the Danube and they were cantoned, very profitable for the respectively in Transylvania. It enforced its Austrians). Following the general’s several possessions however outside Europe. defeats on the sea and on the land, Ferdinand could again harm the Protestants 3. The Fights for the Throne in and issued an edict through whose Transylvania during the 16-17th intermediary all their assets should be Centuries confiscated. That would function only 3.1. The Principality of Transylvania temporarily, as Vienna had to change its after Ioan Zapolya’s Death position in this respect in order not to lose Ioan Zapolya, after a few military its main allies-the German princes. actions, was recognized in 1526 as prince The Swedish period (1631-1635) of Transylvania and as king of Hungary. created many difficulties for Vienna, The Principality would pay tribute to the through the intervention of the king of Porte for the freedom of organization and Sweden, Gustav Adolph, and of France, in leadership. Zapolya led a policy in favour Germany. Ferdinand appealed again to of the young Principality, achieving a Wallenstein and, following small victories, diplomatic balance between the Turks and the peace from Prague was clinched 1635.