Things about Transylvania

Which Bathory Brach Was Elizabeth Bathory, Countess of the Blood From?

2012-01-27T21:34:00.002-08:00

In Transylvania there was a woman who became far more deadly than Vlad Tepes. She was married to a minor prince and as such kept her maiden name-- Bathory. However she was part of a greater clan, the Bathory clan which ruled within Transylvania. This was a powerful clan for many years. Yet, it was divided into two groups: Báthory of Somlyó and Báthory of Ecsed. These were the sons of Briccius.

Which clan was Elizabeth found in?

Her father was George VI, and he was a descendant of Luke, who was the founder of the Bathory of Ecsed clan. She was also a Protestant. This information helps us understand the clan's history with the Hapsburgs as well. The the King of Hungary wanted to put her on trial, but his advisers did not want to do that for fear of angering the Hungarian nobility.

This is a photo of one of her many castles. It is in Transylvania and is in a protected park because much of the vegetation is threatened. As with anything to do with Transylvania, many books have been written about this woman.

Why a Blog Needs Traffic To Survive: It is Like Tourism and Transylvania

2012-01-26T18:57:00.003-08:00

Transylvania needs tourism to help its culture survive and thrive as a part of Romania. This is somewhat like a blog on Transylvania, it needs traffic -- attention from readers -- to survive and to thrive. This means writing on a regular basis.

You need to build up and maintain your readership, and particularly if you write about a niche subject like Transylvania, you need to work particularly hard. I am amazed by the number of books and other reading material out there on Transylvania and Romania and Hungary. There is a need and desire for people to know about this part of the world.

The same hold true for blogs: they need traffic to survive in this environment, and many thanks go out to the newest writer on Things about Transylvania. Jane is an excellent writer, and often works her magic on this blog. This blog, thanks to her and the readers here, has increased traffic. I hope this is because the posts have more information, or more people would like to learn about Romania.

It also helps that many people have an interest in Transylvania and of course, Dracula -- an intreguing character and an interesting fictional bridge to a true-life tyrant - and telling great stories and giving them historical context is good way to improve readership. Readers need to read what they love, and that is Transylvania and its history, and Dracula.

So how do tourism in Transylvania and blogging in general relate? Both are providing inforamation and entertainment that people need and both have to build up a following and work hard at what they do. The heart of Transylvania is tourism and the heart of a blog is traffic and for each of them to grow, you need to provide your audience with the best information possible.

Books on Vlad Tepes: Dracula

2012-01-25T19:32:00.001-08:00

I recently did a quick search on the book website Amazon.com and what I found was very interesting to me. I wouldn't like to keep you in suspense about my search terms, so I will give this to you: Transylvania and Dracula.

I narrowed the search down to history books and found 33 results. What interested me was that the top book was about Dracula and his life and times. It seems to be a good book, and I will probably read it on Kindle. The reviews and generally positive so that seems to be a point in its favour.

There are a lot of printed books and e-books on the subject of Transylvania and Vlad Tepes, and as for man and myth, I think there will be a few books which are going to be a very informative read. It is all about Transylvania and Romania.

Except that writing about this land and about Vlad Tepes means dealing with Dracula.

Where is Transylvania, Romania?

2012-01-23T20:10:00.000-08:00

This is a question that I find partly fun and partly interesting: many people ask me, where is Transylvania, Romania. I sometimes wish I could show maps and pictures to the person I'm talking to, but the short answer is that it is in Eastern Europe.

Just like Transylvania has many smaller counties and cultures that together make it up, Romania is roughly made up of three main historical principalities, Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania.

Transylvania is found in the Western part of Romania, and this dates back to the 1600s, as shown in the picture above. During this period Michael the Brave ruled all three major principalities of what would become eventually become Romania.

Geographically speaking, Transylvania is the area closest to Hungary. On the map below, it's harder to tell where Transylvania or smaller areas like the Banat are unless you know and understand the area

Romania and Transylvania have both experienced changes to their territory, but the area is still charmingly unique, and it is where east meets west. In the past, the Ottoman Empire ruled over much of Eastern Europe and Western Europe wanted the territory. Transylvania, Romania is a part of Europe.

Banat and Transylvania

2012-01-21T21:33:00.001-08:00

What most people think of as Transylvania -- the larger province or principality -- is actually made up of several parts. Most people forget that there are other areas nearby which are not a part of Transylvania. The Banat is one of them.

This distinction is important to people who live in the area because they maintain a different cultural identity than the rest of Romania.

The map above shows Transylvania while it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary. Romania is a darker pink, but there is hardly a mention of the Banat region. In the image below, the darker yellow area indicates where the Banat and other smaller regions are, and in many people's minds, this is a part of Transylvania.

One of the cities of "Transylvania" is Timișoara, which was where the main protest in 1989 Romanian Revolution happened. And although it is very important to Transylvanian history, it is geographically located in the Banat. There is more than just a name now.

German Names of Transylvania?: Seven Castles

2012-01-19T16:06:00.002-08:00

The Saxons of Transylvania have an entirely different name for Transylvania: it is called Siebenbürgen. This means, roughly translated, 'seven castles'. The main city of the Saxons Hermannstadt, is best known by its Romanian name: Sibiu.

Up until 1941, primarily German speakers lived there, and after the war many of Germans lived there, but they were not in the majority any more.

The other cities which make up the seven 'castle' cities of the Saxons are: Bistritz (Bistriţa), Sächsisch Regen (Reghin), Kronstadt (Braşov) Mediasch (Mediaş), Mühlbach (Sebeş), Schässburg (Sighişoara) and all had strong populations of Saxons. Unlike the other city, they were not in the majority. Most of them had higher numbers of Romanian or Hungarian people in them as compared to the Saxons.

However the main place of decision-making, a capital of sorts, was in Hermannstadt (Sibiu). This is of course only part of the name and one of many names of Transylvania.

Hungarian and Romanian Names of Transylvania

2012-01-17T16:06:00.000-08:00

In the last post, I wrote about the name Transylvania, and the fact that many people know the area by that name. Sometimes, however, it can be spelled differently: Transilvania. However, if you go to Transylvania, Romania, you will hear some very different names for the same place.

Before the First World War, people who lived in Transylvania were citizens of Hungary, and after this war they were citizens of Romania. If you are Romanian, you would say that Transylvania is called: Ardeal, and if you are Hungarian it is Erdely.

To most people, these written names look similar to one another and both are found in their written form in the space of 200 years. The Gesta Hungarorum (there is an argument about its reliability but for this point I will use it) mentions Erdely it its pages - though in that work, the spelling was Erdeuelu.

The Romanian version of the name of Transylvania began as Ardeliu, but this changed over centuries. Now the spelling is Ardeal.

There are more theories about how each of the names developed, but it is interesting to people who do not speak either language to see the similarities there.

This is, of course, an intensely political topic for many people, and countless pages have been written about the origins of each of the words. Still, these are just two of the many names that Transylvania has been given. Interestingly, they are similar in spelling, but are rooted in two very different cultures.

How Do You Spell Transylvania? The Many Different Ways to Spell It and Some Other Versions

2012-01-15T22:55:00.000-08:00

There are many ways to spell the word Transylvania. After all, its roots are in the Latin language, but it still has a different meaning that what most think.

No, it has nothing to do with castles or Dracula, but rather with nature. Roughly, Transylvania means "land beyond the forests". The spelling is something interesting, too.

This land was rich with other natural resources, and many people either wanted this land and the people who already owned it wanted to keep it. The Romans and Dacians were the first to fight over it (at least they were the first to record their fights for it.) There is a place known as Transylvania and it is still found in Romania.

There the Romanian people have another name for Transylvania which is not based upon the more common Latin name, Transylvania. For most people outside of Eastern Europe, Transylvania is the more common title or name which people associate with this land. The Romanians call it Ardeal, and the Hungarians called it Ederly, the Germans call it Siebenbuergen.

Still there is another way to spell Transylvania- Transilvania. I think the same holds true with the meaning- in Latin at least. The land beyond the forest.

Personally, I think it should be called the land of the castles.

Which is Better?: Bran Castle or Other Castles in Transylvania?

2012-01-12T17:58:00.001-08:00

Below I have photos of several of the castles of Transylvania. I've also included a map showing where Brasov and Bran Castle are located in Transylvania. These places, and places like them, are part of the reason why the tourism industry is doing well in the city of Brasov and other areas. It is partly the influence of Western writers including Bram and Dacre Stoker that there is a new interest in Transylvania in general.

The reason most people enjoy seeing these sites is that it gives them a sense of history and helps give them an understanding of the people and places that had an effect on thousands of lives.

So which do you like most: Bran Castle or other castles in Transylvania?

Bran Castle

Castle of Alba Iulia with Michael the Brave and his entrance into the city.

Bathory Castle

Fortress Castle of Beitran

Vlad Tepes (Dracula) and the Ottomans

2012-01-11T22:10:00.001-08:00

A prince of Wallachia needs a throne. The problem with this particular prince was that his father was in exile. The next problem, that this prince faced was that the principality of Wallachia was under the control of a larger Empire. This Empire was ruled by a man who lived far away from Wallachia ( part of what would become Romania) and he wanted his throne. As for his name, his father was known as Vlad Tepes II Dracul.

This Empire was known as the Ottoman Empire and for much of the Middle Ages controlled parts of Eastern Europe. This would include places which would become the countries of: Greece, Romania, Serbia and others. According to many they wanted freedom from the Ottomans. In many maps it seems as if Ottoman Empire was as large as the Roman Empire. It might have been.

Again, this is a very big land, and Vlad Tepes wanted power as well. He was exiled to Transylvania, and later to Hungary only to die at the hands of the Empire he both helped and hindered.

The Saxons of Transylvania and Dracula

2012-01-09T14:28:00.001-08:00

This is the Saxon's shield that they had while they lived in Transylvania. This of course has meaning to them and it is still seen and used by the descendants of these Saxons. One of the cities that is represented by the seven castles is Sighisoara.

It is one of the seven castle cities which has a link to Dracula -- the real Dracula, as in Vlad Tepes, upon whom the writer Bram Stoker based the main character when he wrote his famous novel. Dracula was published in England is still popular more than 100 years later.

This is an image not of Count Dracula, but rather of Vlad Tepes III who was born in Transylvania. He was a younger son of the exile prince of Wallachia, and wasn't expected to become prince of Wallachia. After the murders of his elder brother and father, though, he did.

It is important to note that he was not a prince of Romania but rather a prince of Wallachia. He was not a prince of Transylvania at any time either.

The point is that the idea of Dracula makes for good writing. To be honest the idea makes good money since the fictional character count Dracula is still in the movies of Hollywood. Of course, the Russians and the Germans and the Romanians have also written a lot about Vlad Tepes. Depending on whom you read, you will find some very different points of view about Vlad Tepes. Jump into any good history book to find out more about Transylvania.

Another Published Book Soon?: Transylvania and Beyond

2012-01-08T13:30:00.005-08:00

I am almost tempted, after I finish writing and publishing my book about Transylvania and the Saxons, to expand my writing to Transylvania and Romania. There is a lot of information I can get for that. I am not sure, however, when another book about Transylvania will be published soon. This take time and effort.

Transylvania has a lot of history: a good writer could write many books on the history of Transylvania and still find more information. There is history on the Romans and Transylvania, and the Dacians and Transylvania, and also Michael the Brave.

Let's not forget to mention all the castles around the area. Or Count Dracula and his effects on the tourism industry in Transylvania. One could publish a lot of books about the area. I am planning to have another book about Transylvania published by the end of this year.

This means a lot of research and writing. I am excited about this, since this will again go beyond Dracula and go into the history of the people of Transylvania. Where is Transylvania? I hope that long term people will read books about Transylvania and learn more about both Romania and Hungary in the process. That is key to making Transylvania an important place to visit and to read about.

Which City Was The European Capital of Culture in 2007?

2012-01-05T14:06:00.000-08:00

This place certainly has a lot going for it. It has a documented existence since 1191, and for hundreds of years, it was the heart of the Transylvanian Saxons cultural life. It was also the place where many of the Saxons were educated. Up until 1941, there were more Germans who lived there than either Hungarians or Romanians. However if one combines the Romanian and Hungarian populations against the German population, this date changes to 1930.

And it is still a beautiful city to visit.

Sibiu is the city's name in Romanian, and the city which was named the European capital of culture for 2007.

There has been - like many other of Transylvania's cities - much restoration work done. Because of these restorations and the location of Sibiu, it is a modern city as well, unlike Beirtan which has been restored but is not as much of a hub as is Sibiu.

Below is the city coat of arms.

Sibiu is a fancinatiing city which has many things for tourists in Transylvania to see.

King Michael of Romania and Stalin

2012-01-01T19:34:00.002-08:00

These two men influenced the people of Romania, and also the people of Transylvania. In many ways, they came out of the Second World War with two very different reputations.

Joesph Stalin ruled the USSR with an Iron fist, and he killed millions of people either directly or indirectly. He did not fight in the Second World War until the invasion of Russia itself. Michael on the other had a different life.

He was crowned king at the age of five, his father usurped his rule, and Michael then lived with his father and grandmother Queen Marie. Some of the places he lived were very famous in their own right. Bran Castle, was one place where he lived, and where he learned the fine art of diplomacy with his circumstances.

Stalin, however, grew more paranoid and eventually forced King Michael's abdication in 1947.

Biertan and One of Its Famous People

2011-12-29T10:59:00.000-08:00

Biertan and its population were small in comparison with other cities in the area of Transylvania. At the same time it too has its share of famous people who lived there. Since the city was populated mostly by Transylvanian Saxons, this is a historically important city to them.

The most famous of the recent residents of Biertan is Artur Phelps, a commander in the Austro-Hungarian Army, an officer in the Romanian Army and later a member of the German Army. He was killed in action in 1944. He was a decorated soldier, and was instrumental in ordering the evacuation of the Saxons of Northern Transylvania.

Biertan is a UNESCO heritage site and, as such, is an important location for many people to visit in Transylvania, Romania. Notably, the Saxons often have reunions there in the city. It is a city in Transylvania where the importance of what it is - a huge medieval fortress - is overshadowed by other cities which are around the area.

One of those is Sibiu.

Transylvania is a great place to write about, I must admit.

A Review on My Newly Published Book: In Search of the Lost Ones

2011-12-27T15:48:00.000-08:00

I am so excited that the book on Transylvania is doing well. I have even received a review for the book. It is available both in paperback and on Kindle. I think that this book will help people know about the area and where Transylvania is. I know most people know that Dracula lives there...

As the reviewer said, there is so much more about Transylvania.

There is so much to learn. Transylvania is an important part of Romania, and an important part to Europe. That is the key. It is a tourist area, and that industry provides sources of income for many people. This is why I am so exicted about people buying and reviewing these books.

Where Was transylvania in 1900?

2011-12-23T16:49:00.001-08:00

This is a map of where Transylvania was in 1900. Transylvania was a part of this Kingdom, the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

As you can see, Hungary itself was quite large and would lose about 70% of its former territory after the First World War. This included Transylvania, which was given to Romania.

By this time, 1918, there were more Romanians within Transylvania than Hungarians, however they were a strong minority. After 1918, Romania would gain a lot of territory as you can see in the pre 1918 map of Transylvania and Romania.

Before this time, many people pushed for changes in Hungary -- and Transylvania. Some of them would be executed, and one such person was Stephen Ludwig Roth.

What Would Dracula Do If he was In Transylvania Today?

2011-12-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

If Count Dracula was in Transylvania today, what do you think he would do? I believe that he would probably be less violent, since the ideologies that he lived with are not allowed these days -- he would possibly be less inclined to bite people and make them vampires.

Oh one problem, Dracula would need to be alive! He is a character in a novel.

What about Vlad Tepes?

He would probably find it hard to survive in the social and political climate that Transylvania is a part of today. See, he wanted power, and he was used to massing armies to fight them. He was a warlord and a Prince of Wallachia who fought the Ottomans.

He also killed many people whom he felt were against him. This would, in modern times, put him in jail. In essence, there would be a lot of things he would have to re-learn.

Maybe he would be willing to be a tourist and see Bran Castle, but like most people who had power in the past, (such as the Roman Emperor Trajan) this is highly unlikely.

These men are people who others write about, and who are famous because of their past deeds, What would Dracula - Vlad Tepes - do if he was in Transylvania today? Not as much as he had done before.

Emperor Trajan and Transylvania

2011-12-19T10:03:00.001-08:00

The Emperor Trajan of Rome was a man who expanded the Roman Empire. Since this blog is about Transylvania, one might wonder why I even mention him. After all, the Roman Empire was centuries ago, and Transylvania was a part of the more modern Hungary and The Empire of Austria. (This was also known as the dual Kingdom or the Austro-Hungarian Empire.)

In fact in Rome, there is mention of Transylvania in a rather indirect way. The Dacians who were a group of people who lived in Dacia, and this Kingdom was in the general area of Transylvania. Trajan fought with these people and would nominally conquer them. They went on to build cities there- including Alba Iulia.

Over the years, as there more fighting happened within the borders of the Roman Empire, this led to the slow retreat of Roman influence in Transylvania. However, there are still reminders of that influence.

The aim of the fighting was to gain control of the gold mines in Transylvania. To this end, he did defeat the Dacians. Trajan had a column built and part of that column depicts the battle between the Romans and the Dacians. This is called Trajan's column -- it can still be seen today.

Alba Iulia: The Citadel Ruins

2011-12-16T10:01:00.001-08:00

Yes, the city of Alba Iulia still stands, so don't worry about that. This is one of the many ruins that you can find, along with many castles in the Transylvanian area. I am not sure, but I think I like the ruins of the citadels better than some of the restored castles.

The ruins of the citadel and fortress means something. They provided protection against invading forces, and in its time, people needed that protection and care. The cities of Transylvania were often built around fortresses like these. Many have been either abandoned or restored. They provide a vital draw for the tourism industry either way.

The same holds true for other castles that were built to protect the people and livestock. Keep in mind, the Kings needed armies and these armies needed men. If men, women and children were killed, then the Kings would have to patiently re-populate their land with fewer people and it would take more time.

This is why the Alba Iulia citadel ruins seem to hold more of a past than others. It is an important part of Transylvania and its history.

Which Castle is in Transylvania?

2011-12-13T10:00:00.001-08:00

Below are three pictures of castles and fortresses which can be found within the borders of Romania. Two of them are found within the borders of Transylvania, and the third is not. All of them are significant in Romania, but again only two of them are found in the borders of Transylvania.

Which one is not? I'll give you a few clues, in my last post I talked about where Transylvania is and when one of these castles were built.

Another is famous outside of Transylvania, but was built by the combined efforts of the Teutonic Knights, and the German Saxons.

The last hint is this the city itself is a UNESCO heritage site, and the fortress has been restored and rebuilt in recent years.

Which one, based on these hints, do you think is the one which was not built within the borders of Transylvania?

Below is a map of Transylvania, in which you can find some help there and in other posts on this blog. Transylvania is a large area, but then again so is Romania.

Peles Castle: Not in Transylvania.

2011-12-10T10:48:00.001-08:00

I was asked; why don't you talk about Peles Castle; after all it is in Transylvania. I do like Peles Castle, and it is very unique, but I would not suggest that it is Transylvanian. When you learn about its history, you find out that, while it is situated close to Brasov and other cities of Transylvania, the castle is really in another part of Romania.

It is, in fact in the former principality of Wallachia. It finished its construction in 1914. It was commissioned by King Carol I of Romania. Since it was a royal residence from the start of the royal family of Romania, it could not have been built in Transylvania. In 1914, Transylvania was a part of the Autro-Hungarian Empire.

So no, Peles Castle is not in Transylvania, but rather it is in Wallachia and maybe one day I'll write about it a bit more. As you can see, then on many maps, Transylvania is very close to Peles, but Peles is not in Transylvania.

Where is Transylvania? Can You Find It in These Maps?

2011-12-08T22:13:00.001-08:00

Below is a series of maps. Six different maps to be exact. Some of them are bigger and some are smaller in terms of the territory they show. Some of them are recent and some are older. The question is not, where is Transylvania, but rather where is it on these maps?

I am sure it is simple to find Transylvania, at least for most people. Others would have trouble depending upon which map they looked at and if they understood European history in general. That is also why people publish books on Europe and Romania and of course publish books on Transylvania.

Where is the Book? Transylvania is Important!

2011-12-06T21:24:00.001-08:00

It's interesting how people view Transylvania. I have published my book, and many people are interested in it, and this is a good thing in my mind. However I have noticed something: most people are interested in the stories of the people in the Second World War, but not so much about Transylvania.

I want to say that no matter what: Transylvania is important. It is important to the people I have interviewed and also to others. This is a place where people have lived for thousands of years. I can say it again Transylvania is important.

On that note, since more people know about my book, it is a point of interest to others. This is a good thing and this has in my mind helped improve the visibility of Transylvania. This goes beyond the questions of where is Transylvania.

Where is my book? People can find it on Amazon.com, and I want them to learn about Transylvania.

Romania: Pre 1918

2011-12-04T21:57:00.001-08:00

If you look closely at this map, you will see the Kingdom of Romania pre- 1919. It is important to note that this is the combination of two principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia. When this happened, the Princedom of Romania was formed. At this point there was no King, but rather a prince or Domnitor.

Over time, the Romanians of Transylvania sought more freedom, and they wanted to unite with Romania and to form greater Romania. This would not happen until after the Great War, now known as the First World War.

In 1918, in the city of Alba Iulia, the people held a vote, and after the end of the First World War the many ethnic groups ( most notably the Romanians and Saxons) of Transylvania voted to unite with the Kingdom of Romania.