| Revision as of 14:34, 21 January 2008 editKissL (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users2,741 edits Undid revision 185866449 by Harghita J. (talk)← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:29, 21 January 2008 edit undoHarghita J. (talk | contribs)10 edits cleaningNext edit → | ||
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| '''Székely Land''' ({{lang- |
'''Székely Land''' ({{lang-ro|Ţinutul Secuiesc}}; {{lang-la|Terra Siculorum}}; {{lang-szk|Székelyföld}}) refers to the territories inhabited by the ], a ] living in the centre of ] (150.000 population). They live in the valleys and hills of the Eastern ], corresponding to the present-day ], ], and parts of ] Counties in Romania. | ||
| Originally, the name ''Székely Land'', or ''Szekler Land'' denoted an autonomous region within ]. It existed as a legal entity since medieval times until the 19th century. | Originally, the name ''Székely Land'', or ''Szekler Land'' denoted an autonomous region within ]. It existed as a legal entity since medieval times until the 19th century. | ||
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| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| {{further|]}} | {{further|]}} | ||
| From the ] and ] centuries until 1876, the Székely Land enjoyed a considerable but varying amount of autonomy, first as a part of the ], then inside the ], and finally as a part of the ]. The autonomy was largely due to the military service the Székely provided until the beginning of the ]. Medieval Székely Land was an alliance of the seven autonomous ] ] of ''Udvarhely'', ''Csík'', ''Maros'', ''Sepsi'', ''Kézdi'', ''Orbai'' and '']''. The number of seats later decreased to five, when ''Sepsi'', ''Kézdi'' and ''Orbai'' Seats were united into one territorial unit called ''Háromszék'' (literally ''Three Seats''). <br /> | From the ] and ] centuries until 1876, the Székely Land enjoyed a considerable but varying amount of autonomy, first as a part of the ], then inside the ], and finally as a part of the ]. The autonomy was largely due to the military service the Székely provided until the beginning of the ]. Medieval Székely Land was an alliance of the seven autonomous ] ] of ''Udvarhely'', ''Csík'', ''Maros'', ''Sepsi'', ''Kézdi'', ''Orbai'' and '']''. The number of seats later decreased to five, when ''Sepsi'', ''Kézdi'' and ''Orbai'' Seats were united into one territorial unit called ''Háromszék'' (literally ''Three Seats''). <br /> | ||
| As a result of the ], ] became again part of the Kingdom of Hungary within ] and ceased to exist as a separate legal or administrative entity. In 1876, a ] abolished all the autonomous areas in the Kingdom of Hungary and created a unified system of counties. As a result, the autonomy of the Székely Land came to an end as well. Four counties were created in its place: ], ], ], and ]. (Only half of the territory of ] originally belonged to Székely Land.) The isolated ] became a district of ] county. <br /> | As a result of the ], ] became again part of the Kingdom of Hungary within ] and ceased to exist as a separate legal or administrative entity. In 1876, a ] abolished all the autonomous areas in the Kingdom of Hungary and created a unified system of counties. As a result, the autonomy of the Székely Land came to an end as well. Four counties were created in its place: ], ], ], and ]. (Only half of the territory of ] originally belonged to Székely Land.) The isolated ] became a district of ] county. <br /> | ||
| In the ] of 1920 following ], the ] acquired ]. The Romanian language officially replaced Hungarian in Székely Land, but Székely county boundaries were preserved, and Székely districts were able to elect their own officials at local level and to preserve a Hungarian-language education. <br /> | In the ] of 1920 following ], the ] acquired ]. The Romanian language officially replaced Hungarian in Székely Land, but Székely county boundaries were preserved, and Székely districts were able to elect their own officials at local level and to preserve a Hungarian-language education. <br /> | ||
| In 1940, Romania was forced to cede ] to Hungary in the ]; this territory included most of the historical Székely areas. Hungarian authorities subsequently restored the pre-Trianon structure with slight modifications.<br /> | In 1940, Romania was forced to cede ] to Hungary in the ]; this territory included most of the historical Székely areas. Hungarian authorities subsequently restored the pre-Trianon structure with slight modifications.<br /> | ||
| ], with the Southern Carpathians in the background]] | |||
| Following the territory's return to Romania after ], a ] was created in 1952, which encompassed most of the land inhabited by the Székely. This region lasted until 1968 when the administrative reform divided Romania into the current counties. Roughly speaking, present-day ] County encompasses the former ] and ]; ] covers more or less the territory ]; and what used to be ] is part of present-day ]. The former ] is today divided between ] and ] Counties.<br /> | Following the territory's return to Romania after ], a ] was created in 1952, which encompassed most of the land inhabited by the Székely. This region lasted until 1968 when the administrative reform divided Romania into the current counties. Roughly speaking, present-day ] County encompasses the former ] and ]; ] covers more or less the territory ]; and what used to be ] is part of present-day ]. The former ] is today divided between ] and ] Counties.<br /> | ||
| After the fall of Communism, many hoped that the former ], abolished by the Ceausescu Regime, would soon be restored again. |
After the fall of Communism, many hoped that the former ], abolished by the Ceausescu Regime, would soon be restored again.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} | ||
| ==Tourist attractions== | ==Tourist attractions== | ||
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| *Salt mines (treatment against allergy and asthma) | *Salt mines (treatment against allergy and asthma) | ||
| *Traditional Székely handicrafts (Pottery, wood carving) | *Traditional Székely handicrafts (Pottery, wood carving) | ||
| ==Image gallery== | |||
| <center><gallery> | |||
| image:Korond.jpg|] | |||
| Image:Lacul Rosu 091.jpg|] | |||
| Image:Kopjafa 1977.JPG|] | |||
| Image:Kezdi centre5.jpg|] | |||
| Image:Madefalva Szekelygate2.JPG|] | |||
| Image:Kezdi kurtoskalacs.jpg|] | |||
| Image:Sovata 2.jpg|] | |||
| Image:Vartemplom.jpg|] | |||
| </gallery></center> | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * | * | ||
| * | * | ||
| * | * | ||
Revision as of 16:29, 21 January 2008
Székely Land (Template:Lang-ro; Template:Lang-la; Template:Lang-szk) refers to the territories inhabited by the Székely, a Hungarian speaking small minority living in the centre of Romania (150.000 population). They live in the valleys and hills of the Eastern Carpathian Mountains, corresponding to the present-day Harghita, Covasna, and parts of Mureş Counties in Romania.
Originally, the name Székely Land, or Szekler Land denoted an autonomous region within Transylvania. It existed as a legal entity since medieval times until the 19th century.
Population
There are approximately 670,000 Székelys living in Székely Land, or 59% of the populations of Harghita, Covasna and Mureş counties. The percentage of Székelys is higher in Harghita and Covasna (84.6% and 73.8% respectively), and lower in Mureş county, which was not entirely part of the traditional region (39.3%).
Geography
Historically centred in the town of Odorheiu Secuiesc (Székelyudvarhely), other important centers of Székely Land are Miercurea Ciuc (Csíkszereda), Sfântu Gheorghe (Sepsiszentgyörgy), and Târgu-Mureş (Marosvásárhely).
History
Further information: ]From the 12th and 13th centuries until 1876, the Székely Land enjoyed a considerable but varying amount of autonomy, first as a part of the Kingdom of Hungary, then inside the Principality of Transylvania, and finally as a part of the Habsburg Empire. The autonomy was largely due to the military service the Székely provided until the beginning of the 18th century. Medieval Székely Land was an alliance of the seven autonomous Székely Seats of Udvarhely, Csík, Maros, Sepsi, Kézdi, Orbai and Aranyos. The number of seats later decreased to five, when Sepsi, Kézdi and Orbai Seats were united into one territorial unit called Háromszék (literally Three Seats).
As a result of the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, Transylvania became again part of the Kingdom of Hungary within Austria-Hungary and ceased to exist as a separate legal or administrative entity. In 1876, a general administrative reform abolished all the autonomous areas in the Kingdom of Hungary and created a unified system of counties. As a result, the autonomy of the Székely Land came to an end as well. Four counties were created in its place: Udvarhely, Háromszék, Csík, and Maros-Torda. (Only half of the territory of Maros-Torda originally belonged to Székely Land.) The isolated Aranyosszék became a district of Torda-Aranyos county.
In the Treaty of Trianon of 1920 following World War I, the Kingdom of Romania acquired Transylvania. The Romanian language officially replaced Hungarian in Székely Land, but Székely county boundaries were preserved, and Székely districts were able to elect their own officials at local level and to preserve a Hungarian-language education.
In 1940, Romania was forced to cede Northern Transylvania to Hungary in the Second Vienna Award; this territory included most of the historical Székely areas. Hungarian authorities subsequently restored the pre-Trianon structure with slight modifications.
Following the territory's return to Romania after World War II, a Hungarian Autonomous Region was created in 1952, which encompassed most of the land inhabited by the Székely. This region lasted until 1968 when the administrative reform divided Romania into the current counties. Roughly speaking, present-day Harghita County encompasses the former Udvarhely and Csík; Covasna County covers more or less the territory Háromszék; and what used to be Maros-Torda is part of present-day Mureş County. The former Aranyosszék is today divided between Cluj and Alba Counties.
After the fall of Communism, many hoped that the former Hungarian Autonomous Region, abolished by the Ceausescu Regime, would soon be restored again.
Tourist attractions
- Rural tourism
- Hiking in the mountains
- Mofette, Spas
- Mineral springs, thermal baths
- Salt mines (treatment against allergy and asthma)
- Traditional Székely handicrafts (Pottery, wood carving)