Transylvania

(-sil-va'ne-ah,) [anc. Dacia Med i terrane a, a S.E. p. of the Austrian empire, kingdom of Hungary, situate bet. N. Lat. 45-48°, E. Lon. 22-26°, b. N. by Hungary and Galicia, N.E. by the Bukowina, E. and S. by Roumania (from which it is separated by the Car path i an Mts.) and W.by the Banat and Hungary. Area, 20,041 sq.m. The surface is generally mountainous, but with extensive well-wooded plains and valleys, rich in cereal products. C. Klausenburg. This region, after being settled by German immigrants in 1143, was erected into a principality tributary to Turkey, by John Zapolya in 1540. In 1687 it was subjected by the Emperor Leopold I., and in 1699 was ceded to Austria at the Peace of Carlowitz. Pop. 2,122,458. [s. 904]