The Historical Roots of Romanians in Transylvania

About 2000 years ago, Romanians began to inhabit the region of Transylvania, dating back to the Roman invasion of Dacia around 2000 years ago. Proto-Romanians, speakers of Vulgar Latin and descendants of Roman colonists and Latinized Dacians, were attested in Transylvania as early as around 400 AD. They never left, even after the Roman administrative and military forces withdrew in the mountains, which served as a natural barrier against barbarian invasions.

When Hungarians arrived in the region, they occupied the plateau but left the mountains largely untouched. Even today, as you drive through the Transylvanian plateau, road signs are bilingual, but as you approach the mountains, they are exclusively in Romanian. This linguistic shift is a clear indication of the profound impact of the Romanian presence in the region.

The history of Romanians is deeply intertwined with the history of Transylvania. The birth of the Romanian people can be traced to Transylvania, one of the strongest organized states outside the Roman Empire. The capital of this state was in Transylvania, and the most famous ruler, Burebista, died in 44 BC, the same year as Julius Caesar. This shared history underscores the deep roots of Romanian people in the region.

Most Romanian people are descendants of their ancestors who lived in Transylvania for about 7000 years. During this period, Transylvania was geographically and politically at the center of a vast territory that was almost three times larger than today's Romania. The region played a crucial role in the formation and early development of the modern Romanian state.

Assessing the Timeline of Romanians in Transylvania

The timeline of a Romance-speaking population in Transylvania is complex, as the historical records of the region's demographic situation is fragmented, especially during the Middle Ages. It is challenging to pinpoint the exact timeline or the precise movement of populations due to the limited availability of historical records.

Attempts to argue that Romanians only arrived from the Balkans later often fall into the trap of equating "missing evidence" with "evidence of missing." Given the scarcity of contemporary sources and the vast loss of historical records, this contradiction cannot be definitively resolved. There is insufficient data to provide irrefutable answers about the population dynamics in Transylvania prior to the 13th century.

However, we can infer that the Romanian population in Transylvania was substantial before the colonization by Catholics. Historical events and records indicate that there were significant migrations out of Transylvania to create medieval states like Wallachia and Moldova. The colonization of Transylvania with the Szekely and German Saxons displaced many indigenous inhabitants, and the legal system of Medieval Hungary was often against the Romanians due to their religious beliefs. These factors suggest that a large Romanian-speaking population must have been present in Transylvania before the colonization.

Conclusion

The historical roots of Romanians in Transylvania are deeply entrenched, with their presence dating back to the Roman era. The region's linguistic and cultural ties to Romania today are a testament to the enduring legacy of these early settlers. While the exact timeline remains a subject of debate, the strong historical and cultural connections make it clear that the influence of Romanians in Transylvania has been a continuous and integral part of the region's history for over two millennia.