Pillantás Erdély fejedelemség kori társadalmára
A Glance at Transylvania’s Society in the Age of the Principality

Summary/Abstract: After having become independent, subsequently to Hungary’s splitting into three parts, Transylvania has kept its feudal structure. The privileged orders were the aristocracy, the Saxons and the Szeklers. There were few aristocratic families, and only 15% of the aristocracy had as many as 1–3 villages. The principal property was very large; the ruler of the country was prince and squire at the same time for the majority of the villeins. The greatest part of the villeins were Romanian, their number grew continuously due to resettlement from the neighbouring principalities and due to natural reproduction. The Saxons still kept their economic superiority; however, they had some competitors amongst the merchants of certain Balkan peoples and amongst the Armenians settled in from Moldavia. Certain groups had privileges, in return for military services, which descended from the time of the monarchy. The significance of these was gradually decreasing, due to military and geopolitical reasons. Among these groups the Szeklers persisted most in keeping their privileges, but were gradually giving in to feudalization.

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