Crișana

Crișana (Hungarian: Körösvidék, German: Kreischgebiet) is a geographical and historical region in north-western Romania, named after the Criș (Körös) River and its three tributaries: the Crișul Alb, Crișul Negru, and Crișul Repede. In Romania, the term is sometimes extended to included areas beyond the border, in Hungary; in this interpretation, the region is bounded to the east by the Apuseni Mountains, to the south by the Mureș River, to the north by the Someș River, and to the west by the Tisza River, the Romanian-Hungarian border cutting it in two.[1][2] However, in Hungary, the area between the Tisza River and the Romanian border is usually known as Tiszántúl.

Map of Crisana in Hungary and Romania
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For other uses, see Crișana (disambiguation).
Crișana region in Romania

History
For earlier events, see Prehistory of Transylvania and Prehistory of Romania.
Main article: History of Transylvania

Ancient history
Main articles: Celts in Transylvania, Dacians, Dacia, and Ancient history of Transylvania

In ancient times, this area was settled by Celts, Dacians, Sarmatians, and Germanic peoples. In the first century BC, it was part of the Dacian Kingdom under Burebista.

Middle Ages
Main articles: Romania in the Early Middle Ages, Romania in the Middle Ages, and Origin of the Romanians

In the Middle Ages, it was ruled by the Hunnic Empire, the Kingdom of the Gepids, the Avar Empire, the Bulgarian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary.

Modern History

In the 16th-17th century, the region was divided between the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg Monarchy. During Ottoman administration, the area was divided between Temeşvar Eyalet and the vassal Ottoman Principality of Transylvania. Within the Principality of Transylvania, the territory of Crișana was part of the area known as the Partium. Ottoman Varat Eyalet that was formed in the second half of the 17th century was centered on Crișana. Since the end of the 17th century, the whole region became part of the lands of the Habsburg Monarchy and was administratively divided between the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary, the Habsburg Principality of Transylvania and the Habsburg Military Frontier.

Following the abolition of the Theiß-Muresch section of the Habsburg Military Frontier (in 1750) and the abolition of the Principality of Transylvania in 1867, the whole area was included again into the Kingdom of Hungary, which was then part of the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary. During Habsburg administration, Crișana did not, on the whole, have special status such as that of Transylvania or the Banat; briefly, from 1850 to 1860, it was organized as the Military District of Großwardein. After disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, Crișana was divided between Romania (eastern part) and Hungary (western part).

Geography

Romanian Crișana is bounded in Romania by Maramureș to the north, Transylvania proper to the east, Banat to the south, and Hungary to the west. The region consists of the current Romanian counties of Arad (most of it), Bihor and some parts of Sălaj, Satu Mare, parts of Maramureș County (Codru, Chioar) and Hunedoara counties. Nowadays it is sometimes considered part of the historical region Transylvania, although it did not fall fully within the boundaries of the historical principality.

Hungarian Körösvidék is covered by the areas of Hajdú-Bihar County and Békés County. The southern part of Crișana, near the Mureș River, was called Pomorišje by the Serbs.

Cities

The most important cities are:

  • Arad - Orthodox Cathedral
  • Arad - Ioan Slavici - Classic Theatre
  • Arad - Administration Palace
  • Oradea - The Ferdinand Square
  • Oradea - The Faculty of Medicine
  • Oradea - The Black Eagle Palace
  • Oradea - Baroque Roman Catholic cathedral
  • Oradea - The Crişul Repede river
  • Salonta - Reformed Cathedral
  • Salonta - Orthodox Church
  • Salonta - Arany Janos High School
  • Salonta - The central park
  • Salonta - Train monument and the railway station
  • Salonta - The Peasantry Museum
  • Salonta - Consulate of Slovakia
  • Wooden church in Brădet

See also

References
  1. Boia, Lucian (2001-01-01). Romania: Borderland of Europe. Reaktion Books. ISBN 9781861891037.
  2. White, George W. (2000-01-01). Nationalism and Territory: Constructing Group Identity in Southeastern Europe. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780847698097.

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