Transylvania's Union with Romania: The 1918 Great Union

Transylvania became part of modern Romania through the Great Union of December 1, 1918, when the National Assembly of Romanians in Alba Iulia voted for unification with the Kingdom of Romania. Historically, Transylvania had been under Hungarian, Ottoman, and Habsburg rule for centuries, with a Romanian majority population. While Romanian principalities (Wallachia and Moldavia) united in 1859 and gained independence in 1878, Transylvania's incorporation completed the formation of Greater Romania. The 1918 union was internationally recognized by the 1920 Treaty of Trianon. Today, Transylvania is a core region of Romania, celebrated for its medieval cities, fortified churches, and multicultural heritage.