Crișana

For other uses, see Crișana (disambiguation).

Romanian part of Crișana region

Crișana (Hungarian: Körösvidék; German: Kreischgebiet) is a geographical and historical region divided today between Romania and Hungary, named after the Criș (Körös) River and its three tributaries: the Crișul Alb, Crișul Negru and Crișul Repede.

It is bounded to the east by the Apuseni Mountains, to the south by the river Mureș, and to the west by the Tisza. The Romanian-Hungarian border cuts it in two.^[1][2]

History

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, while in the middle ages, it was ruled by the Hunnic Empire, the Kingdom of the Gepids, the Kingdom of the Avars, the Bulgarian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary.

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 vassal Ottoman Principality of Transylvania. Within Principality of Transylvania, 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 in Crișana. Since the end of the 17th century, the whole region was included into the Habsburg Monarchy and was administratively divided between the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary, Habsburg Principality of Transylvania and Habsburg Military Frontier.

Following the abolishment of Theiß-Muresch section of the Habsburg Military Frontier (in 1750) and abolishment of the Principality of Transylvania (in 1867), the whole area was included into the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary, which after 1867 became one of two autonomous parts of dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary. During Habsburg administration, Crișana mostly did not had special status like 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, Crişana 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, the Banat to the south, and the Hungarian Pannonian Plain to the west. The region consists of the current Romanian counties of Arad (most of it), Bihor and some parts of Sălaj, Satu Mare 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. Southern part of Crișana, near the river Mureș, was called Pomorišje by the Serbs.

Cities

The most important cities are:

• Oradea, Arad, Salonta, and Beiuş (in Romania)
• Debrecen, Békéscsaba, and Gyula (in Hungary)

See also

• Partium

References

1. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=zHTN-TQkd3cC&pg=PA26&dq=crisana+tisza&cd=3#v=onepage&q=crisana%20tisza&f=false
2. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=-7TgkO8utHIC&pg=PA174&dq=crisana+tisza+river&lr=&cd=1#v=onepage&q=crisana%20tisza%20river&f=false