Székely

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Székely ('sék-ei' in pronunciation) or Szeklers, (Hungarian: Székely, Romanian: Secui, German: Szekler, Latin: Sicul), are a Hungarian ethnic group mostly living in the counties of Harghita, Covasna and Mureş in Romania, with a significant population also living in Vojvodina, Serbia. Most of the world's Székely population live in Romania and they are tightly concentrated in an area informally known as Székelyföld (Szekler Land). Based on official 2002 Romanian census numbers,^[1] approximately 1,430,000 ethnic-Hungarians live in Romania, mostly in Transylvania. Of these, about 670,000 consider themselves Székely, and mainly live in the counties of Harghita, Covasna and parts of Mureş. Székelys hence account for an important part of the Hungarian minority in Romania.

[edit] History of the Székely people

Székely people in the Kingdom of Hungary

The Székely were considered the finest warriors of medieval Transylvania. They were part of the Unio Trium Nationum ("Union of Three Nations") a coalition of the three Transylvanian Estates, the other two nations being the (predominantly Hungarian) nobility and the Saxon (that is, ethnic German) burghers. These three nations ruled Transylvania, usually in harmony though sometimes in conflict with one another. Romanians (known then as Vlachs), the fourth major ethnic group in Transylvania, were generally excluded (like the Magyar serfs, and Saxons living outside the Universitas) from political power at the time, but lived in relative peace with the Székelys until the Romantic nationalism movements swept 19th century Europe. In fact, in parts of such conflicts as the Long War, the Székely allied with Vlach leaders like Mihai Viteazul against the armies of Hungarian nobles like András Báthory.

[edit] Controversy about origins

The Székely are of uncertain origins, subject to much debate among themselves and among scholars. A widespread theory asserts that they descend from the warrior tribe lands, on which the Magyars soon settled, along frontier mountains to defend against invasions from Tatars and other menacing people from the east. Székely people adhere proudly to their Hungarian identity.

Theories have been advanced suggesting Avar (most of the recent theories), Gepid, Scythian (Scoloti), or Hunnish ancestry, and some have dated their presence in the Eastern Carpathians as early as the fifth century. Some have also suggested the Székely, like the Hungarians, are simply descended from the Magyars, and that cultural differences with other Hungarian groups stem from their relative isolation in the mountains.

Many scholars believe in a two-fold Hungarian migration of Transylvania and the Pannonian Plain, one prior to the main Magyar conquest of the Pannonian Plain in 896. According to this theory, the Székely are a Hungarian group that settled in Transylvania during this first migration.

Others believe that the Székely had different origins, such as Turkic origins. A small number of scholars believe that they are related to the Scythians who may have joined the Magyars on their trek westward, and 'magyarized'.

[edit] Symbols

The Székely Sun and Moon

The Sun and Moon are the symbols of Székelys, as can also be seen in the coat of arms of Transylvania. They have largely succeeded in preserving their traditions to an extent unusual even in Central and Eastern Europe. The most comprehensive description of the Székely Land and traditions was written between 1859-1868 by Balázs Orbán in his masterpiece, Description of Székely land.

[edit] Population by county

The Székely live mainly in Harghita, Covasna and Mureş counties. They form a majority of the population in the counties of Covasna and Harghita.

The relatively small and isolated Székely population on the border of Cluj and Alba counties (former Aranyosszék) assimilated more significantly during the 20th century than inhabitants of the compact Székely areas. They can be estimated to be less than 20,000 today.

The Székelys of Bukovina form a culturally separate group with its own history.

[edit] Autonomy

Ethnic map of Harghita, Covasna, and Mureş based on the 1992 data, showing areas with Hungarian (Székely) majority

Ever since the abolition of the Hungarian Autonomous Province by the Ceauşescu regime, Székelys have hoped that their autonomy can be restored. There are different concepts and these are discussed within the Székely Hungarian society, and by the Romanian majority, too. One of the initiatives is to attain autonomy for the Székelyföld region, on the model of the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia.^[2] A major peaceful demonstration was held in 2006 in favour of autonomy [1].

[edit] Székelys in literature

Count Dracula in the famous Bram Stoker book claims to be a Székely.

[edit] See also

• Hungarian minority in Romania
• List of Székely settlements
• Bertalan Székely
• Mózes Székely
• György (Székely) Dózsa
• Székelys of Bukovina
• Székely anthem
• Székelykeve

[edit] Notes

1. ^ (English) (Romanian) (Hungarian) Hungarians in Romania, on the site of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania. Accessed 16 July 2006.
2. ^ (Romanian) României îi este aplicabil modelul de autonomie al Cataloniei (The Catalan autonomy model is applicable in Romania), Gândul, 27 May 2006

[edit] External links

• (Hungarian) Székely News
• (Hungarian) Székely links
• (Romanian) Mircea Dogaru, Secuii, poporul furat (Székely, the stolen people) Part 1 Part * (Romanian) Diana Iane, [http://ro.altermedia.info/minoritati/secuii-sub-ameninarea-falsei-identiti_3519.html Secuii sub ameninţarea falsei identităţi ("Székely under threat of false identities"), 15 March 2006 on AlterMedia România