Unio Trium Nationum - Founding of The Union of Three Nations

Founding of The Union of Three Nations

After the successful campaign, the alliance of Nobles, Székelys and Saxons was reinforced in the agreement called „Unio Trium Nationum” (Union of three Nations) on February 2, 1438. Similarly to the Brotherly Union, the co-operation was aimed at providing mutual aid against peasant revolts and Ottoman military campaigns. The Union ensured that the (Hungarian and Romanian) serfs continued to be excluded from the political and social life of Transylvania, although they made up the majority of the population in the Noble Counties (Comitates). The alliance of the three privileged estates continued to be effective for many centuries and provided the framework of internal politics in Transylvania. After the 18th century, when the danger of Ottoman or Tatar attacks was over, the Union became an alliance of the three estates to protect their feudal privileges from those members of society who were not represented in the Transylvanian Diet. In the 19th century, the term "three nations" became charged with ethnic considerations, because Romanians were mostly peasants and were consequently excluded from Transylvanian politics.

In 1711, the Bulgarians of Alvinc and Déva (led by church leader Balázs Marinovics) and the Armenians also claimed the privileges of a fourth and fifth natio, but their demands were not met with the elevation of their communities to that privileged status.