Bihar County

History

Bihar was an old area that belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary and later to the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom and the Principality of Transylvania. It became a county in the 16th century when Transylvania was ruled by its own princes. Today, most of Bihar’s land is part of Romania, with a smaller western piece still in Hungary.

The main city of Bihar was Nagyvárad, which is now called Oradea and lies in Romania. This area has a rich history and was the home region of Albrecht Dürer’s father. Bihar is sometimes mixed up with other places that sound similar, like Bihor County, Bihar, or Hajdú–Bihar County, but they are different areas with their own stories.

Geography

Bihar County was near several rivers, including the Körös, Sebes-Körös, Fekete-Körös, and Berettyó. It also included an area called Kalotaszeg, now Țara Călatei in Romania. The medieval county was about 10,000 km² (3,900 sq mi) in size.

After 1876, Bihar County shared borders with other Hungarian counties such as Békés, Hajdú, Szabolcs, Szatmár, Szilágy, Kolozs, Torda-Aranyos, and Arad. The western part was in the Pannonian Plain, and the eastern part was in the Apuseni Mountains. By around 1910, the county covered 10,657 km² (4,115 sq mi), making it the third largest county in Hungary.

History

The name Bihar might come from an old fortress or a word meaning “storm.” Its history goes back to medieval times when it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary.

By the 1100s, Bihar Castle was its first center. Over time, the area changed rulers, including the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom and the Principality of Transylvania. After battles and invasions, like those by the Mongols, the region kept growing with new settlements and fortresses.

In more recent times, after events like the Battle of Mohács and the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, the county’s borders changed many times. After World War I, most of Bihar became part of Romania, with a smaller western part staying in Hungary. Today, the area is split between Romanian Bihor County and Hungary’s Hajdú-Bihar county.

Demographics

List of ispáns

See also: Ispán

Eleventh and twelfth centuries

Thirteenth century

Fourteenth century

Districts

In the early 1800s, Bihar County was divided into five areas. Each area had a different name and a main town.

By the early 1900s, the county had special districts, each with its own main town.

The towns of Derecske, Berettyóújfalu, Biharnagybajom, and Biharkeresztes are now in Hungary. Other towns are in Romania.