Bihar County

Bihar was an old administrative area that belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary and later to the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom and the Principality of Transylvania. It existed as a county since 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 also 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 distinct areas with their own stories.

Geography

Bihar County was located near the upper parts of several rivers, including the Körös, Sebes-Körös, Fekete-Körös, and Berettyó. It also covered an area called Kalotaszeg, which is now known as Țara Călatei in Romania. The total size of the medieval county was about 10,000 km² (3,900 sq mi).

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

History

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

By the 11th century, Bihar Castle became its first center. Over time, the area saw many changes in rule, including periods under the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom and the Principality of Transylvania. After battles and invasions, such as those by the Mongols, the region continued to develop with new settlements and fortresses being built.

In more recent history, following events like the Battle of Mohács and the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, the county’s borders changed several 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 split into five areas. These areas had different names and centers.

By the early 1900s, the county had special districts with their own main towns.

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