Jan Sobieski's Polish army had crushed an…

Jan Sobieski's Polish army had crushed an Ottoman army besieging Vienna in 1683, and Christian forces soon begin the slow process of driving the Turks from Europe.

In 1688 the Transylvanian Diet renounces Ottoman suzerainty and accepts Austrian protection.

Eleven years later, the Porte officially recognizes Austria's sovereignty over the region.

Although an imperial decree reaffirms the privileges of Transylvania's nobles and the status of its four "recognized" religions, Vienna assumes direct control of the region and the emperor plans annexation.

The Romanian majority remains segregated from Transylvania's political life and almost totally enserfed; Romanians are forbidden to marry, relocate, or practice a trade without the permission of their landlords.

Besides oppressive feudal exactions, the Orthodox Romanians have to pay tithes to the Roman Catholic or Protestant church, depending on their landlords' faith.

Barred from collecting tithes, Orthodox priests live in penury, and many labor as peasants to survive.