Transylvania has experienced a golden age under Bethlen's enlightened despotism.

He has promoted agriculture, trade, and industry, sunk new mines, sent students abroad to Protestant universities, and prohibited landlords from denying an education to children of serfs.

After Bethlen’s death on November 15, 1629, however, the Transylvanian Diet abolishes most of his reforms.

György Rákóczi I (1630-40) soon becomes prince.