Revolt of Horea, Cloșca and Crișan



The Revolt of Horea, Cloșca and Crișan (31 October 1784 - 14 December 1784) began in Zarand County, Transylvania, but it soon spread throughout all Transylvania and the Apuseni Mountains. The main demands were focused on the abolition of the feudal serfdom status of the Romanians and the achievement of political equality of the Romanian majority population of Transylvania with the privileged minority groups - Hungarians, Germans, and Szeklers.

The leaders were Horea (Vasile Ursu Nicola, 1731 - 1785), Cloșca (Ion Oargă, 1747 - 1785) and Crișan (Marcu Giurgiu, 1733 - 1785).

They fought at Câmpeni, Abrud and Roșia and defeated the Austrian Imperial Army at Brad and Hălmagiu on 27 November 1784.

The uprising was ended by Horea in 14 December 1784, at Cîmpeni. Afterwards, in January 1785, the leaders were captured by treason. Horea and Cloșca were executed by breaking on the wheel on 28 February 1785 at Dealul Furcilor (Forks Hill), Alba-Iulia. Crișan hanged himself on the night before the execution.