THE IMPACT OF EMPEROR JOSEPH II'S REFORMS ON THE ROMANIANS FROM THE THREE SEATS.

The article examines the impact of Emperor Joseph II's reforms in the late 18th century on the Romanian communities from the Three Seats (Trei Scaune) region of Transylvania. Joseph II's reforms abolished the Székely seats in 1784, reorganized Transylvania into counties, and promoted religious tolerance through the Edict of Tolerance (1781), which granted official recognition to the Orthodox Church and allowed the establishment of denominational schools and churches for non-Catholic confessions. These reforms facilitated the social and political advancement of Romanians, who had previously been excluded from political nation status, by enabling access to education, public office, and reducing confessional discrimination. The article also highlights the emergence of Romanian intellectual and clerical elites in the Three Seats during this period, as well as the lasting influence of Joseph II's educational and administrative policies despite some restoration of old institutions after his reign.