The Transylvanian Saxons (German: Siebenbürger Sachsen; Romanian: Saşi) are a people of German origin who settled in the south and north-east of Transylvania from the 12th century onwards.

The colonization of Transylvania by Saxons was begun by King Géza II of Hungary (1141-1162) for military reasons. For decades, the main task of the German settlers was to defend the southern border of the Hungarian kingdom. The colonization continued until the end of the 13th century. The first colonists - Germans, Walloons, Flemings and even some French originated from the area between the Rivers Rhine and Mosel.

An important role in the colonization of Southern Transylvania was played by the Order of Teutonic Knights, and by the Cistercian abbeys of Igriş in Banat and Cârţa in Făgăraş.

The territory that was colonized by Germans covered an area of about 30.000 km². The rights and obligations of the German colonists were included in the Andreanum act (in German: Goldener Freibrief der Siebenbürger Sachsen) of 1224, issued by King Andrew II of Hungary. This document confirmed upon the German population of the territory between Drăuşeni and Orăştie both administrative and religious autonomy and obligations towards the kings of Hungary.

The Saxon territories were organized into Sibiu County or Sibiu Province. Then, in the first half of the 14th century during the rule of Charles Robert of Anjou, probably 1325-1329, the Saxons were organized in the Saxon Chairs .

The earliest religious organization of the Saxons was the Prepositure of Sibiu, founded 20 December 1191. In its early years, it included the teritories of Sibiu, Nocrich and Cincu , the areas that were colonized the earliest.

Population

• 1910: 800,000
• 1956: 384,708
• 1977: 359,109
• 1992: 111,301
• 2002: 60,008