Alba Iulia
Alba Iulia is a city in Romania.
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History
Alba Iulia began as a Slavic settlement under the name Balgrad, built in proximity to the ruins of Roman fortifications by the names of Apulum and Apulon.
Following the Ottoman conquest of Buda, the capital of the kingdom of Hungary moved to Alba Iulia. When John II renounced his claim to the kingdom and was made prince of Transylvania, he continued to reign from here. The Hungarian name for the city was Gyulafehervar.
Under Ottoman occupation, the city would be referred to as Erdel Belgradi or Belgrad-i Erdel (literally "Belgrade of Transylvania"). Under Austrian occupation, the city would be referred to as Weyssenburg, then as Karlsburg (after Charles VI).
On December 1, 1918, the Great National Assembly was convened in Alba Iulia to declare the union of Transylvania with Romania, independent of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.