TopliÃÂa (; , ) is a city in Harghita County, Transylvania, Romania.
The settlement has had multiple name changes: Taplócza, Toplicza, Gyergyó-Toplicza, from 3 February 1861 Oláh-Toplicza, or "Romanian TopliÃÂa", then from 1 January 1907 MaroshévÃÂz, until 1918, when it received the Romanian name TopliÃÂa RomânÃÂ. TopliÃÂàis a Romanian word of Slavic origin and has the same meaning as the Hungarian word hévÃÂz: "hot water spring".
The city administers eight villages: CÃÂlimÃÂnel (Kelemenpatak), Luncani (Lunkány), MÃÂgheruà(Magyaros), MoglÃÂneÃÂti (Moglán), Secu (Székpatak), Vâgani (Vugány), Vale (Válya), and Zencani (Zsákhegy).
At the 2021 census, TopliÃÂa had a population of 12,609. At the census from 2011, there were 13,282 people living in the city; of this population, 68.49% were ethnic Romanians, while 22.11% were ethnic Hungarians (primarily Székelys) and 3.64% ethnic Romani.
Among the villages which are part of this municipality, there are large ethnic Hungarian minorities in MÃÂgheruÃÂ (34%), MoglÃÂneÃÂti (21.5%), Secu (29.7%), and Zencani (23.7%).
TopliÃÂa is located in eastern Transylvania, on the upper reaches of the MureÃÂ River, more precisely in the northwestern corner of Harghita County. It is situated at an altitude of above sea level, on the Giurgiului plain between the mountains of Giurgiului, Gurghiului and CÃÂlimani. The nearest towns are Borsec, 26 km (16 m) to the northeast, Gheorgheni, 38 km (24 m) to the southeast, and Reghin, 69 km (43 m) to the southwest.
The region was Simon Bán's property until 1228, then passed on to the Bánffy family, who managed to keep their enormous properties until 1945. As a feudal domain, the area was not part of any of the Székely seats (sedes judiciaria, Székely district with special national privileges).
The settlement was founded in 1567 by Kozma PetriÃÂeviàon land owned by Pál Bánffy. He gave the land to three Moldavian peasant families and named the place Taplócza.
In 1658, Gyergyó-Toplicza was entirely destroyed by Moldavian units led by Pintea. After 1660, the Bánffys brought 391 Romanian peasant families from Deda onto these lands. Around 1710, rafting started on the MureàRiver. Due to this profitable enterprise, Toplicza and its inhabitants started growing and evolving in both wealth and numbers. The first European census, ordered by Emperor Joseph II, took place in Toplicza on 20 November 1785. Census results showed 227 farms, 23 free and 231 thrall families who belonged to 22 lords. Baron János Bornemissza owned 52 of these families, while Baron Simon Kemény owned 30 and Count Mihály Teleki 18.
In 1868, eight "praedia" belonged to Oláh-Toplicza: Kelemenpatak, NyÃÂrmezà Â, Csobotány, MÃÂnÃÂstirea, Vugány, Moglán, PlopiÃÂ, and Magyarós; at the time Válya was already part of the settlement. Nowadays, it comprises Valea, Zencani, Vâgani, Secu, MoglÃÂneÃÂti, MÃÂgheruÃÂ, and Luncani.
During World War I, TopliÃÂa and its periphery witnessed cruel fighting. The Romanian monument in Secu is the tomb of 771 Romanian soldiers, while in the Hungarian Soldiers Cemetery 450 Hungarian soldiers were buried. Until 1918 it was part of Maros-Torda County in the Kingdom of Hungary in Austria-Hungary. At the end of November 1918, the 7th Infantry Division of the Romanian Army under the command of General Traian MoÃÂoiu crossed the Carpathian Mountains, coming from Piatra Neamàand advancing though the PrisÃÂcani Valley towards Borsec, TopliÃÂa, and Reghin. After the Union of Transylvania with Romania in December 1918 and the start of the HungarianâÂÂRomanian War, TopliÃÂa passed under Romanian administration; after the Treaty of Trianon of 1920, it became part of Romania.
In 1940, the Second Vienna Award granted Northern Transylvania to Hungary. Towards the end of World War II, Romanian and Soviet armies entered the town in October 1944. The territory of Northern Transylvania remained under Soviet military administration until 9 March 1945 (after the appointment of Petru Groza as Prime Minister), after which it became again part of Romania.
In 1952 TopliÃÂa was declared a town, and became part of the Magyar Autonomous Region. In 1968, it became part of Harghita County. In 2002 it was declared a municipality.