Editing Alba Iulia (section)

===Middle Ages===
[[File:Cetatea Alba Carolina Ansamblul fortificației „Cetatea Alba Iulia 16.jpg|thumb|Defense wall of [[Citadel Alba Carolina|Alba Carolina citadel]].]]
Analysis of the necropoles of the city prior to the 11th century show that they were used by a population different from the conquering Hungarians.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gáll |first=Erwin |date=2010 |title=An analysis of the Cemeteries from the 10th and 11th Centuries in Brânduşei Street, Alba Iulia (Gyulafehérvár, Karlsburg). New theories on the migration of People in Transylvania in the 10 th -11th Centuries |url=https://www.academia.edu/3556064 |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=academia.edu}}</ref> Archaeological evidence shows [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian]] presence in the 9th century.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Takács |first=Miklós |title=Takács M.: The ninth-century Carpathian basin on the north-western edge of the first Bulgarian State. An overview of some hypotheses and remarks. In: Zwischen Byzanz und der Steppe. Archäologische und historische Studien Festschrift für Csanád Bálint zum 70. Geburtstag. Budapest 2016. 502-518. |url=https://www.academia.edu/30637800/Tak%C3%A1cs_M_The_ninth_century_Carpathian_basin_on_the_north_western_edge_of_the_first_Bulgarian_State_An_overview_of_some_hypotheses_and_remarks_In_Zwischen_Byzanz_und_der_Steppe_Arch%C3%A4ologische_und_historische_Studien_Festschrift_f%C3%BCr_Csan%C3%A1d_B%C3%A1lint_zum_70_Geburtstag_Budapest_2016_502_518| website= academia.edu |access-date= 19 February 2025}}</ref>

The ''[[Gesta Hungarorum]]'' mentions a Hungarian regent named Jula or Geula{{mdash}}the maternal grandfather of [[Stephen I of Hungary]] and lord [regent] of Transylvania{{mdash}}who built the capital of his dukedom there during the 10th century. [[Gyula II|Geula]] was baptized in the Byzantine Empire and built around 950 in Alba Iulia the first church of Transylvania. The ruins of a church were discovered in 2011. According to Ioan Aurel Pop and other historians, here lived Hierotheos the first bishop of Transylvania,<ref>Ioan Aurel Pop, Jan Nicolae, Ovidiu Panaite, Sfântul Ierotei, episcop de Alba Iulia (sec. X). Edit. Reîntregirea, 2010, 335 p</ref><ref>I. Strajan, Adevărul istoric a învins la Alba Iulia, Despre prima organizare creştină din Transylvania – sec. X, "DACOROMANIA" nr.55/2011</ref> who accompanied Geula back to Hungary after Geula had been baptized in Constantinople around 950.<ref>{{cite book |last=Curta |first=Florin |author-link=Florin Curta |title=Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500-1250 |url=https://archive.org/details/southeasterneuro0000curt |url-access=registration |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2006 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/southeasterneuro0000curt/page/189 189-189] |isbn=978-0-521-89452-4}}</ref>

After Stephen I adopted Catholicism, and the establishment of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] Transylvanian bishopric, recent archaeological discoveries suggest that the first cathedral was built in the 11th century or possibly before. The present Catholic cathedral was built in the 12th or 13th century. In 1442, [[John Hunyadi]], [[Voivode of Transylvania]], used the citadel to prepare for a major battle against the [[Ottoman Turks]]. The cathedral was enlarged during his reign and he was entombed there after his death.