Abstract
For the 12th century, documentary evidence is scarce and fragmentary, making archaeology essential for reconstructing the historical chronology. Archaeological data indicate that the region was inhabited primarily by the Szeklers, alongside Bissens (Hungarianized Pechenegs), as also suggested by local toponymy. Their presence in the Târnava Mare valley is linked to their function as frontier defenders of the Hungarian Kingdom.
In the 13th century, written sources show the dominance of noble domains in the valley, while toward the end of the century Saxon communities began to appear, accompanied by early forms of political and jurisdictional autonomy, notably in the terra of Mediaș. By the early 14th century, noble estates and Saxon settlements coexisted in the middle Târnava Mare valley, but many Saxon communities gradually emancipated themselves from noble law, seeking Sibiu Saxon law and local autonomy. This process is reflected in documentary references to the Mediaș, Șeica Mare, and Șeica Mică Seats in 1318, the Șeica Seat in 1336, and the Sighișoara Seat in 1337.