HOREA, NICOLAS URSU, Rumanian patriot (1735?– 85), was born in Zlatna, Transylvania, of -well-to-do peasant stock and early appeared as champion of his nation (then serfs) against the dominant Magyars. He won renown as a notable agitator (famosus seductor) and paid three visits in this capacity to Vienna, where he had personal interviews with the emperor Joseph II. (whom he had met on the latter's visit to Transyl vania in 17 73) and secured his intervention in certain cases of oppression. In 1783 the peasants of Transylvania were in turmoil about the proposed transfer of part of their territory from noble rule to the Military Frontier system. Horea again visited Vienna ; saw Joseph on April 1, 1784, and declared that unless the serfs were liberated they would rise and wipe out their oppressors. Joseph is said to have answered : "Thut Ihr das" (Do so), and to have given him a paper of secret instructions. Horea now set about organizing an army out of the peasants who were being conscribed and armed for the frontier regiments. This alarmed the authorities, who suspended the recruiting; whereupon, in Nov. 1784, hostilities broke out. This was probably not Horea's intention (he was thought to be organizing a general rising for May 178 5) ; but he took command of his forces, some 10,000 men. At first the peasants genuinely believed themselves to be fighting for the Emperor; but when their successes, and the complaints of the nobles, forced the Government to move regular troops against them Horea proclaimed himself "Emperor" and "King of Dacia." He was at last defeated and captured (Dec. 27, 1784) . On capture he burned his mysterious paper. Con victed of high treason, Horea was broken on the wheel (Feb. 28, 1785). This mysterious episode was hushed up as far as possible, although the Rumanian peasantry of Transylvania continued to regard Horea as a martyr and liberator; but see Densuianu, Revolutiunea lui Horea (Bucharest, 1884). (C. A. M.)