Later the Dacians under their leader Burebista established solid control over the territory, but were conquered and massacred by the Roman Empire.

Hunyad was part of Roman Dacia for a short time, but by the 3rd century it was occupied by the Goths, later by the Vandals and Gepids.

The nomadic Avars conquered Transylvania in 567, and remained the ethnic majority even after the collapse of their khaganate.

The Igech, Szerekes, Andos and Zeyk noble families are all of Avar origin, along with the name of the river Zsil.

In 1876, when the administrative structure of Transylvania was changed, its territory was modified to include about two thirds of the former Zaránd County (Brád/Brad and Körösbánya/Baia de Criș districts) and the Saxon seat of Broos/Orăștie.