Formed as a social class in the period of Enlightenment, the intellectuals increased their influence in the society during the 19th century, when the specialization, the competence, the education and the professionalism, become as important criteria in the social ascension as the nobility. The process is closely linked to the secularization of the social life and especially of the educational system. In 1906, in the County of Satu Mare were 6.265 persons with high-school and university studies. Their number reached 14.066 with high school degree and 1860 with university degree in 1930. PV