Urbs - Magyar várostörténeti évkönyv 3. (Budapest, 2008)

Abstracts

total turnover, and most of them also delivered the most valuable freight as well. The value of the most valuable consignments was generally between the amount of 300 and 1900 florins, while the value of the smallest consignments was generally between 20 and 86 florins. On the basis of the Brasov example the wholesalers traded with consignments the value of which was above 200-300 florins. Generally the greater tax the trader paid, the greater was the volume of his trade. Not all the traders participated in the political life, moreover, the ratio of those participating in political life was low (20%, and if mcluding those who participated in politics later on, then it was 30%). 19% of the council members of Brasov were wholesalers, and the ratio of all types of traders in the town council was 31%. ANNAMÁRIA JENEY-TÓTH The leading stratum of craftsmen in Kolozsvár (Klausenburg, Cluj Napoca) between 1600 and 1655 Kolozsvár having close to 9000 inhabitants was one of the most significant towns of the Principality of Transylvania. Among its inhabitants there were in large number craftsmen, at least 20% of the population. The guildsmen included people of Saxon nationalities at a level that was higher than the town average, since close half of them were of Saxon origin. From the neighbouring, but also from the further away located smaller Saxon counties they moved to the Unitarian town, and they became the inhabitants of Kolozsvár. By the second half of the 17th century the ratio of the Protestants continued to increase as well, it certainly exceeded 5%. The wealth of the craftsmen - similarly to their burgher fellowmen - was represented by the house(s) with the workshop (equipment), vineyards, carpets, noble metal objects and the books. Their most well-doing class was registered in the town tax books with at least 1 dica (tax registration method of the time), in the first third of the century 13-16% of the craftsmen belonged here, then after the taxation reform this number dropped below 6%. This meant a tax amount of at least 21-24 florins. (The highest tax amount was several times this.) Their interest enforcement was facilitated by the fact that the guildsmen participated in the work of the town council and the "team" of officers in a ratio that was close to 30% and they did loyally represent the interests of their narrower vicinity (their guild) and of the town even at the national fora, and they were not only in one, but in several cases the consultants of the princes in respect of economic issues.