Urbs - Magyar várostörténeti évkönyv 8. (Budapest, 2013)

Recenziók

318

Abstracts

ÁGNES FLÓRA

The Relations Between Kolozsvár and the Central Government During

the Decades after Mohács

The pleasant relations between Kolozsvár and the Szapolyai family were traced back to ethnical reasons by the previous historical research. Doubtless, that the Magyarization of the city (along with other factors) - started in the Middle Ages then increased in the 16th century - changed its position among the cities of Transylvania. However there were deeper reasons stood in the background of the said close relationship. The present paper aims only to give a picture about the relations of Kolozsvár city and the central power in the decades succeeded the battle of Mohács (1526) through the Archival sources available in the archives of Kolozsvár which have been just partly published.

With reference to the obtained deeds and charters, one can state that the common interests of Kolozsvár and the Szapolyai family and the relationship between them influenced crucially the direction and characteristics of relations between Kolozsvár and the government. Apart from the significant privileges, the city could extend its territories in the hinterland as well as protected successfully its privileges against the nobility and the comitat. In return Kolozsvár provided material and military support for the Szapolyai family in their fights for Transylvania. At the same time the success of the city’s diplomacy depended crucially on the probable third-party’s power to enforce interests.

In the field of urban policy, that period (either) was not characterized by concerted actions which would promote the deliberate and distinct development of the city. Perhaps the conditions were not suitable for it. Aside from the highly complicated political situation, the specific structure of the medieval Hungarian society, namely the feudal society based on the three privileged nations significantly ceased the power of the bourgeoisie. Despite of that, Kolozsvár made unprecedented progress. Apart from being the consequence of the altered political and economic conditions, the privileges it got can be considered as the results of the successful diplomacy carried out by the city.