N. Varga Éva, Szatmári Imre szerk.: A Békés Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei 32 (Békéscsaba, Békés Megyei Múzeumok Igazgatósága, 2008)

Seres István: A kurucok téli szállásai Geszt, Körösnagyharsány és Mezőgyán térségében (1674-1685)

Winter quarters of the Kurucs in the area of Geszt, Körösnagyharsány and Mezőgyán - István Seres Resume After the fall of Nagyvárad (Oradea) in 1660, settlements in the eastern, Bihar area of Békés County - Biharugra, Geszt, Körösnagyharsány, Kötegyán, Méhkerék, Mezőgyán, Okány, Sarkad, Sarkadkeresztúr and Zsadány - together with the whole Nagyvárad Comitat became the part of the territory under Ottoman rule as a part of the newly formed Sanjak of Nagyvárad. About their history of the period, to this very day, there is little reliable available for the researchers. The general works usually slide over the history of the decades after 1660. Though the area tided over successfully the military operations around the fall of Nagyvárad, and until the recapture of the fortress (1692), we do not know that some greater trouble would have befallen the tract. A major part of the outcasts from Hungary having withdrawn to the territory of the Partium from the beginning of the 1670s received this area as quarters. Between 1674 and 1676 they billeted, amongst others, in Geszt, Mezőgyán and Körösnagyharsány as well as held their meeting there and in Sarkad. At the turn of 1677-1678 already the French-Polish subsidiary troops having arrived for the helps of the outcasts received winter quarters also here, while between 1677 and 1678 also the young Imre Thököly frequented this area. In the spring of 1684 and 1685, the mounted regiment of Gergely Hatházy ezereskapitány (colonel) dwelt in this area for a considerable period. Originally, the mounted regiment came into being from the solders of Nagykálló border castle entered Kuruc, and later on most of all the inhabitants of Szabolcs, Bihar and Békés Comitats increased their number. According to our sources, one second-lieutenant of the regiment was of Geszt origin, and the solders under his guidance came also from Geszt and the neighboring settlements. Our sources from the period between 1674 and 1685 enumerate data mainly to the history of Geszt, Körösnagyharsány and Mezőgyán. However, in two occasions we can prove the period existence of Sarkad (1674) and Zsadány (1685). Seres István H-1089 Budapest, Delej u. 51/18. 1/10. E-mail: istvan. seres@gmail. com