Petercsák Tivadar - Berecz Mátyás (szerk.): Magyarország védelme - Európa védelme - Studia Agriensia 24. (Eger, 2006)

AZ EGRI VÁR DIADALA - 1552 - SARUS KISS BÉLA: Egy hegyvidéki végvár katonai infrastruktúrája. Murány katonasága, építményei és fegyverzete

Béla Sarusi Kiss

MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE AT A HILL BORDER FORTRESS

Soldiery, Buildings and Weapons at Murány Castle

When considering the feasibility of attacks launched from Murány (now Murán, Slovakia) Castle it is worth noting that as the castle was only garrisoned by foot-soldiers, of whom there was not a particularly large number, the castle would not have been able to undertake major attacks against other castles on its own. As a result, only smaller surprise attacks could be entertained against the Turks, or sparing that, joint action in the company of other larger forces. To prevent the destruction of the castle and the surrounding villages it was clearly seen fit to build as many small-scale defences as possible, each of which was manned. In the defence of Csetnek (now Stitnik, Slovakia) it had been decided to strengthen the villages of Garamszécs (now Polomka, Slovakia) and Királyhegyalja (now Sumiác, Slovakia) lying to the north of the castle. The two stockades built here proved effective in closing the roads leading north.

Although it was the Ottomans’ strategic aim to destroy Vienna, an explanation is nevertheless required as to why the Turks failed to exploit what was the weak point in the defensive lines in the late 1550s and the early 1560s by laying siege to Murány.

In the 16th century, as in the Middle Ages, it would have been possible to resist a sieging army in a castle situated on the top of a suitable hill with the aid of the most up-to-date artillery and military know-how. Not only that, it would also have been possible without having to undertake any costly building work strengthening the defences.

From the size of the garrison at the castle and the many different ways in which they were remunerated we can deduce that, while the castle was always manned by Germans, albeit in smaller numbers than in earlier times, the palace and the two stockades were garrisoned by Slavs. The German soldiers’ rations were taken out of their pay, which amounted to about half of what the mercenary soldiers received during their period of service. Pay171