Petercsák Tivadar - Berecz Mátyás (szerk.): Magyarország védelme - Európa védelme - Studia Agriensia 24. (Eger, 2006)
MAGYARORSZÁG VÉDELME -EURÓPA VÉDELME BALASSI BÁLINT ÉS BOCSKAI ISTVÁN KORÁBAN - NYAKAS MIKLÓS: Bocskai szabadságharcának kezdetei és a bihari várak
Miklós Nyakas THE BEGINNINGS OF THE BOCSKAI WAR FOR FREEDOM AND THE CASTLES OF BIHAR COUNTY By examining the Bocskai estates with special reference to the origins of the Haiduks the author suggests not only that Bocskai was in possession of considerable power in Bihar County, but that the Haiduks came from the Partium, which lay in the immediate vicinity. The Haiduks were both Hungarians and Calvinists, a conclusion we came to following an examination of surnames, particularly those belonging to individuals Bocskai bestowed noble titles upon. Their properties were to be found in the valley of the Sebes-Körös (forming the most important route into Transylvania) the Körös and Berettyó valleys, the Rézalja and the Réz Hills, and a substantial part of the Érmellék. It is in this region that one can also find two of Bocskai’s three Bihar castles, Sólyomkő (now Çinteu, Romania) and Szentjobb (now Sîniob, Romania). The third, Nagykereki, was situated further west on the edge of the Sárrét. We know that Bocskai attained the free barony of the above estates, where we can assume he enjoyed exceptional power. When considering the Haiduks’ conduct one should not ignore the religious dimension. In the charter they presented to Bocskai they mention not only national - feudal grievances, but the attacks being made on the Protestant religion. The ties between the Haiduks and Bocskai are made all the closer and mutually beneficial for the fact that they came from the same region. Thus, when Bocskai stood by the Haiduks, he was also defending their faith as well as their homes and their livelihood. In addition to the political and military considerations it was also their familiarity with the local countryside, and their ability to make the most of the castles that lay there, that led to the success of the uprising. It was with the help of the Haiduks, who were also the first to join forces with Bocskai, that they were able to repel the imperial attack on Nagykereki, the centre of his estates, an action that allowed him to take the initiative. As Bocskai was not prepared, however, to shut himself in castles that were likely to be sieged, he decided quite rightly to go onto the attack, heading in the direction of Kassa (now Kosice, Slovakia) rather than Transylvania. 263
