Veres Gábor - Berecz Mátyás (szerk.): Hagyomás és megújulás - Életpályák és társadalmi mobilitás a végváriak körében - Studia Agriensia 27. (Eger, 2008)
HORN ILDIKÓ: Magyar végvári tisztek erdélyi karrierlehetőségei a 16. század második felében
Ildikó Horn CAREER POSSIBILITIES FOR HUNGARIAN BORDER CASTLE OFFICERS IN TRANSYLVANIA DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE 16TH CENTURY The development of its own political, administrative and military infrastructure caused the Principality of Transylvania to exert a significant suction effect oin the surrounding territories. Its willingness to take on people in the military manifested itself in a forceful manner, on account of the fact that Transylvania had previously not been able to train a well-drilled, experienced military class, the lack of which became particularly apparent during the course of the northeastern castle wars. It was this shortfall that explained the willingness of the Transylvanian gentry to employ the soldiers and to offer them considerably better career prospects. The arrival of the Hungarian border castle soldiers occurred in several waves and at different times. In most cases it came about through what one could term forced relocation, although this occurred in a somewhat unco-ordinated and spontaneous manner. In saying this, however, one can also detect certain trends. This was case for example with the wave of Croatian arrivals raised by György Fráter, those arriving from the court of palatine Tamás Nádasdy, and the group settling in the principality on account of the Dobó-Balassa conspiracy. There were two centres in particular that provided Transylvania with a number of outstanding soldiers, the castles at Gyula and Eger. The majority of those who relocated to Transylvania had no trouble settling down, and after a longer or shorter period of familiarization, were soon able to take on important posts, whether governing castles or estates, or fdling another military post, whether that be a leading position in the royal cavalry or the irregular army. The very best soldiers managed to acquire such senior positions as counsellor, company officer of the Szeklers, governor or chief-bailiff of Lugos or Karánsebes. In other words the arrivals were able to pursue the kind of careers that would not have been open to them within the context of Hungary.
