Berecz Mátyás - Bujdosné Pap Györgyi - Petercsák Tivadar (szerk.): Végvár és mentalitás a kora újkori Európában - Studia Agriensia 31. (Eger, 2015)
R. VÁRKONYI ÁGNES: Várak és Közép-Európa Zrínyi Miklós korában
Agnes R. Várkonyi CASTLES AND CENTRAL EUROPE IN THE TIME OF MIKLÓS ZRÍNYI From 1660, a number of leading statesmen and the general public of Europe started to see Miklós Zrínyi as the key figure in the fight against the Ottomans; “The Great Champion of Christendom, upon whom Providence hath devolved the Fate of Europe.” The study analyses this historical situation, especially in relation to the role and state of the border fortresses. The first part of the study focuses on Zrinyi’s improving knowledge of military science and politics, gained through the expansion of his library, his travels within Europe and his experience from various campaigns and border fortress battles. His speech, given on the Feast of Saint Ladislas in front of the imperial family and the court when Zrínyi was merely 14 years old, was given great emphasis, and already held the key elements of his later philosophy. The epic published in 1651, Obsidio Sigetiana, dedicated to Zrinyi’s great-grandfather proved that he recognised the importance of political propaganda, and mastered it. In the second part of the study the author analyses the specific political process. She presents the political notions of Zrínyi in detail, as well as the political circle surrounding him and his correspondence and relation with the archbishop-elector of Mainz, the leader of the League of the Rhine. We get a detailed picture of Habsburg-Ottoman relations, the battle plans of the leading Hungarian politicians (Memoriale,Opinio) as well as Zrinyi’s fortification project. The author analyses the role of Sziget-Újvár in the war of 1660/63, covering its political, military and economic significance as well. The study ends with Zrinyi’s last 100 days, where, after the effects of the Peace of Vasvár, he created a completely new and realistic political programme, which, due to his death, could not be implemented. 39
