Agria 38. (Az Egri Múzeum Évkönyve - Annales Musei Agriensis, 2002)
Bitskey István: Az egri vár diadala a XVI–XVII. századi irodalomban
István Bitskey The Triumph of Eger Castle in 16 th and 17 th Literature The triumphant defence of Eger Castle became a literary theme relatively early: the wandering lyric poet Sebestyén Tinódi rushed to the scene of the siege a matter of a few months after the event, thus benefiting from the firsthand accounts of the eye-witnesses themselves. He wrote two rhymed chronicles about the siege of Eger. The Song on the Siege of Eger, which is divided up into four parts, describes the struggle against the Turkish aggressors in detail and with historical accuracy. As with all his writings they were meant to be accompanied by music, hence the addition "Lantos" (minstrel) to his name. His poetic consciousness is expressed using certain poet devices and motifs: the chosen theme, the poetic intent, his stance and the genre. During the course of the narration the events are bound together by acts of courage (virtus) and religiosity (religio), through which he creates the idealised literary figure of a Christian border fortress warrior. He also addresses the theme in a shorter, more condensed form under the title The Summa of Eger Castle. In this ballad the heroes of Eger Castle are raised to the level of role models, whose deeds turn them into heroes respected throughout the Christian world. It is here that the much-hailed humanist watchword appears, namely Hungary, and with it Eger, as the bulwark of Christendom (Bollwerk des Christentums, propugnaculum Christianitatis). At the request of King Ferdinand, Tinódi's work was translated into Latin by Johannes Sambucus, and it wasn't long before the events became common knowledge throughout Europe. The event was reported in the Appendix (1568) of the latest edition of Bonfini's historical treatise. Several metric Latin poems were also written about the triumph in Eger. References to Tinódi's works suggest that both Mátyás Csabai and Christianus Schesaeus were familiar with the work of the lyric poet. Both produced classicized versions in which Tinódi's simpler lyrics were worked up into a more decorative style. In contrast to these epic works Bálint Balassi's Hungarian lyric poetry honoured the heroes of Eger in a style more in keeping with prevailing Renaissance tastes. Balassi called the castle a fine school for warriors. Indeed, he himself served as a lieutenant in a company of fifty cavaliers. His In Praise of the Outposts (In laudem confiniorum) was an apotheosis of life in an Hungarian border fortress, or the lyric synthesis thereof. Balassi's famous poem of farewell (Valedicit patriae) was the Hungarian expression and poetic elucidation of "the shield of Christ, the King's crusade". 200
