Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 1. (2019)
Oana Toda: Tobacco Clay Pipes from Rupea Castle and their Historical Context
Tobacco Clay Pipes from Rupea Castle and their Historical Context 129 archaeological evidence for tobacco consumption, production, and trading. However, the archival documents can form a general image of the time lapse during which it became popular and of how shipments of tobacco and smoking accessories still entered the principality. The most visible impact was among the high nobility and in the princely courts, as this social stratum is well represented by the archival sources. Consequently, one has probably the most data on individual tobacco consumption from the memoirs, relates, and letters of the higher nobles and princes.80 Mentions of the consumption and selling of tobacco in Transylvania first appear at the middle of the 17th century and the earliest one is connected to the difficulties of the Ottoman army to purchase tobacco upon reaching Sebes in 1657. The price of the merchandize escalated due to the war, which caused famine and poverty Despite this, tobacco was still listed by Evliya Celebi, together with bread, as a major supply of the army.81 The military environment, especially the Turkish one, was instrumental in spreading the habit towards a larger segment of the population. In fact, Celebi, who was accompanying the army, also reached the Seat of Rupea and set camp next to the castle for a few days. During that episode, no violence was recorded. There were several days of peaceful interactions between the army and the locals, which even led to Turkish troops visiting the fortification. As the military were in permanent need of supplies, the Seat and market town tended to their necessities. The two parties even traded certain products but nothing is said about tobacco.82 Still, the troops were most definitely practicing smoking and could have introduced the habit to the population of Rupea, assuming this did not happen at an earlier date. However, no direct connection can be made to the 17th century pipes found at the site of the fortification. Moreover, these were not the only soldiers that smoked. One knows of Kuruc soldiers returning from Transylvania to Hungary in 1671, after taking up the habit in the principality. The Diets also list soldiers among the users of tobacco, along with nobles, peasants, women and clergymen.83 Another episode was recorded in the archives of the Bistrita municipality, at the beginning of the 18th century. In 1705, during the War of Independence against the Habsburgs, the town of Bistrita had to supply the Kuruc army with food, various products, and, of course, tobacco for Prince Francis Rákóczi II.84 The records on the trade and production of tobacco and its associated accessories lack almost entirely, due to the prohibitions. No wonder the plant is hardly ever mentioned by the archives and no traces of it can be found in the estate inventories of the 17th century. Historian D. Prodan concluded that mentioning it was most likely avoided and that some crops must have existed, as proved indirectly by the Diet resolutions.85 During the 18th century, the situation changed. In 1753, a vague entry in a short chronicle of Transylvania by J. Teutch mentions the leasing of the tobacco in the region of Brasov to three (private?) individuals.86 It is not clear whether they were leasing the trade and distribution or the cultivation of the plant in that area.87 The local authorities were directly involved in the tobacco business and, in 1760, the magistrates from the Land of Bärsa held a meeting in order to discuss the local taxes and the lease of tobacco as a special and distinct business matter.88 The taboo of the 17th century gradually became an 80 Gruia 2013, ch. 2. 81 CÄLÄTORI STRÄINI 1976, 619. 82 The complete account of Evliya Celebi in: Cälätori sträini 1976, 598-605. 83 Gruia 2013, 65-66. 84 Dahinten 1988, 95. 85 Prodan 1987, 232-233. 86 QKron 1903,442. 87 It is impossible to say whether the 30 tobacco bundles mentioned in the 1721 inventory of the residence of George Bánffy in Urmenis were locally grown or imported (B. Nagy 1973, 288). 88 QKron 1903,482.
