B. Nyékhelyi Dorottya: Középkori kútlelet a budavári Szent György téren (Monumenta Historica Budapestinensia 12. kötet Budapest, 2003)

Abstract

finds, we mention here the three painting brushes that had been unknown among objects found in wells in Hungary. Summary on the basis of the results of archaeology Some of the finds coming from the well raise further questions. It is known from written sources that in the Middle Ages the present St George Street was called Jewish Street. The settlement of the Jews in Buda is dated to the second half of the 13th century. Their rights concerning for example usury jurisdiction and religious practice were regulated in details in the charter granted to the Jews in 1251 by King Béla IV and confirmed in 1256. The next transcription of the charter was in 1369. It was transcribed several times under the reign of King Sigismund and it was confirmed by the oncoming rulers too. This fact leads to the supposition that this charter was necessary when their situation grew worse, after the end of the 14th century. The Jews settled in Buda in the 13th century on the southern part of Castle Hill. Their earliest cemetery was also on the southern side under the city walls in the area of the present Pauler and Alagút Street, where the earliest gravestone was found from 1278. The western street running to the south from the present Dísz Square is called Jewish Street, and later St Sigismund Street in written sources. It is the present St George Street. The Jews could have lived in other streets too. The first mention of their synagogue is from 1307 when the followers of King Charles Robert, lead by László, the son of Werner entered the city through the gate near the Jews

7 synagogue. At around 1360 King Louis I expelled the Jews from Hungary. 'Being an ardent propagator of the faith he wanted to convert the Jews to the Catholic faith, and wanted to gain them for Christ. When he could not get his plan through because of the stubbornness of the Jews, he dismissed all of them in Hungary and he commanded that they should be expelled. He condemned their goods and their wealth accumulated by usury and he did not want to take it over or confiscate it. All the Jews left Hungary and scattered in Austria or in Bohemia.

7 Some years later, in 1364 they were