H. Kolba Judit szerk.: Historical Exhibition of the Hungarian National Museum Guide 2 - From the Foundation of the State until the Expulsion of the Ottomans - The history of Hungary in the 11th to 17th centuries (Budapest, 2005)

ROOM 3 - The Age of Sigismund of Luxembourg and János Hunyadi (first half of the 15th century) (Etele Kiss - Ágnes Ritoók)

18. Pommel of a parade saddle, detail with the emblem of the Order of the Dragon, 1430s die and in the second half of the 15th century connected by many threads to Hungarian history. His parament set, which came later to Tököl, was originally a prelate's travel attire. It bears the device AEIOU, which was meant to demonstrate the universality of the rising Habsburg dynasty, on the basis of the contemporary interpretation A[ustriae] E[st] I[mperare] 0[rbium] U[niversorum], in other words Austria's calling is to rule the whole world. BUDA, THE CAPITAL For the first time in Hungary's history, town policy asserted itself regularly, though in a contradictory way, during the reign of Sigismund. The result of this policy was the development of a network of Hungarian towns and settlements of an urban character, and, in the mid15th century, the emergence of a league consisting of the seven most important merchant towns possessing the rights enjoyed by Buda (socalled treasurer's towns). Competing with the border-towns supported by the king, Buda preserved its leading role, and the moving of the public offices there between 1405 and 1408 made an actual capital of the settlement. A number of nobles owned houses in the town from the Anjou age onwards, and in the 15th century the demand for property in Buda increased. An increasing demand for luxury articles and goods for everyday consumption had a favourable effect on the industry and commerce of the town. The Buda Law Book, compiled at this time, enumerates as many as sixty-nine branches of industry in the town, without mentioning potters, whose products for everyday use make up the bulk of archaeological finds. The white pot exhibited is a characteristic product of Buda and its environs. The grey pot, popular and widespread because of its heat-resisting qualities, was imported from Austria. In the households of the burghers, more expensive tableware, jugs, cups and so on, were used in increasing number. The much-sought-after ornamental ceramics of the period, for example salt-glazed goblets from Lostice, Moravia and the green-glazed pottery with strawberry shaped decoration from Austria, were also acquired by well-to-do burghers. BARONS, ARISTOCRATS, NOBLES As a result of the landed property policy pursued by the kings in the first half of the 15th century, there developed a stratum of aristocrats holding considerable private property but mostly lacking a role in government. In part they were the descendants of old aristocratic families, in part outsiders, including some of burgher origin, but were mostly scions of the lesser nobility. In addition to royal buildings, large-scale building activity by the aristocracy and well-todo lesser nobility characterized the best period of Hungarian castle building which coincided with the reign of Sigismund. As well as the enlargement and rebuilding of fortresses in traditional form (Csesznek), privately-held castles with a regular groundplan represent a new departure (Ozora). Their common features are an aspiration to comfort, and, at the same time, to adequate