Dr. Szabó Lajos: Nők a magyar sportban (A Sportmúzeum Kincsei 3. Budapest, 2003)

WOMEN'S SPORTS IN HUNGARY IN THE RENAISSANCE AND EARLY MODERN AGES Ball games gained popularity in Hungary as students studying at Italian universities (Padua; Bologna) introduced them to aristocrat families. The Italian influence was even stronger during the renaissance era in Hungary which practically equaled the reign of Matthias Hunyadi (1452-1490). Thanks to his humanist upbringing and attitude, love for nature and extensive support of culture (his library with the so-called Corvinas was famous throughout Europe), Matthias stood out among other sovereigns of Central Europe of the era. Perceiving the increasingly tangible threat of the Osman empire, he planned to make Hungary stronger, both politically and militarily, by marrying a Habsburg princess, yet the plan failed. His new marriage to Beatrix of Naples brought more Italians to Hungary and generated fierce criticism by his opponents (e.g. the Czillei Klan) for being a costly „venture". In Hungary, the renaissance lifestyle was limited to the royal court and a few noble families who were considered supporters of Matthias. Physical exercise among the masses mainly appeared in the form of folk games that accompanied religious holidays (Pentecost), private occasions (weddings, births, deaths) and agricultural festivities (grape harvest). All of these showed similarities to the respective Western European customs. Folk minstrels appearing at fairs often added gymnastics and acrobatic elements to their performance to make it more entertaining. Hunting, especially falconry maintained its status as the most popular sport of aristocrat women, yet ball games became increasingly attractive, too. This was the era when spas and swimming in general gained ground. The recognition of nature's beauties and of the fact that waters, mountain air and excursions are good for the health were all fruits of the renaissance era further developed by Reformation. This attitude raised new thoughts among Hungary's burghers as well and brought about new habits. As shooting guns gained dominance in warfare, fencing became more of a sport (as opposed to its military role). Shooting leagues which served the cities' defense interests better were more and more important. Albeit to a limited extent, women had access to such shooting leagues, too. When Hungary was under Turkish rule, the great ladies of Hungary's patriot nobility (Zsuzsanna Lórántffy, Ilona Zrínyi) were and still are renowned not only for their charity (foundation of schools and hospitals) but also for their active participation in warfare.