A Historical and Archival Guide to Székesfehérvár (Székesfehérvár, 2003)

A SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF SZÉKESFEHÉRVÁR

drainage of the surrounding swamps was finished in the Reform Age. Due to the change of the hydrographical environment a new quarter emerged, Viziváros (Town of Water) on the eastern side of the city centre in the early 19

th century. Also, the number of inhabitants increased considerably; its territorial expansion is recorded in several blockplans and maps from the 18

th and 19

th centuries. The first military landsurvey and a civilian survey carried out a few years later are worth mentioning. The former describes the general blockplan of Székesfehérvár, the latter records topographical names by means of land registration, and it shows the layout of real estates. According to the national census of Joseph II's age the population of the town was 1 1786; 465 nobles were listed to be living in the town. Only 398 citizens had civic rights, most of the inhabitants were cotters. The population was predominantly Catholic, the Serb parish had 278 members. Following the Turkish rule the privileged chapter was not restored. The provost and the custos positions remained as ecclesiastical posts without a role of public law. However, the privileged status of the parish of Székesfehévár belonging to the provost became the reason for legal dispute. On several occasions the archbishop of Esztergom referring to the changed conditions tried in vain to extend his authority over the privileged provostry. This dispute lasted till the founding of the bishopric of Székesfehérvár. (Fejér county belonged to the bishopric of Veszprém from King Saint Stephen's time.) The bishopric was founded by Marie Theresa on 1 7 February 1777, she appointed the Székesfehérvár born Ignác Sellyei Nagy as its first bishop. He soon started building the Zopf-style Episcopal see in the main square of the town but only his successor bishop Miklós Millasin could complete it in 1801. The stones of the medieval basilica were used for the see. This way even the remaining parts of the Virgin Mary basilica disappeared for ever, so did the King Matthias and Louis the Great chapels, where masses had been held until the turn of the 19

,h century. Through the founding of the bishopric the chapter was transformed with 6 members, which was expanded later to 8 members. Later it regained its function as loca credibilia. (There was an attempt, unfortu-