Szőcs Péter Levente (szerk.): Ecsed. Ghid cultural şi istoric (Satu Mare, 2009)

The Golden Age of Ecsed

bearing a sword. The town had considerable autonomy, it was led by a mayor, a notary and 12 jury (magistrates) There was a confessional school too, under the supervision of the high school of Oradea (Várad), then Satu Mare (Szatmár), Baia Mare (Nagybánya) and Sárospatak. At the turn of the 16th century it became part of the College of Debrecen. Teaching was made according to the educational system of the mother school, under the board of rectors and preceptors.

As a consequence, prince Gábriel Báthori was considered the main benefactor of the town, thus his body was carried to Ecsed after his assassination at Oradea (Várad) in October 1613. The death of the prince meant the change of the landlord. The fortress and the domain were taken over by King Mathias II in 1614. During his reign, the privileges of Ecsed were recognized in the entire kingdom, not only in Transylvania. The population of the town has changed, too: the homogeneity of the local community, comprising merely free peasants, was broken up when several families of the local nobility established their residence here. These noble houses changed the look-out of the town, as they were built of brick or stone, being inhabited by their owners only occasionally.

Gábor Bethlen, prince of Transylvania elected in 1613, conquered the castle of Ecsed in 1619. During his anti-Habsburg campaign, he transferred here the Hungarian royal crown captured in Bratislava. The prince and his followers were good lords: they renewed and

Sigiliul oraşului Ecedea din 1608 Ecsed város pecsétje 1608-ból Seal of the town of Ecsed

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