Századok – 2012

KÖZLEMÉNYEK II. RÁKÓCZI GYÖRGYRŐL - Balogh Judit: Politikaformáló székely főemberek II. Rákóczi György Erdélyében V/1189

1226 BALOGH JUDIT POLITICALLY INFLUENTIAL SZÉKELY LEADERS IN THE TRANSYLVANIA OF GYÖRGY RÁKÓCZI II Balogh Judit Abstract The present study examines a period in the history of the Székelys which has been characterised by a great number of blank spots in the historiography. More Székely noblemen played a decisive role in the Transylvanian political life during the reign of György Rákóczi II than at any time before, since István Petki, Mihály Mikes and Tamás Basa all exerted an immediate influence upon the course of events; indeed, after the Polish campaign it was István Petki and Mihály Mikes who played a more determined role than anyone else in upholding the fidelity of the Transylvanian political elite to prince Rákóczi, and did their very best against those pretenders who, having come to power by Ottoman support, could have undermined that fidelity. Their political attitude and personal career was closely linked to the „strong man" who since the death of György Rákóczi I had wielded such power and influence as to be able to dominate, alongside the young prince, the whole politics of Transylvania through the elaboration of a wide system of clientele already before the Polish campaign. The person in question, János Kemény, enjoyed so great an authority among the Transylvanian nobility that he managed to be present continuously at all important political decisions, and frequently made the prince feel the necessity of opposing his will. The present study examines seat by seat the members of the Székely elite which then rose to prominence and authority, and analyses the means by which their system of networks and career strategies were connected to the events of national politics, frequently exerting a decisive influence upon it.