The Eighth Tribe, 1978 (5. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1978-02-01 / 2. szám
Page 10 THE EIGHTH TRIBE February, 1978 In addition to the regular ispáns (counts), King Stephen also appointed a number of “frontier counts” (határispán) in imitation of the Frankish-German “march counts” [Markgraf). They were placed in charge of the mostly untamed eastern and southern regions of Hungary, where the country’s defenses were entrusted to such related tribes as the Székelys, Pecheniegs [besenyő), Uzes [űz), Cumans [kún), etc. These people still lived in their tribal societies, and were not integrated into the royal administrative system for some time to come. NATIONAL INCOME AND FINANCES While most of Hungary’s “national income” in the time of St. Stephen — and for nearly two centuries thereafter — came from the king’s patriomonial (“royal”) estates, there were also certain other sources. Collectively known as regalia, they included coinage and various customs, duties and tolls. There was also a minor head tax on foreign settlers who were not subject to military service in the royal army. Even though the use of money was limited in medieval economy (which was based largely on the exchange of goods), King Stephen began to mint some silver coins almost immediately upon his accession. In fact, his coins — bearing the inscription “Stephanus Rex” (King Stephen) — became so popular, that soon they were being used in such far-off lands as Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Saxony, and even the Baltic and Scandinavian lands. (Homan, Magyar pénztörténet, 83-89; Hóman, Magy. tört., I, 214-15.) THE ROYAL ARMY Like the royal administration in general, King Stephen’s royal army was also supported by the income from his patrimonial (“royal”) estates. It was a kind of feudal army that was composed of his immediate “royal followers” (courtiers and milites), of the separate county detachments, and the guard regiments of the frontier tribes. The “royal followers” were led by the nádor, who was also the commander-in-chief of the whole army. The county detachments fought as separate units under the leadership of their ispáns and under their own flags. And the frontier tribes constituted the auxiliary units of the royal army. Unless forced to fight outside Hungary, the owners of large estates had to equip and supply themselves and their small detachments. But the rank and file fighters (milites) were equipped and supported by the king. 85 visiting their ancestral homeland is nonesense. More power to anyone with an inclination to go. Freedom is a contagious disease, let it spread. By the same token let us regard the spokesmen the Hungarian government is or might be sending to us, to spread the good word, with tolerance. Of course Barnum said there is a sucker born every minute, but let us give credit to the basic sound judgment of our people to differentiate between the truth and hot air. If there ever comes a point when there will be a mass exodus of people to emigrate to the other side of the curtain then we would have to admit of taking a wrong turn somewhere along the road. R. C. Andre Watts—Pianist In Concert Performance at Rutgers University Gymnasium New Brunswick, New Jersey January 5, 1978 Biographical notes and quotes (excerpted from Carol Mont Parker’s article entitled “André Watts —A Joyous Love Affair With the Piano,” The New York Times, October 23, 1977, pp. 15, 24 Section D) : Mr. Watts was born in Nuremberg, West Germany, the child of an American soldier and a Hungarian refugee who later moved, when André was 8, to Philadelphia. His mother, herself a pianist who had hitherto undertaken his piano education, then enrolled him at the Philadelphia Musical Academy. Apparently, her tales of her great compatriot Franz Liszt, as well as his early exposure to the recordings of the lieder and piano music of Franz Schubert, account for a heavy concentration of these two composers on his programs. He.. . quotes readily... that (the) playing (of) Schubert music requires such supreme control, perhaps even more than Beethoven.... ‘Schubert’s ... is that bittersweet quality... In some of the Liszt showpieces... ‘The playing is never really good enough for me.’ Mr. Watts is fond of the Dantean sculptures of Liszt and feels that Liszt did, in fact, have a sense of humor, and did not take himself too seriously, contrary to widespread opinion. The evening’s program was begun with brilliantly-performed renditions of Schubert’s Impromptu in B-Flat Major Opus 142, No. 3 and next, the Sonata in G Major— the latter included portions of the leitmotif hearing resemblances occasionally to lieder compositions (according to impressionistic inferences gained by this attendant
