Megyetörténet. Egyház- és igazgatástörténeti tanulmányok a veszprémi püspökség 1009. évi adománylevele tiszteletére - A Veszprém Megyei Levéltár kiadványai 22. (Veszprém, 2010)
Tanulmányok a veszprémi egyházmegye történetéről - Mihalik Béla Vilmos: A VESZPRÉMI PÜSPÖKSÉG BIRTOKIGAZGATÁSA A 18. SZÁZADBAN, KÜLÖNÖS TEKINTETTEL A SÜMEGI URADALOMRA
Mihalik Béla Vilmos Management of estates in Veszprém episcopacy IN THE 18™ CENTURY WITH THE SÜMEG MANORSHIP IN VIEW This paper surveys the management of estates in the Veszprém episcopacy between 1711 and 1802. The episcopal stock of possessions was arranged into five manorships by 1777; the development of the administration and that of the holdings are described here via the example of the sources of the Sümeg manor ship. One fundamental issue of the decades following the Rákóczi uprising was the recolonisation and repopulation of the estate. Prefects, appointed by the bishop, made use of manorships as lessees, hence it was their interest to improve the estates. Activity of prefect Ferenc Horváth can be easily recontructed by means of a cameral investigation, which albeit revealed some abuses (chiefly concerning money- and labour allowances or accomplishments of lease), but also illustrated what measures had been made for the improvement of estates and that of the manor structure. The process of equalising burdens of tenants from different legal status began in this period, which is highlighted by the domanial regulation of bishop Ádám Acsády in 1732. Significant changes, however, occurred under Márton Biró of Padány’s episcopate (1745-1762). Estate management was taken into central control, and the bishop was interested even in the smallest details. This development can be apprehended by an instruction issued probably for prefect Kristóf Armpruszter around 1754-1755. The quarterly sessions of stewards, the introduction of economic protocols, exact registries, the control of manorial employees and the strict control of manorial accounts embody measures towards an effective administration of estates. The establishment and enlargement of manorial institutions (farms, fish-ponds, inns) and the expansion of the livestock and cultivated lands complemented this process. This, however, was not a smooth procedure: the conflict between the inhabitants of Csicsó and the landlord- bishop in 1753-1754 resulted in the emigration of the old villeins and the settling down of a new population. The career of a manorial steward (consisting of several levels) - who served in different manors - can even be outlined, which also supported the professionalisation of estate management. Successors of Márton Biró of Padány followed his activity, which period is even more lucid by virtue of extant accounts and economic protocols. Apart from the structure of the manorial budget, the rate of income and expenses, the amounts spent on improvements, the system of manor administration, all ranks of the employees and some time even the network of commerce are also cognoscible as far as the manorship of Sümeg is concerned. It was during this period that governmental regulation of burdens of villeins came to pass (1768), 176
