Dobrossy István: Miskolc írásban és képekben (Miskolc, 1994)
Angol nyelvű ismertető
A visual guide to the history of Miskolc (Summary) The volume contains 100 pieces of writing about the history of the city. In the first part, the author surveys the past of the city and introduces its emblems. We do not know the exact date of the foundation of the city. The writings of the ancestors who founded the city have lost in the storms of history. 1365 marked a major turning point in the history of the city, when it was annexed to Diósgyőr, thus becoming part of the crown lands. This relationship lived on until 1873 - a most important and diterminant date in the history of Miskolc, when the city became independent. The appearance of the medieval city was determined by handicraft and commerce. Gunsmiths were the most famous craftsmen, while boot-makers were the best known ones. In commerce, the trade of wine and wheat played the most important role. The stopping of the Turkish expansion played a very important role in the history of Hungary. The Hungarians lost a battle against the Turks in 1526 near Mohács, which led to the division of the country into three parts. Situated in the meeting point of these three territories. In the sixteenth century Miskolc became part of the territory under Ottoman (Turkish) rule. The city was laid waste, as well as Tapolca (one of the neighbouring settlements). The material and written records of the clan who had founded the city were destroyed in this era. Miskolc however retained its important role during the wars in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Prince Rákóczi, leader of the War of Independence at the beginning of the eighteenth century, stayed several times in the city during the war. His memory is cherished by the so- called Dory- or Rákóczi-mansion. The extension, size and appearance of the city were determined by the great migrations of the eighteenth century. Outlanders arrived from different parts of the Balkans and were of all kinds of nationalities. But they all agreed in their orthodox Christianism and in the fact that they were merchants called Greek merchants. The local population. They occupied the main streets of the city, built their new (but not ostentatious) houses here. Within less than a hundred years, they changed the architectural style of Miskolc. The author revelas the traces of this era by introducing some town-houses of the day. A lot of merchants returned to their homeland during the Greek War of Indepence. Those who remained here tried to assimilate and adapt themselves. They slowly gave up commerce, and most of their descendants chose a 'localized' profession. Their role in trade was taken over by the Jews. A lot of Jews coming from the Northern regions became residents in Miskolc. First and foremost, the organization and management of banking institutions and credit banks are linked with their name. In the first three decades of the twentieth century a considerable number of public figures, teachers, 302
