A Hajdú-Bihar Megyei Levéltár évkönyve 13. 1986 (Debrecen, 1986)

Tanulmányok - Balogh István: Két város története az új monográfiák tükrében

The histories of two towns as reflected by new monographs ,

István Balogh

Town history research in Hungary has fortunately been prospering and widening with new points of view for the last decades, being enriched with the monographic elaboration of the history of two ancient and vinerable towns (Debrecen, volumes 1-2, 1981-1985; Szeged vol. 1-2, 1983-1985). As a result of the collectives ’authorial works we can follow the progress of two towns which—in contrast to most of the towns in Central-Middle Europe—do not exist as a result of foundation but grew out of the mass of adjacent villages by primarily effecting geographical energy (trade routes, areas of different products), by the division of labour gradually developing since the 13—14th centuries (divergence of agriculture and handicraft) and by the exchange of goods. It is interesting that there are no documentational sources about their early histories (11—12th centuries), and a 250 years’ period is reflected only by archeological excavations, research on local names and by the analysis of the topography of the twovon-plans.

Szeged is first mentioned in a document in 1183 as the site where salt—as the monopoly of the sovereign—coming from Transylvania on the river Maros, was transferred. The inhabitants of the town obtained the essential liberty of town burghers (hospes) of the Middle Ages, the privilege to elect judges in the last third of the 13th century. Szeged remained a royal town (civitas) from the beginning on, being the only one in the central Hungarian settlement area. As the town of significant crafts and trades, dealing with cattle breeding and merchanatry in large areas even outside its territory, it was occupied by the Turks in 1543 and remained so for 143 years.

After being liberated from the Turkish occupation (1686) it regained the right of free royal town in 1719, hence its burghers formed the fourth privileged estate of the state until the end of the feudal ages (1848). The two volumes of the monography discuss the economic, social and cultural development of the town in each period in detail.

Debrecen reflects, in contrast to Szeged, the other type of town development in Hungary. Starting from a village of the crown lands it developed into the administrational centre of the secular tenures, formed around the turn of the 13—14th centuries. It gained, with the help of big landowners who played important roles in the country, the right to elect judges, meaning the liberation from vassalage, in 1361. It was followed by several other privileges during the 15th century (holding fairs, rules of guids, patronate right). The personal dependence of its inhabitants on the landlord’s power was assured by the definite sum of annual tax (census). At the beginning of the 16th century it was the largest market-town (oppidum) of the country, the only market centre within 40-60 kms’ circle, with textile, leather and iron industry, supplying the surrounding area. In its 480 km2 it developed, with the help of its landlords, large-scale livestock breeding took place in the puszta. Its tradesman dealing with cattle also participated in supplying South-German towns with meat during the 16—17th centuries.

After the country was divided into three parts (1542), the town belonged to the independent principality of Transylvania until 1686. It payed taxes to the royal court, to Transylvania and to the Turks. In 1618 it was liberated from the rule of landlords and, due to its bordering position, became the centre of an important international trade route (From the Balkans to Poland). After the middle of the 16th century the Calvinist direction of Reformation was accepted in the town and through its church organization and school remained the greatest intellectual centre of Calvinism in Hungary until the end of the feudal ages.

During the 16—17th centuries its administrational autonomy was better developed than that of the royal towns remaining under royal power. In 1693 it became a royal town itself by the royal charcter and this right was accepted by the parliament after 1715.

Liberation movements (1686-1699) and the war of independence led by Rákóczi (1703-1711) were harmful for the welfare ofitsburghesses, but at the end of the 18th century it still had the largest population in Hungary, though trade was declining and handicraft was stagnant.

Large-scale cattle breeding and extensive agriculture were organized in the lands mortgaged during the 17-18th centuries, and this agricultural feature of the town became even stronger during the 19th century, actually being maintained till the end of the century.

On the other hand, Szeged, due to its favourable geographic position (shipping traffic on the river Tisza) could be connected to the long-disctance trade, formed as a result of the wool-, to bacco- and cereals-boom.

There was an even grater difference between the two towns in the field of culture, Debrecen preserved, in spite of every effort of the state power, its Calvinist character having formed after the middle of the 16th century, while Szeged, sponsored by state power, became the largest Catholic centre of Hungarians in the Great Plain.

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