Hungarian Studies Newsletter, 1978 (6. évfolyam, 16-18. szám)

1978 / 16. szám

The Cistercian movement appeared on the monastic scene in the 12th century. The order had about 700 houses in Europe before the Reformation. Lekai maintains that though “the preferred site of a Cistercian abbey was a place of horror and vast solitude, no monastery could gain a sufficient number of vocations” without having close relationship with the secular surroundings. He describes the early history of the order in Hungary between 1135 and 1526 as related to the contemporary social setting. Hungary at the time was one of the largest but most sparsely populated countries of Europe. As late as in 1200 it had only some 2 million inhabitants. Since King Stephen I entrusted ecclesiastical administration to German and Italian Benedictines, they were firmly established (having some 80 abbeys) when the Cistercian expansion commenced. The establishment of the Heiligenkreuz “mother” abbey near Vienna in 1135 was soon followed by “daughter” abbeys at Cikádor, Egres, Zirc, St. Gotthard, Pilis, Pa'szto', Borsmonostor, etc. The golden age of the Cistercians lasted until the Tatar invasion of 1241, after which it suffered many setbacks recovering only after the liberation of Hungary from the 150-year long Ottoman occupation in the 17th century.

Lekai is Prior of the abbey at Irving, Texas, and author of a related article’ "Germans and Medieval Cistercian Abbeys in Poland" Citeaux Com. Cist. 3 (1977) 121-132. For reprints write directly to Rev. L.J. Lekai, Cistercian Abbey, Route 2, Box 1, Irving, TX 75062. Q

Levy, Miriam, “Count Samuel Teleki and his Reform Project: Comments on Habsburg Hungary ih 1790,” East Central Europe ll:2 (1975) 152-170.

Count Samuel Teleki (1739-1822) was a key figure in the Reform of 1790. Sharing many of the progressive views of both Joseph II and Leopold II, he advocated reforms that nevertheless kept the Hungarian situation in mind, namely the preservation of the constitution of Hungary as well as the unique Transylvanian system which was based on the representation of the three nations (Székely, Magyar, Saxon) and the four recognized religions. He was opposed by the county assemblies, even that of Bihar where he was High Count for a while. His reforms, while not radical, would have given greater representation to the various strata of Hungarian society. Furthermore, they would have converted the feudal system into one of half-tenancy, half propiertorship and would hav eliminated some hereditary or clerical prerogatives in favor of merit. The article is supplemented by excerpts from Teleki’s proposals to Leopold in September of 1790. □

Hughes, Ted, “János Pilinszky,” Critical Quarterly XVIII (Summer 1976) 75-86.

János Pilinszky, an eminent Hungarian representative of the Eastern European poets born in the early 1920s, is often called a religious, even a Catholic poet. Here Hughes examines Pilinszky’s poetry from this perspective, pointing out that while the poet’s upbringing was Catholic, and his imagery reflects the liturgy and symbolism of the church at times, his thought cannot be characterized in dogmatic terms. It is spiritual and religious but reflects the hopeless belief of this “war generation.” Brutality and sin are blended with compassion and faith. "The moment closest to extincARTICLES & PAPERS (Continued)

tion,” Hughes comments, “turns out to be the creative moment... .The result is not "Comforting. But it is healing.”

Hughes is translator of J. Pilinszky’s Selected Poems (see HSN no. 14, p. 3). □

Gati, Charles, “The ‘Europeanization’ of Communism,” Foreign Affairs 55 (April 1977) 539-553.

Since the Conference of European Communist Parties at Berlin in 1976, “Eurocommunism” seems to beemerging asa potential export ideology to the East. While certain eastern communist regimes have experimented with various degrees of independence from Moscow, the Eurocommunists advocate free interpretation of Marxism-Leninism, disavowal of any claim to a monopoly of power, and insistence on the creation of a broad coalition of political forces. Sincere or not, the political situation of Europe seems to favor such a policy. The effect of these ideas on the Soviet Union and on the Eastern European states is difficult to predict.

Gati is Chairman of the Dept, of Political Science at Union Coll., Schenectady, N.Y. Ö

Held, Joseph, "Military Reform in Early Fifteenth Century Hungary,” East European Quarterly Xl:3 (Summer 1977) 129-139.

By the early 15th century the Hungarian kings, notably Sigismund, were aware of the grave Turkish danger and sought to upgrade the army which “was fast becoming obsolete in numbers, equipment, military strategy and tactics.” The problem seemed centered on the generalis exercitus, that is, the mobilization of the county-based lesser nobility. This segment of the population became both impoverished and little interested in warfare. The provision in the Golden Bull of 1222 not to take the lesser nobility on campaigns outside of Hungary, and the limitation of the period of service to 15 days made modern warfare almost impossible. Sigismund attempted to reorganize general mobilization by exempting those unable to participate and by allowing the peasantry a role in the military. The banderial armies, that is, the retainers of the king, queen and the royal officials and more powerful barons became stronger. The reform failed.

Held is Prof, of History, U. Coll., Rutgers U. Q

Held, Joseph, “The Peasant Revolt of Bábolna 1437-1438,” Slavic Review XXXVI (March 1977) 25-38.

In 15th century Transylvania, as in the rest of Hungary, the barons established seigneurial control over the peasants. At the same time, the church exacted unjust tithes following a devaluation and re-evaluation of the coin of the realm. As a result, the peasantry and many of the lesser nobility rebel led.

Transylvania, represented some unique conditions. Its four ethnic groups (Saxons, Székelys, Magyars, and Wlachs) had their own traditions. The Székelys, free men used as border guards, sought to guard their privileges; the Saxons were citizens of free towns, and the Magyars comprised most of the nobility. The Wlachs were settlers on barren land and led by their own kniazi (Contractors). In 1415 György Lépes refused to accept the exemption of the Saxons and the lesser noblemen from the tithe. When the nobles resisted, the peasants of all ethnic groups joined in a revolt. The revolt was successful, and following victory they demanded the restoration of their old privileges rather than a new social order. They gained a reduction in the tithes and the suspension of

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NO. 16, 1978 HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER