Kamody Miklós: Észak-Magyarország hírközlésének története (Borsodi Kismonográfiák 22. Miskolc, 1985)

SUMMARY HISTORY OF TELECOMMUNICATION IN NORTHERN HUNGARY Present study is dealing with history of telecommunication in counties Heves, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén located in northern part of Hungary. Under telecommunication the classical postal service, telegraphy, telephone, wireless and television are interpreted. In regard of competence on post-office administration the Northhungarian territory was devided into Pest- and Kassa-administrative districts, since 1950 it is attached solely to Miskolc post-office administration. Telecommunication can be traced back almost to thousand years in the past on the area of this administration, however from establishing point of view it is still rather young. Horseback-type communication of nomadic peoples in the East was brought and introduced by our forebears founding this country. In the age of kings of the Arpad-dynasty bringing news was performed by running couriers (cursores legatos) - with old Hungarian expression "rivers" - to burden of population. These couriers had to be provided with board and lodging as well as horse - as public charges - by the villages located alongside the route. Population was relieved of these burdens by virtue of Decretum of King László I., then around 1100 at a counsel held at Tarcal in Zemplén-county it was provided by statue that all losses caused by couriers had to be reimbursed. The bailiffs uniting and directing the works of couriers were important personalities of the Royal Court. Couriers for kings of the Anjou-dynasty were members of lesser nobility living alongside the routes and practised this job by occupation to certain advantages. Diósgyó'r-castle developed into second Royal residence in the age of Anjou-kings. The farm-waggon produced at Kocs-village is connected with King Matthias I. and as the fastest vehicle of the age was in service between Buda and Vienna pulling up six stations (1485-1490). Butchers, traders at Szeged and Debrecen were characteristic couriers of this age being employed for forwarding letters while driving herds of cattle to the western districts (as they were called: butcher-post). In 1512, 1538 the squires advanced their activity by granting priviliges to them; forwarding of letters was permitted to them even during the Turkish occupation of Hungary. After defeat at Mohács in 1526 determining the fate of the country for a long time the country was devided into three parts: separated Transylvania, territory under Turkish occupation as well as the royal Hungary under rule of Ferdinánd I. Postal routes of ViennaPozsony (1527), Vienna—

Óbuda (1540) developed by members of Taxis family were connected to the Taxis-type postal network already in operation since beginning of the 16th centrury. As a consequence to pushing on of conquering Turks the postroute established between Vienna-Pozsony-Eger in 1550 was abolished, instead of it a new route was organized and opened between Vienna-Pozsony-Rózsahely-Kassa (1558) conducting it through Tokaj up to Szatmár in 1567. 145