Bujdosné Pap Györgyi et al.: Mozgó frontvonalak. Háború és diplomácia a várháborúk időszakában 1552-1568 - Studia Agriensia 35. (Eger, 2017)
Florin-Nicolae Ardelean: On the Foreign Mercenaries and Early Modern Military Innovations in East Central Europe. Castaldo's Army in Transsylvania and the Banat
da Pratovecchio from Pisa was sent in the Banat to strengthen the fortifications of Lippa and Temesvár.34 The defence of the Banat was considered a priority because that was the region where the Ottoman offensive was expected. That is why András Báthory, who was previously sent in the Banat with an important part of the troops, received 1000 florins for the urgent reparations needed at Temesvár. The other works had to be completed with contributions collected from the inhabitants of Transylvania.35 Another initiative of Castaldo was to fortify the mountain passes that linked Transylvania to Moldavia and Wallachia, but he had to face the opposition of the Székely on this matter, who invoked a privilege according to which no royal fortress could be built on their lands.36 The lack of financial means hampered most of Castaldos initiatives in Transylvania. In a letter sent to Emperor Ferdinand in September 1551, the general complained that he was missing 10000 ducats to pay the wages of his soldiers and another 50 000 for the rest of the military expenditure in Transylvania.37 The effort to consolidate the defensive system of Transylvania and the Banat was continued in 1552. At the end of May 2000 workers and craftsmen form Bohemia ( operarios Bohemos) were brought to Transylvania for the purpose of building and modernizing Transylvanian fortifications. Apparently they were settled somewhere near Brassó.38 In April 1552 Áldana vas given a provision of 3000 florins for the necessary constructions and repairs at the fortress of Lippa.39 Castaldo brought many Italian architects and engineers in Transylvania: Sigismundo da Pratovecchio and his son Felice from Pisa, Alessandro Clippa (Cavalini) da Urbino, Francesco and Simone da Pozzo from Milano, Martino and Antonio da Spazio, Cristoforo Stella, Antonio da Bufalo and Andrea da Treviso.40 Although most of the fortress building initiatives of Castaldo were never finalized, they had an important long lasting impact on the defensive system of the Transylvanian principality. The Italian general is rightfully considered the initiator of the New Italian Type fortification in Transylvania.41 In 1551, and in the following years of Castaldo ' s stay in Transylvania, weapons and other military supplies were brought in Transylvania especially from Royal 34 ibid. £ 138-139; ibid. Fas. 59, Konv. A, £ 49-50; ibid. £ 57-58.; on the activity of the two Italian architects during the presence of Castaldo in Transylvania also see KovAcs 2012.165-167. 35 ÖStA HHStA Hungarica AA Fas. 59, Konv. A, £ 69. 36 Motogna 1928.156. 37 ÖStA HHStA Hungarica AA Fas. 59, Konv. B, £ 152. 38 ibid. Fas. 63, Konv. A, f 207-209,225. 39 ibid. Konv. B, £9-10. 40 Masi 2015.45. 41 Sebestyén-Sebestyén 1963.37. 122
