H. Bathó Edit – Horváth László – Kaposvári Gyöngyi – Tárnoki Judit – Vadász István szerk.: Tisicum - A Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok Megyei Múzeumok Évkönyve 15. (2006)
GÁBOR BAGI: AN OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF BESENYSZÖG FROM THE TURKISH CONQUEST TO THE MIDDLE OF THE 18th CENTURY
GÁBOR BAGI AN OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF BESENYSZOG FROM THE TURKISH CONQUEST TO THE MIDDLE OF THE 18™ CENTURY After the formation of the feudálist Hungárián state, the present area of Besenyszög became part of Heves county. In the area surrounded by the rivers Tisza and Zagyva, there is evidence of at least 6 villages. Only three of them existed by the time of the conquest: Szeg, Szentiván, and Fokorú. Although a number of ecclesiastic and secular lords shared the ownership of the settlements here in the centuries before Mohács, finally the vast majority of the borderland came to the hands of two landowner families: the Országh family of Guti, and the Móré family of Csula. Though documents from the early 16 th century only mentioned the Móres in connection with these villages; presumably the Országh family alsó had somé land here. The reál Turkish conquest started around 1544 in this area, when the Turks occupied Hatvan, and created a intermediate administrative district (sandjak) around it. The end of the period was marked by the taking of Szolnok in 1552, and the creation of the Szolnok sandjak. The population of the three villages slightly decreased by the end of the 16 th century, and around 1578 somé kind of military operations might have enlarged this trend. At the beginning of the conquest, the landowners frequently changed. The Pöstyényi family took possession of the lands of the Móres, and when they died out the Zay, Liszthy and Wiczmándy families appeared. At the beginning of the 17' century, the Rákóczi family came to the area, presumably in the wake of the Országh family. A number of army officers could alsó get somé smaller or bigger lands here for shorter or longer periods. These settlements finally were destroyed during the 15-year war (1591—1606). After that part of the population returned and the previous economic structure was partly reorganised. Mainly farming lost importance since livestock was easier to evacuate from the area. The Zay, Liszthy and Wiczmán families gradually lost their properties during the 17 th century. After them, the Széky family and a number of smallholders settled down here. Only the Rákóczi's stayed permanent landowners, and these villages were registered as part of their Ónod lordship from the 1670s onwards. The end of the Turkish conquest came in October 1685 when Szolnok was taken back from the Turks. The Turkish troops probably did not reach the villages along the river Zagyva. As likely as not, Fokorú was not re-established as a village, while the destruction of the other two settlements took place during the Rákóczi War of Independence (1703—1711). After the peace treaty of Szatmár, the Rákóczi lordships were confiscated by the Royal Court. Szög and Fokorú gradually came intő the possession of the Royal Chamber. After 1711 newcomers arrived in Szentiván mainly, most of them were smallholders and their employees. At the beginning the Czakó, Lajkó and Tarjányi families were significant. Finally the present day Besenyszög did not develop intő a civil parish from the most populated Szentiván, but from Szeg, which had been the property of the Almásy family. The bishopric of Eger purchased it around 1720, and used it for animál farming. At the time of the copyhold reguládon in 1770, it was mainly uninhabited. Bishop Károly Eszterházy, who was renowned for his energy, the development of the Hungárián education system and his ruthless treatment of Protestants, however, soon changed the situation. Szentiván later mérged intő the new village called Besenyszög. 132
