Ihász István - Pintér János szerk.: Történeti Muzeológiai Szemle: A Magyar Múzeumi Történész Társulat Évkönyve 6. (Budapest, 2006)

II. Módszertan - Műhely - Közlemények - Bagi Gábor: Szolnok a Rákóczi-szabadságharcban. Egy történeti hagyomány hiánya és ami mögötte van

The outmoded, small fort of Szolnok was in a neglected, bad condition when in 1703 it came into the possession of Rákóczi, although it was considered to be the only kuruc fort in the central Tisza Region. These two factors account for the facts that, from among the five district lieutenancies, Szolnok became the main town of the Danube-Tisza Region in the spring of 1706, when the military administration was organized, and that it could only retain its position for half a year. On taking possession of the fort, the kuruc military management should have solved the following four tasks: 1, To set up a strong and trained guard, ensure its supply and equipment; 2, Renovate and rebuild the fortress, so as to make it up-to-date, and equip it with adequate weapons and supply; 3, Permanently integrate the surrounding areas into the economic organization of the kuruc state; 4, ensure the defence of the lower courses of the Körös rivers, and the Danube-Tisza region against the Serbian incursions. Even though attempts were made to solve these problems, they failed to attain significant results. In the end, Szolnok was already in ruins when it was occupied by the Imperial troops without war at the beginning of September 1706. They soon renovated the fort and placed a garrison here. Finally, at the beginning of 1707 they, too, emptied and demolished the fort, supposedly for defects in the supply system. The loss of the Fort of Szolnok was felt especially when the Serbian raids into Jászság became more regular after the autumn of 1708. In the spring of 1710 Ferenc Rákóczi II decided to reinforce the fort as he thought to stop the Imperial troops, which were superior in number as well as weaponry, with a line of fortifications to be built. Construction work lasted from April to October, nevertheless the constructions were not completed, while the kuruc military force was collapsing, which disrupted the martial spirit of the garrisons. The field marshal Sándor Károlyi was unable to stop the imperial troops, thus after a two days' besiege the fort surrendered on 17 October. Károlyi, disappointed at the failure, was convinced that instead of hopeless warring, negotiations could provide the only solution.