Balázs György (szerk.): The abolition of serfdom and its impact on rural culture, Guide to the Exhibition Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Revolution and War if Independence of 1848-49 (Budapest-Szentendre, Museum of Hungarian Agriculture-Hungarian Open-Air Museum, 1998.)

of the county administration, the delegates of the county at the Diet, and a contribution to the funds collected for the purposes of a possible insurrection of the nobility in defence of the country. Following his mother's political heritage, Emperor Joseph II also issued a decree in 1

785 that had an impact on the status of the peasants. He ordered that the term ,,serf' should not be used any longer, and he ensured the peasants the right of free movement. The decree provided that nonnoble young men could chose intellectual occupations or learn to be craftsmen. Landlords could no longer force peasants to do personal services, and they were free to dispose of their property at will. They could not be deprived of their tenure without any serious reason, and were entitled to tum to the county prosecutor for legal remedy in case of abuse. From the late eighteenth century, antagonism between landlords and serfs was threatening to develop into a national conflict. For example, in Transylvania Ruma-nian peasants rebelled against their mostly Hungarian landlords. Emperor Joseph II was at first passive but later he crushed Jos

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0> the insurrection of Horia and Closca by force, as soon as the movement started to threaten state order. The quality and quantity of the produce coming from tenements held in socage in Hungary was much below that of 9