A Historical and Archival Guide to Székesfehérvár (Székesfehérvár, 2003)

A SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF SZÉKESFEHÉRVÁR

started on 17 September, the decisive battle was fought on 20 September. One of the towers of the coronation church exploded during the siege, because the Turks used it as a powder-house. The fire that followed destroyed most of the castle. Thereafter the castle was considerably rebuilt in accordance with the standards of Italian-style castle building. The Monastery bastion and the new Buda gate was made at that time. The construction had not been finished when the Turkish army arrived again at the castle walls. The siege lasted from 12 August to 29 August 1602, the defenders of the castle handed over the fortress in return for granted free withdrawal. During their second rule, the Turkish garrison greatly altered and rebuilt the defences and public buildings of importance. Proportion of nationalities also changed. Serbs, who appeared independently of the 17

th century immigration to Fejér county, settled in Székesfehérvár. Part of the Serb marauders serving the Turkish garrison settled with their families. One of the most authentic descriptions of Székesfehérvár dates back to this period written by Evlia Cselebi. STUHLWEISSENBURG Soon after the recapturing of Buda in 1 686 imperial troops blockaded Székesfehérvár. The long blockade resulted in famine so the hopeless Turks entered into negotiations about their capitulation. On 19 May the Turkish garrison left Istolni Belgrad for good. Following their retreat the town, as reconquered territory, was put under the management of the military commandant and then the Treasury of Buda. Besides the administration of the Treasury, the military commandant's role was significant but the duality of military and Treasury management remained for a longer period, and it caused a lot of conflicts. The town was neglected and in ruins. The resettlement of the town started right after the Turks were forced out. Up till the outbreak of the Rákóczi war of independence the town was peopled mainly from Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia and other German territories, moreover with Germans from West-