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

A SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF SZÉKESFEHÉRVÁR

litical and economical leadership of the town. Owing to their activity Székesfehérvár did not become the scene for armed clashes. It developed into a revolutionary mass movement and became consolidated. Town improvement took other direction in the 1960s; accelerated state investments were not limited solely to the over-stressed development of industry. The town's priority was defined rather late in 1971 to function as a municipal centre. It influenced the improvement and development of Székesfehérvár unfavourably that it was regarded as the symbol of old, conservative traditions. The town celebrated its millennium in 1972 and the King Saint Stephen's Festival in 1988, these festive occasions meant the town's returning to its traditions. In 1 989 Székesfehérvár was declared municipal town and on 1 December 1990 a town of county rank; these two events bear special significance in the town's life. Csala manor is the most important among the villages around Fehérvár; it was the estate of the Csák familv and was part of the domain of Csókakő castle. Its gentry owners participated in the county's public life. In 1453 King Ladislaus V endowed the Rozgonyi family with the Csókakő estates. King Matthias also confirmed the endowment. In the 16

th century Csala was detached from the Csókakő domain. In 1588 as György Havassy had died without heir the estate fell to the crown. During the Turkish rule György Hermann, Ambrus Szeghy and Mátyás Andreasics carried off the manor. The members of the military nobility did not receive it as hereditary estate, but held only its income. Legally the estate remained the property of the Nádasdy family, from whom it was not confiscated even in 1671. First it appeared in documents in 1 702 as part of the domain of Csókakő, then as that of Mór. In the 18

th century the estate was let on lease. In 1873 György Kégl bought it and adopted Csalai (of Csala) as title of nobility. György Kégl acquired the unkempt estate, and he built the eclectic neo-renaissance manor-house on the basis of Alajos Hauszmann's plans. Its park was created during this period and he also built the church of Virgin Mary in the park. The estate maintained the elementary village-school of Csala. His name, however, is mainly remem-