Szőcs Péter Levente (szerk.): Ecsed. Ghid cultural şi istoric (Satu Mare, 2009)
The Golden Age of Ecsed
and it was deserted in 1648. It was actually a place of transition, because the population moved back to Nagyecsed during the hard times. The Golden Age of Ecsed The castle was rebuilt between 1490 and 1492, under András Báthori. It had several decorative elements in Renaissance style, among which the coat of arms of the Báthori family, carved in stone. Although Ecsed was not declared market town, it received the privilege to held fairs, in 1490. Moreover, the inhabitants gained considerable liberties, they owed to the owner only one measure of florins, military service, fire guard and ice breaking work during winter. The medieval view of the castle and the settlement was preserved on the schematic engraving of Gotfried Prixner (1746-1819) made in Vienna. The picture has a great number of fictional elements, only the structure of the settlement and fortress, situated on three islands, and the position of the church, located outside the fortress seems to be true. The fortress grew in importance after the battle of Mohács. István Báthori III was Ferdinand of Habsburg upholder, thus he became the treasurer of the kingdom and obtained additional domains. These acquisitions completed the domain of Ecsed, which summed up almost 80 settlements at the middle of the 17^ century. István Báthori IV (1555-1605), has broken his loyalty with the Habsburgs during the sequels of the Fifteen Fringia hüvelyverete Sárvárról, 16. sz. Sword-sheath from Sárvár, 16th c. Teacă de sabie din sec. al XVI-lea de la Sárvár 23
