Böszörmény
Böszörmény, also Izmaelita or Hysmaelita ("
Origins
Modern authors claim that several groups of Muslims migrated to the Carpathian Basin in the course of the 10th–12th centuries; therefore, the Muslims living in the Kingdom of Hungary were composed of various ethnic groups. Most of them must have arrived from
The Arab historian and geographer
Muslim territories in the Kingdom of Hungary
The Muslims settled down in several groups in the Carpathian Basin. Their largest communities lived in the southern parts of the Kingdom of Hungary in
The Muslims' life in the kingdom
Most of the Muslims in the Kingdom of Hungary were engaged in trading and they were rich enough to lease royal properties in the 13th century. Other Muslims were employed in the king's army and participated in wars against the Byzantine Empire. Yaqut al-Hamawi's work proves that the Muslim population spoke the Hungarian language by the beginning of the 13th century.[2]
Royal decrees issued in the second half of the 11th century by the kings of Hungary persecuted the Muslims, requiring their conversion into Christianity. King
By the period of King Géza II (1141–1162), the káliz people could practise their faith only in secrecy. The "Maghrebian" soldiers followed Islam openly, but it was Abu Hamid al-Ghranati who taught them several Islamic traditions. Upon his request, the king even permitted the "Maghrebians" to have concubines.[2]
Muslims in the 13th century
The Golden Bull of King Andrew II prohibited the employment of Muslims as minters and tax collectors.[3] The king, however, continued to employ them in his administration. On 3 March 1231, Pope Gregory IX requested the prelates of the kingdom to protest against this practise, and authorized them to use ecclesiastical penalties for this reason. In the same year, King Andrew had to confirm the provisions of the Golden Bull but he continued to employ Muslims. Therefore, on 25 February 1232, Archbishop Robert of Esztergom placed the Kingdom of Hungary under an interdict and excommunicated some high dignitaries of the king. Pope Gregory IX sent a legate to the kingdom who reached an agreement with King Andrew on 20 August 1233 in Bereg.[3] Under the agreement, the Muslims and the Jews could not hold royal offices and they were obliged to wear distinctive cloths. However, the king did not fulfill all the provisions of the agreement and therefore he was excommunicated, although he was absolved soon. On 10 December 1239, Pope Gregory IX even authorized King Béla IV of Hungary to lease his revenues to non-Christians.[3]
Nevertheless, following the
The Böszörmény denomination is preserved as a family name and in
.See also
References
- ^ Sudár, Balázs (2008). BEKTAŞI MONASTERIES IN OTTOMAN HUNGARY. Akadémiai Kiadó. pp. 227–248 Vol. 61, No. 1/2.
- ^ ISBN 963-9465-15-1.
- ^ ISBN 963-05-2661-1.
- ^ "History of Hungary" (in Hungarian)
Sources
- Benda, Kálmán (editor): Magyarország történeti kronológiája (The Historical Chronology of Hungary); Akadémiai Kiadó, 1981, Budapest; ISBN 963-05-2661-1.
- Kristó, Gyula: Nem magyar népek a középkori Magyarországon (Non-Hungarian Peoples in the Medieval Hungary); Lucidus Kiadó, 2003, Budapest; ISBN 963-9465-15-1.
- Kristó, Gyula (editor): Korai Magyar Történeti Lexikon - 9-14. század (Encyclopedia of the Early Hungarian History - 9-14th centuries); Akadémiai Kiadó, 1994, Budapest; ISBN 963-05-6722-9.