Count of the Székelys
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The Count of the Székelys (
The counts also held important castles outside the territories under their administration, including their seat at Görgény (now Gurghiu in Romania). They were the supreme commanders of the Székely troops; their military campaigns against Bulgaria and the Golden Horde were mentioned in royal charters and medieval chronicles. The counts presided over the general assemblies of both the individual Székely seats and the entire Székely community. They also heard appeals of the decisions of the supreme court of Székely Land.
Beginning in the late 14th century, Hungarian monarchs appointed two or three noblemen to jointly hold the office. From the 1440s, at least one of these joint holders was also regularly made Voivode of Transylvania, because frequent Ottoman raids against Transylvania required the centralization of the military command of the province. The offices of the count and the voivode were in practice united after 1467. From the late 16th century, the princes of Transylvania (as successors to the voivodes) also styled themselves as counts of the Székelys. After the integration of the principality with the Habsburg Empire, in the early 18th century, the title was in abeyance until Maria Theresa revived it at the Székelys' request. She and her successors on the Hungarian throne used the title until 1918.
Origins
The origin of the office is obscure.
Bishop
The earliest royal charter mentioning a "count and commander of the Székelys" was issued in 1235.[7][8] It refers to a military campaign launched against Bulgaria in 1228. Thus, the office must have existed in that year at the latest,[7] but the count was not the sole ruler of all Székelys for decades after.[9] For instance, a diploma of Béla IV of Hungary refers to the count of the Székelys of Nagyváty in Baranya County.[10] Lack Hermán, who held the office from 1328 to 1343, was styled as "count of the three clans of the Székelys"; but the exact meaning of the title is unknown.[11]
Functions
The Székelys were organized into special administrative units (originally known as "lands", "districts", "communities" or "universities") in Transylvania.
The jurisdiction of the counts was not limited to Székely Land.
The counts held one of the most important
The counts were the supreme commanders of the Székely troops.
The counts had important judicial functions in Székely Land and the Saxon districts subject to them.[26][31] They headed the general assemblies of each Székely seat and the entire Székely community.[16] Such an assembly was first recorded in 1344.[14] Thereafter, the assemblies developed into important forums for the administration of justice.[14][16] Lack Hermán was mentioned as the "judge of the Székelys" in the first half of the 14th century, evidence that the counts had acquired significant judicial authority by that time.[11] The medieval judicial system of Székely Land is poorly documented.[31] Available data suggests that the court of Udvarhelyszék was an appellate court, hearing appeals of the decisions of the courts of other seats.[31] Appeals of the decisions of the court of Udvarhelyszék were heard by the count.[31] The courts of justice in the seats were initially presided over by elected officials, the seat judge, and the captain.[14][32] New officials, known as royal judges, appear in the sources in the 1420s.[14] Appointed by the count, royal judges supervised the activities of the elected officials.[14][33]
Monarchs and counts
The counts represented the kings of Hungary in the territories under their jurisdiction[26][34] and were independent of the voivodes of Transylvania.[15] This separation of the two offices helped preserve the Székelys' special legal status.[35] However, the kings never appointed a Székely to the office, which they tended to give to a kinsman of the voivode.[26][36] The counts were regarded as barons of the realm, although they were not listed among the great officers in royal charters.[15]
The Lackfis and their immediate successors were the kings' loyal supporters,
End of the office
The Ottomans made a series of plundering raids against Transylvania in the 1420s and 1430s, which led to better coordination of the defense of the province.
The unification of the two offices lasted for decades.[41] Initially, between 1446 and 1467, two or three noblemen were jointly made voivodes and counts, and some of them occasionally held both offices.[41] The two offices were in practice united after the death of John Daróci in 1467.[41][42] Thereafter, the same person was made voivode and count until 1504; furthermore, the offices of vice-voivode and vice-count were also unified.[14][43] A decree of 1498 still separately obliged the voivode and the count to muster troops; but after 1507, no separate counts were appointed.[43]
The title of count was continuously used by the voivodes, and later by the princes of Transylvania, for almost two centuries.[43] After the integration of the Principality of Transylvania into the Habsburg Empire in the late 17th century, the Habsburg monarchs did not style themselves counts of the Székelys.[43] The title was revived at the Székelys' request by Maria Theresa.[43] Thereafter, all kings of Hungary used the title.[43]
List of counts
Thirteenth century
Term | Incumbent | Monarch | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
1228 | Bogomer, son of Szoboszló | Andrew II | "count and commander of the Székelys"; first known holder of the dignity | [5][44] |
1291 | Mojs Ákos | Andrew III | [5][44] | |
1294–1299 | Peter Bő the Toothed | Andrew III | according to a non-authentic charter also in 1300 | [5][44] |
Fourteenth century
Term | Incumbent | Monarch | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
1315–1320 | Thomas Losonci | Charles I | [44][15] | |
1315 | Stephen Losonci | Charles I | [44][15] | |
1321–1327 | Simon Kacsics | Charles I | also ispán of Șemlacu Mare in Romania), Mediasch and Bistritz
|
[44][15] |
1328–1343 | Lack Hermán | Charles I, Louis I | "count of the three clans of the Székelys"; also ispán of Mediasch and Bistritz, and of Csanád County | [3][11][15][45] |
1343–1350 | Andrew Lackfi | Louis I | also ispán of Mediasch, Bistritz and Kronstadt, and of Szatmár and Máramaros Counties; the counts administered Mediasch, without styling themselves its ispán from 1350 to 1402 | [45][46] |
1350–1352 | Nicholas Báthory | Louis I | also ispán of Kronstadt | [47] |
1352–1356 | Leukus Raholcai the Tót
|
Louis I | also ispán of Kronstadt, and Master of the cupbearers and of the stewards; the counts administered Kronstadt, without styling themselves its ispán from 1355 | [45][15] |
1356–1360 | John Zsámboki, Jr. | Louis I | [45][15] | |
1363–1367 | Nicholas Lackfi, Jr. | Louis I | also ispán of Szatmár, Máramaros, Ugocsa and Kraszna Counties | [45][15] |
1367–1371 | Stephen Lackfi of Csáktornya | Louis I | [45][15] | |
1373–1376 | Ladislaus Losonci, Sr. | Louis I | [45][15] | |
1377–1380 | Nicholas Derencsényi | Louis I | [15][48] | |
1380–1382 | Nicholas Perényi | Louis I | [15][48] | |
1382–1385 | Nicholas Losonci | Louis I, Mary | [48][49] | |
1387–1390 | Balc Béltelki | Sigismund | brothers; also ispáns of Szatmár and Máramaros Counties | [49][50] |
Drag Béltelki | ||||
1390 | John Bélteki the Vlach
|
Sigismund | [49][50] | |
1390–1391 | Simon Szécsényi | Sigismund | [49][50] | |
1391–1395 | Stephen Kanizsai | Sigismund | [49][51] | |
1395–1397 | Francis Bebek | Sigismund | [49][51] | |
1397–1401 | Peter Perényi | Sigismund | together with John Maróti (1397–1398); also ispán of Szatmár and Ugocsa Counties, and (from 1398) of Ung County | [51][52] |
1397–1398 | John Maróti | Sigismund | together with Peter Perényi (1397–1398) | [49][51] |
Fifteenth century
Term | Incumbent | Monarch | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
1402–1403 | George Csáki | Sigismund | also ispáns of Szatmár and Ugocsa Counties | [51][53] |
Denis Marcali | ||||
1404 | John Harapki | Sigismund | [49][51] | |
Ladislaus Monostori | ||||
1405–1422 | Michael Nádasi | Sigismund | [49][51] | |
1422–1426 | Peter Bebek | Sigismund | [49][51] | |
1426–1432 | John Jakcs | Sigismund | together with Michael Jakcs (1426–1432) | [54][55] |
1426–1438 | Michael Jakcs | Sigismund | together with John Jakcs (1427–1431) and Henry Tamási (1437) | [54][55] |
1437–1438 | Henry Tamási | Sigismund | together with Michael Jakcs (1437) | [54][56] |
1438–1441 | Emeric Bebek | Albert | together with Francis Csáki | [54][56] |
Francis Csáki | first time; George Csáki's son; together with Emeric Bebek | [54][57] | ||
1440–1441 | Stephen Bánfi | Ladislaus V | contested by Emeric Bebek and Francis Csáki; appointed by queen mother and regent Elizabeth of Luxembourg | [54][56] |
1441–1446 | John Hunyadi | Wladislas I | also and Ugocsa Counties (1444–1446), ispán of Kraszna County (1445), ispán of Szatmár County (1445–1446) | [58][59] |
Nicholas Újlaki | also Bodrog, Csongrád, Keve, Máramaros, Szerém, Temes, Tolna and Valkó Counties (1441–1446), ispán of Fejér County (1441–1443), and ispán of Torontál County (1444–1446), ispán of Somogy County (1444–1446)
|
[59][60] | ||
1446–1448 | Francis Csáki | second time | [56][59] | |
1449–1453 | Raynald Rozgonyi | first time; together with John Rozgonyi (1449) | [56][59] | |
Oswald Rozgonyi | ||||
1449 | John Rozgonyi | first time; together with Raynald and Oswald Rozgonyi | [56][59] | |
1454–1457 | John Ország | Ladislaus V | together with Emeric Hédervári (1454), with Oswald Rozgonyi (1454–1457), with Raynald Rozgonyi (1454–1457), and with John Rozgonyi (1457) | [56][59] |
1454 | Emeric Hédervári | Ladislaus V | together with John Ország (1454) | [56][59] |
1454–1458 | Oswald Rozgonyi | Ladislaus V | second time; together with John Ország (1454–1457), with Raynald Rozgonyi, and with John Rozgonyi (1457) | [56][61] |
1454–1458 | Raynald Rozgonyi | Ladislaus V | second time; together with John Ország (1454–1457) and Oswald Rozgonyi | [56][61] |
1457 | John Rozgonyi | Ladislaus V | second time; together with John Ország and Oswald Rozgonyi (1457); also voivode of Transylvania | [56][61] |
1458–1460 | John Lábatlan | Matthias I | also ispán of Temes County (1459–1460); together with Ladislaus Paksi (1458–1459) | [61][62] |
1458–1459 | Ladislaus Paksi | Matthias I | together with John Lábatlan (1458–1459) | [61][63] |
1460–1461 | Oswald Rozgonyi | Matthias I | third time; together with Ladislaus Losonci (1460–1461), and with Sebastian and Raynald Rozgonyi (1461); also ispán of Abaúj County (1460–1461) | [61][63] |
1460–1461 | Ladislaus Losonci | Matthias I | together with Oswald Rozgonyi (1460–1461) | [61][63] |
1461 | Sebastian Rozgonyi | Matthias I | together with Oswald and Raynald Rozgonyi (1461); also voivode of Transylvania and ispán of Temes County | [61][63] |
1461–1463 | Raynald Rozgonyi | Matthias I | together with Oswald and Sebastian Rozgonyi (1461); also ispán of Abaúj and Zemplén Counties | [63][64] |
1462–1465 | John Pongrác of Dengeleg | Matthias I | first time; also voivode of Transylvania, ban of Szörény, and ispán of Közép-Szolnok County | [63][64] |
1465–1467 | Count Sigismund Szentgyörgyi | Matthias I | also voivode of Transylvania | [63][64] |
Count John Szentgyörgyi | ||||
Bertold Ellerbach of Monyorókerék | ||||
1467 | John Daróci | Matthias I | [64][65] | |
1467–1472 | John Pongrác of Dengeleg | Matthias I | second time; together with Nicholas Csupor of Monoszló (1468–1472); also voivode of Transylvania, ispán of Közép-Szolnok County, and ispán of Temes County (1470–1472) | [66] |
1468–1472 | Nicholas Csupor of Monoszló | Matthias I | together with John Pongrác of Dengeleg (1468–1472); also voivode of Transylvania and ispán of Verőce County
|
[66] |
1472–1475 | Blaise Magyar | Matthias I | also voivode of Transylvania, ispán of Közép-Szolnok County, and ispán of Temes County (1473–1475) | [66] |
1475–1476 | John Pongrác of Dengeleg | Matthias I | third time; also voivode of Transylvania | [66] |
1477–1479 | Peter Geréb of Vingárt | Matthias I | also voivode of Transylvania | [66] |
1479–1493 | Stephen (V) Báthory of Ecsed | Wladislas II
|
also judge royal, voivode of Transylvania, and ispán of Somogy, Zala and Zaránd Counties | [67] |
1493–1498 | Bartholomew Drágfi | Wladislas II
|
together with Ladislaus Losonci, Jr. (1493–1494); also voivode of Transylvania, ispán of Közép-Szolnok, Kraszna, Szabolcs, Szatmár and Ugocsa Counties | [67] |
1493–1495 | Ladislaus Losonci, Jr. | Wladislas II
|
together with Bartholomew Drágfi of Béltek (1493–1495); also voivode of Transylvania and master of the treasury | [67] |
1498–1504 | Count Peter Szentgyörgyi | Wladislas II
|
first time; also judge royal and voivode of Transylvania | [68] |
Sixteenth century
Term | Incumbent | Monarch | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
1504–1507 | John Tárcai | Wladislas II
|
[65] | |
1507–1510 | Count Peter Szentgyörgyi | Wladislas II
|
second time; also judge royal and voivode of Transylvania | [68] |
1510–1526 | Count John Zápolya | Wladislas II, Louis II
|
also voivode of Transylvania, ispán of Liptó, Sáros, Sopron, Torna and Trencsén Counties, and ban of Szörény (1513–1516) | [68] |
See also
References
- ^ Kordé 2013, p. 64.
- ^ a b c Engel 2001, p. 115.
- ^ a b c Engel 2001, p. 116.
- ^ Engel 2001, pp. 114, 117.
- ^ a b c d e Zsoldos 2011, p. 239.
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- ^ a b Kristó 2003, p. 133.
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- ^ Kordé 2013, p. 69.
- ^ Kordé 2013, p. 67.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Kordé 2016, p. 176.
- ^ a b c Kordé 2016, p. 171.
- ^ Pop 2005, p. 254.
- ^ a b c d e f g Pop 2005, p. 255.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Engel 1996, p. 192.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kordé 2016, p. 174.
- ^ Engel 2001, p. 114.
- ^ Engel 2001, p. 293.
- ^ Engel 2001, p. 151.
- ^ Kontler 1999, p. 89.
- ^ Engel 2001, p. 216.
- ^ a b Dörner 2005, p. 307.
- ^ a b Engel 1996, p. 321.
- ^ Engel 1996, p. 329.
- ^ Engel 1996, p. 446.
- ^ a b c d e f Kordé 2016, p. 173.
- ^ Kordé 2016, p. 311.
- ^ Kordé 2016, p. 312.
- ^ a b Kordé 2016, p. 315.
- ^ Kordé 2016, pp. 315–316.
- ^ a b c d Stipta 1997, p. 52.
- ^ Kordé 2016, pp. 171–172.
- ^ Makkai 1994, p. 236.
- ^ Dörner 2005, p. 306.
- ^ Makkai 1994, p. 222.
- ^ a b Makkai 1994, p. 224.
- ^ Makkai 1994, p. 202.
- ^ Kordé 2016, pp. 175–176.
- ^ a b Makkai 1994, p. 227.
- ^ Engel 2001, pp. 282–283.
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- ^ Engel 2001, p. 309.
- ^ a b c d e f Kordé 2016, p. 178.
- ^ a b c d e f Kordé 2019, p. 38.
- ^ a b c d e f g Kordé 2019, p. 59.
- ^ Engel 1996, pp. 155, 192.
- ^ Kordé 2019, pp. 47, 59.
- ^ a b c Kordé 2019, p. 60.
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- ^ a b c Kordé 2019, p. 107.
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- ^ Engel 1996, pp. 189, 193, 218, 220.
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- ^ Engel 1996, pp. 15, 30, 34, 98, 100, 105, 117, 125, 128, 140, 154, 177, 199, 205, 208, 210, 222, 194.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kordé 2019, p. 167.
- ^ C. Tóth et al. 2016, p. 121.
- ^ a b c d e f g C. Tóth et al. 2016, p. 122.
- ^ a b c d Kordé 2019, p. 168.
- ^ a b C. Tóth et al. 2016, p. 123.
- ^ a b c d e C. Tóth et al. 2016, pp. 86, 123.
- ^ a b c C. Tóth et al. 2016, pp. 87, 123.
- ^ a b c C. Tóth et al. 2016, pp. 88, 123.
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