The birth of oppida: small towns in Hungary in the Angevin period

Abstract

This article revisits the origins of small towns in medieval Hungary from the perspective of their owners and seigneurs. The fourteenth-century development of small towns on the estates of private landowners resulted from the coincidence of several factors. Among these, the article considers the intersection of royal and private interests. The aristocrats’ concern to endow their estate centres with privileges or attract new settlers to their lands was dependent on royal approval; likewise, the right to hold annual fairs had to be granted by the kings, and one had to be a loyal retainer to be worthy of these grants. The royal model of supporting the mendicant orders, which were gaining ground in Hungary from the thirteenth century onwards, added a further dimension to the overlords’ development strategies. This shows that royal influence, directly or indirectly, had a major impact on the development of towns on private lands in the Angevin period (1301–87).

Review of periodical literature for 2022: (ii) 1100–1500

“…However, rural dwellers were not passive in response to this expansion of urban authority, challenging interpretations of urban expansion which take a centre‐periphery approach. Szende examines the factors behind the creation of small towns in Hungary between 1301 and 1387. She highlights the significant role played by the intersection of the interests of monarchs and aristocrats in this process, as even though these towns were created on the private estates of landlords, the crown was vital in securing their privileges including the right to hold annual fairs.…”