Transylvania - the Szekler Rising, 1562



A.) Prehistory

The ethnically Hungarian Szekler (in Hung.: Szekely) lived in the northern-central regions of Transylvania. They stuck to a traditional lifestyle of pastoralists and enjoyed exemption from taxation in return for military service.
In 1558, the Transylvanian diet imposed taxation on the Szekler, thus terminating their old tax-free status. Simultaneously, Szekelyudvarhely, the traditional seat of the Szekler diet, in 1558 was granted city privileges and tax exemption.


B.) The Rising

In 1562 the Szekler rose in rebellion, but were defeated.


C.) The Legacy

Prince John Sigismund had two fortresses erected in Szekler country, Szekelytamadt and Szekelybanya. Szekler political autonomy was canceled, the country reorganized in comitates (counties). The Szekler diet (at Szekelyudvarhely) was abolished. The Szekler privilege to freely mine salt was cancelled.




EXTERNAL
FILES 		The History of the Harghitean Regions, from Touristical opportunities in Harghita County
Siebenbürgen : Geschichte 1526-1705 (Transylvania, History 1526-1705, a timeline), posted by Christian Agnethler
Reiseführer Oderhellen (Tour Guide Szekelyudvarhely), from Tourinfo Romania, in German
Miklos Olah* uber das historische Siebenbürgen (Miklos Olah on historical Transylvania), from Transylvanoian Castle, decent description of Szekler society, in German
History of Praid Salt Mine
DOCUMENTS
REFERENCE Istvan Lazar, Transylvania, a Short History, Safety Harbor : Ingram 1997, pp.93-94



This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted on June 9th 2003, last revised on November 17th 2004

Click here to go Home
Click here to go to Information about KMLA, WHKMLA, the author and webmaster
Click here to go to Statistics