Hungary

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

HUNGARIA, commonly called Hongeren (which name it received from the Huns or Hungarians, who came out of Scythia, and did inhabit it, doth containe Pannonia, and the Countries of Iazigus and the Dacians, beyond Danubius. On the South it hath the River Savus, which devideth it from Croatia and Servia, which are a part of Illyrici over against the Adriatick Sea. On the North it hath Poland and Russia, which are disjoyned by the Mountaine Carpatus. On the West it hath Austria, which was heretofore the head of the higher Pannonia, together with Moravia, and Styria; on the East Mysia which they now call Rhetiana. It is an excellent Country both for the goodnesse of the soyle, and the pleasantnesse of the Situation. The Country is very fruitfull and fertill, and yeeldeth Pearles, Gold, Silver, Colours, and Salt, which are to be digged out of the Earth. It hath abundance of Grasse, Wheate, Pulse, and Fruit. That Country which is by Danubius doth yeeld excellent wine, even from the Country of the five Churches to Taurunus, or Belgrad. But there is no Oyle, and excepting that, it is adorned with all the gifts of nature. It hath divers kindes of living Creatures, having such great plenty both of Oxen, and Sheepe, that great Droves are carried into other Countries, especially into Italy and Germany. It hath also abundance of wilde beasts, as Hares, Does, Goats, Harts, Wolves, Beares, and the like. And also great store of Birds, especially Thrushes, Partridges, and Pheasants. The Paeonians or Pannonians did first inhabit this Country: afterward the Gothes, who were expulsed by the Huns; and the Huns by the Longobards, who were seated here 13. yeeres. But the Huns came in againe under the conduct of their Captaine Attila: after whose death, Charles the Great tooke it into his owne possession. But in the yeere 700. the Huns comming out of Scythia, in the Raigne of the Emperour Arnulph, possessed those parts, being Pagans untill King Stephen, whom they called the holy, was inaugurated and made King. And after him, even untill our times Hungary did professe the Christian Religion. Hungary doth containe all the whole Country of Iazigus Metanastarum, which Ptolemy circumscribeth or boundeth with Danubius •ibiscus, and the Sarmatian Mountaines. There are some ruines yet remaining, which by contracting the word are commonly called •az. But they inhabit those parts which Pl•• describeth, and their speech differs from the Hungarian language. The first King of Hungary, after the Christian Religion was established therein, was Stephen surnamed the Holy, after whom there follow•d his Co••a Peter, his Kinsman Andreas, also Bela, Salomon, Geysa, Ladislaus, Almus, Stephanus the II. Bela Caecus, Geysa the II. Stephen the III. Bela the III, Emericus, Ladislaus the II. and others, even untill the time of the Emperour Rudolphus, King of Hungary. The King of Hungary doth governe his Kingdome by two Magistrates: the higher is devided into three Magistrates, the first of which governeth the Kingdome in the Kings name, in which are the Palatine of the Kingdome, who is next to the King, and judgeth the King if he be accus'd, whom the people of the Kingdome doe chuse, neither is it an heriditary office. Also the Judge of the Court, who is one of the ordinary Judges of the Kingdome. The Chancellor, who is the Metropolitan of Strigonium, who is called the Primate, and Secretary of the Kingdome, and he hath power to annoynt the King that is chosen, and he keepeth the Privie Seale. The Master of the Court doth follow the Kings, and is one of his Privie Counsell. The Master of the Regallities doth judge of all matters concerning Mines of Gold and Saltpits, and lastly, all matters which appertaine to the Exchequer. Secondly, those which sit in Judgement, of which there are certaine Officials, three of greater authority, as the Vice-Palatine of the Kingdom, the Judge of Personall Presence, The Vice-Palatines Protonotary, or chiefe Clarke, the Vice-Judges Protonotary. They are all called Masters, and have these assistants or associates joyned to them: the Archbishop of Strigoniums Secretary, who is called the Secretary of the Exchequer, twelve Assistants, and some sworne Clarkes. Thirdly, those that serve the King, as the Treasurer, the Master of the Bed-chamber, the Cup-bearer, the Master of the Pantry, the Master Porter, and other lesser offices. Moreover, because the Country is large there are severall Judges appointed thorow the Provinces, which the Hungarians call Counties. And they are these beyond Danubius on the West of the River Tibiscus. Posoniensis, Nitriensis, Cepusiensis, Gewinariensis, Posthiensis, Semliniensis, Comariensis, Leptoniensis, Novigradiensis, Abavivariensis, Bathiensis, V•gensis, Traachimensis, Barsiensis, Hontensis, Borsodiensis, Bodroghtensis, Peregriensis, Turoezensis, Omuzolis, Tornensis, Heweciensis, Zolnocensis, Moramarusiensis. Above Danubius on the East of Tibiscus there are Vgoghiensis, Bihoriensis, Zatmariensis, Oradiensis, Zabolciensis, Temesiensis. Betweene the Rivers Danubius, and Dravus, there are Musunensis, Zaladiensis, Tolnensis, Rhab, or Iauriensis, Vespriniensis, Strigoniensis, Soponiensis, Albensis, Sinigiensis, Castriferrensis, Pelisiensis, Waranlensis. Betweene Dravus and the River Savus, there are Valkonensis, Rifiensis, Syrimiensis, Warasdiensis, Prosegiensis, and Zagrabiensis. The Ecclesiasticall government belongeth to the two Archbishops, of Gran, or Strigonia, the Popes Legate and Primate of the Kingdome. It hath under it Agriensis, Vaciensis, Nitriensis, Quinque Ecclesiensis, Vespriniensis, who is the Queenes Chancellor, and crowneth her, and the Bishop Iauriensis commonly called Rab: Colosensis, or Colotz, under whom are Sagabriensis, Transilvaniensis, Voceadrensis, Visemburgensis, Sulniensis, Cenadiensis, or Chonad, and Bosnensis. All Hungary is devided into the hither-most, and the farther. The hither-most Hungary doth containe all that Country which is on this side Danubius: the farther-most doth containe that Country which is beyond Danubius, and Tibiscus glideth thorow the middle of it. The Metropolis and Mother Citty of this Kingdome is Buda, which was so denominated, as the most doe suppose from Buda the builder of it, who was Brother to King Artila, or as others write, from the Budines, a People of Scythia, of whom Herodotus maketh mention. If you consider the Situation of this Citty, it is seated partly on a Mountaine, and fortified with strong Bulwarkes, so that it is the strongest, and pleasantest Citty in all Hungaria, it hath many faire buildings both publike and private. It standeth in a fruitfull soyle, Soliman the Turkish Emperour tooke it from the Christians in the yeere 1526. on the 20. day of August. The Next is Posonium, commonly called Prezborgh, which is a noble Citty. Here the River Leyta deviding the higher Pannonia from the lower, doth mingle it selfe with the River Istrus. It is an ancient faire Citty, having a pleasant ayre and situation, and doth therein excell all the Citties of Pannonia. It hath Mountaines planted with Vines, which are also full of Wood. In the Suburbs it hath a Castle seated on the top of a high Rocke. There is also Belg•ad at the meeting or confluence of the Rivers Savus, and Danubius, it is commonly called Alba Graeca, the ancients called it Taurunum, and the Germanes Griechs Weissenburgh: Soliman the Turke tooke it in the yeere 1520. and having beene before a Towne of defence against the cruell enemy of Christianity, now it is the Turkish Emperours seat. A little lower downe the River Danubius there is Singidunum, which was taken by the Turke in the yeere 1439. In the midst betweene these two Citties, there is a Field famous for the victory of Hunniadus against M•homet the Turkish Emperour: they call this Field Maxons. This Battle was fought in the yeere 1456. Downe the River there are many places where the Christians have received many fatall overthrowes. The Citty Valpo was taken in the yeere 1543. Quinque Ecclesiae by Dravus in the yeere 1543. Zigetha was taken in the yeere 1566. Buda wee have mentioned before. Strigonium by Danubius, commonly called Gran, was heretofore an Archbishops seat, but it is now in the Turkes hands. Alba Regalis, or Stulweyssenburg, is famous in regard the Kings are crowned and buried here, it was taken in the yeere 1543. In the same Country there is Stridon, where Saint Hierom was borne. There is also the Citty Comara, in an Iland of the same name, which the Turkes in vaine attempted. Iaurinum, commonly called Raab is an impregnable Citty by the River Danubius. I passe by the other Townes. There are also in Hungaria many famous Lakes, the chiefe whereof is Balaton, which the Germanes call Platze, being 40. Italian miles broad, and 8. Hungarian miles. The chiefest Rivers are Danubius, Savus, Dravus, and Tibiscus, the three former are common to other Countries, but Tibiscus runneth onely thorow Hungary. It riseth in Maramusia, in the high cliffes of Carpatus, and for plenty of Fish it exceedeth all the Rivers in Hungary, for it hath abundance of all kindes of Fish, as great Pikes, Lampreys, and Sturgeons. There are also other Rivers besides these, which have great store of excellent Fish, as Trowts, Salmons, Perches, Lampreys, Barbels, and others, and those Rivers have gold veines in them. The chiefe Woods and Mountaines beyond Danubius, beginning from Austria and Moravia Lazius reckneth to bee Tarchzal, in Greeke Carpatus, which was heretofore so called from the Minerals in it, it stretcheth and extendeth it selfe thorow the Counties Turocensis, Arnensis, Liproviensis, Cappusiensis, Gewineriensis, and Sariensis, which the Inhabitants call by divers names, as den Vatter, den Munch, den Wurtgarten, den Schnepberg. The second River is Matran, which is planted with Vines neere Agria. The third and greatest of all is Erdel. There are many other Rivers, which for brevitie sake I omit, and so conclude Germany.

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

Hungary seems to have been so called from the Huns, a People noted for the Devastations they have made in several Regions of Europe, principally under Attila one of their Kings. Most of the Towns of this Country have Names that have very little affinity one with another, because the Nations who gave them at their setling themselves there, had very different Tongues. Hungary is commonly divided into High and Low, the last towards the South is almost wholly in possession of the Turks, the former towards the North for the most part in the hands of the House of Austria, unless it be such places as have been lately seized or revolted with Count Teckley. Two parts of it have been sometimes made, separated from one another by the Danube, the one to the West, known under the Name of Pannonia, the other to the East making part of ancient Dacia. There be several Countreys, the enumeration whereof is not here very material. The House of Austria has there four General Ships, the Turks four Bachalics or great Governments. When the Realm of Hungary was in its Splendour, it extended to the very Adriatick Sea, as far as Greece, and comprehended Transilvania, Walachia and Moldavia; from whence it came that the Emperour, as King of Hungary pretends that the Princes of those three States be allowed of by him. The Grand Seignior has maintained his pretension better in that point. The Soyl of Hungary is fertile, the Plains are beautiful and afford plenty of Corn, the Hills Wine, which is transported into Poland, and other places, where it is accounted excellent; that of Tokay is in most esteem. It also affords Salt, and other Conveniencies of Life. Several Great Rivers contribute to this abundance, the Danube, Drave, Save which have their Sources in Germany, the Teyss which is entirely Hungarian. The Danube leads its Waters from the West to the East through the midst of the Countrey, with less swiftnes towards Noon, than towards the Evening and the Morning: after a course of above six hundred Leagues, it falls into the Black Sea by several Mouths. The Teyss can carry Boats four Leagues from its Source. It abounds so in Fish, that they are said to make the third part of its Bed; for which reason it often casts abundance of them upon the Neighbouring Plains; and that in the publick Markets of the Towns, those who retire into the Countrey have order to take them away. Formerly the Hungarians put the Figure of the above mentioned Rivers in their Ensigns or Colours, and since they have carryed the Cross therein, having embrac'd Christianity under their Prince Esthienne, who for that consideration obtained of Pope Silvester the 2d. the Title of King, and was crowned in the year 1001. The highest Mountains of Hungary are towards Poland and Transilvania; the Richest between Buda and Strigonia.

The Hungarians are Warlike, neither their Garments nor their Manners be very different from those of the Turks. Their Tongues is almost wholly peculiar to themselves, and nevertheless the Latine, Sclavonian, German and Turkish, are in use among them. The Emperour Ferdinand the 2d. allowed the liberty of Religion in this Realm in the year 1622. The Revocation of that Toleration has occasioned perpetual Revolts, and is the source of that great War it is now the Scene of. This Realm has two Archbishopricks, Strigonia or Gran, and •olo••a with ten Bishopricks, the half of which is in the Infidels hands. Four orders of Persons have Sessions in the States, the Prelates, the Barons, the Nobles and the Burgesses of Free and Royal Cities. The Dignity of Palatine is there the most considerable after that of King, who if he acts in any wise against their Priviledges, may be opposed by force, if the Palatine consent thereto. The Hungarians will not suffer to have any Palatines but of their own Nation. The Archbishop of Strigonia is Prince and perpetual Chancellour of the Kingdom; he Crowns the King after his election. These two Officers have almost all the Authority. Hungary has had eight Kings of the House of Austria, from Ferdinand the •. Brother of the Emperour Charles the 5th. unto Leopold-Ignace. Though the Hungarian Nobility do not love the Germans, yet they have not opposed this Election, for the sheltering themselves against the oppression of the Turks, who respect a Peasant as much as they do a Gentleman. The greatest strength of the Countrey consists in light Horse; the Troopers be called Hussars, the Foot Soldiers Heidukes. Besides extraordinaries, the Emperour draws from what he possesses in Hungary about a million of Livers every year. He raises this Money from the Mines, by an imposition on each Horse, and by the exportation of Cattle. The Grand Seignior has there his Caraz, which is four Livers a Head of those under his Sway: This is so small a matter for either of those Princes, that for the preservation of what they hold there, they are obliged to employ their other Revenues. The Turk pretends to all Hungary, and the States which depend thereon by virtue of a Cession, which was made thereof to Soliman the 2d. by John Sigismond, Son of King John Count de Cepuse, and by the Queen his Mother. In Upper Hungary there be several Free Towns, which form thirteen Communities. The King of Poland holds half of Cepuse, with a dozen of Cities. Most of the Frontiers are untilled and overgrown with Shrubs and Weeds. Tho there be a Truce between the Austrians and the Ottomans, yet they fail not of making incursions upon one another. In the year 1642. the Truce was made between the two Empires for twenty-years. In the year 1664. after two years War it was renewed, the Turk remaining Master of the Fortress of Waradin and Newheusel; this last in the very middle of all Europe.

The most considerable Cities of Hungary are Presbourg, Cassovia, Esperies, Buda, Agria, Temesvar, Kanise. Presbourg is the Capital of all the House of Austria possesses in this Realm. Since the loss of Albe Royale, it has been the place of Election and Coronation of their Kings. Cassovia is towards the Mountains, with the finest Arcenal of the Country. Esperies has Fairs which render it very populous.

The strongest places of the House of Austria are Javarin and Komorra, the Bulwarks of Christendom. Javarin is in a vast Plain, environed with the Danube and the Raab, which sometimes gives it its Name; defended with several Bastions faced with Brick, with Ravelins between both: Having formerly been taken by the Turks, it was petarded and retaken with as much happiness as boldness by a French Gentleman called Vaubecour. Komorra has the Danube for its Moat or Ditch, and cannot be besieged but by three Bodies of Armies. The Isle of the same Name, otherwise called of Schut, where the Turks were routed by the Imperialists, in a late Action, to the loss of many of their Men; has above three hundred Villages or Boroughs, above fifteen thousand Inhabitants, with the convenience of hunting and fishing, Leopolstad, Fillek, Tokay, Zatmar and Kalo have likewise been fortified by order from the Emperour.

Buda is divided into High and Low Town, the Germans call it Offen, that is to say, Court, because it was the abode of the Kings, and the Capital of all the Kingdom; it has the most honourable Beglerbyat of all Turkey, though it be not the most gainful; its Bashaw has more Authority than others: Its usual Garrison is of eight or ten thousand Men. Agria, Temesvar, Kanisa, have in like manner Bashaws, as being upon the Frontier. The Turks call Temesvar the invincible. The Emperour Ferdinand the 2d. besieged Kanise, being then but Arch-Duke, and could not take it. Leopold-Ignace was not more happy in the year 1664. The Retreat from Kanise by the Duke of Mercoeur, is one of the the finest Actions of our Age. People also esteem that from Mayence by the Cardinal de la Valette, that from Torgow by the Suedish General Banier, that from Dundee by the Marquiss of Montross. Five Churches is the place where Solyman the Great dyed, during the Siege he laid to Zygeth in the year 1566. Mogacz is noted for the defeat of the Christians in the year 1526. The Bridge of Esseck for the exploit of Count Peter de Serin, who burnt it in sight of the Turks Armies.

1700. The merchants map of commerce by Roberts, Lewes. CHAP. CCXXXIV. Of Hungary, and the principal Cities thereof.

HUngary is bounded on the East with Transilvania and Valachia, on the West with Austria, on the North with Poland, on the South with Sclavonia, &c.

This Kingdom now stands divided between the Grand Seignior and the Hungarians: the Great Turk enjoys Buda, seated on Danubius, once the Metropolis of this Kingdom, and Court of the Kings; also Guilia Pest, Alba Regalis, called by them Wesenberg, next quinque Ecclesiae, Rab, and others of lesser note.

In the Hungarians possessions are these principal Cities, Presberg the present Metropolis of this Country; 2. Strigonium, 3. Agraria, 4. Comara in an Island of that name, 5. Tertax, 6. Cimista, 7. Segith, before which Solyman the Great Turk ended his days, and some others of lesser consequence.

This Country doth much abound in Cattel, sufficient to feed all Germany, the Store is so great, that they yearly sell to their Neighbours 80 or 100 Thousand Oxen; they have also some Copper and Tin, some quantity of Corn, Honey, Wax, and such like Commodities, and from hence to Constantinople, I have seen Hides, Butter, and Cheese, that in great abundance have come out of these parts through the Black-Sea. Further matter of Trade hath not remarkably faln into my hands; therefore for the current Coins of this Country, with their Weights and Measures in use, I must refer to the better experienced, and hence travel to Dacia, and the rest of those Provinces comprehended within that circuit.