{"id":9318,"date":"2026-09-27T22:25:40","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T20:25:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iratmentoalapitvany.hu\/?p=9318"},"modified":"2026-09-28T06:58:51","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T04:58:51","slug":"homecoming-after-185-years-ferenc-illeshazys-declaration-1634-returns-to-the-archives-of-the-hungarian-chamber","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iratmentoalapitvany.hu\/en\/homecoming-after-185-years-ferenc-illeshazys-declaration-1634-returns-to-the-archives-of-the-hungarian-chamber\/","title":{"rendered":"Homecoming After 185 Years \u2013 An Ill\u00e9sh\u00e1zy Charter (1634) Returns to the Archives of the Hungarian Chamber"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At an auction in the autumn of 2026, the Hungarian Heritage Archives Foundation acquired a charter issued by the Chapter of Esztergom in 1634. The document is particularly noteworthy for the number of prominent figures of the period who appear in it. Foremost among them is Ferenc Ill\u00e9sh\u00e1zy, whom the delegates of the Chapter found seriously ill and confined to his bed in the house of a citizen of Nagyszombat (today Trnava, Slovakia).Ferenc was the nephew of no less a figure than Istv\u00e1n Ill\u00e9sh\u00e1zy, Palatine of Hungary from 1608 to 1609. Although, by the Palatine\u2019s decision, Ferenc did not share in his uncle\u2019s vast inheritance, he ultimately became the progenitor of the longest-surviving branch of the Ill\u00e9sh\u00e1zy family. His sons, Istv\u00e1n and Tam\u00e1s\u2014both also mentioned in the charter\u2014were elevated to the rank of baron in 1646<\/a> and 1649<\/a> respectively, while Ferenc\u2019s great-grandson Mikl\u00f3s was created a count in 1678.<\/a>[1]<\/a>In the charter, Ferenc pledged his estate of K\u00f6z\u00e9pb\u0151 in Nyitra County (today Behynce, Slovakia) as security for a loan. He explained that his serious illness could only be overcome by spending considerable sums on physicians, apothecaries and medicines. In his hour of need, Mih\u00e1ly V\u00edzkelethy of Szeptenc\u00fajfalu, a former vice-palatine who had been elevated to the rank of baron<\/a> together with his father in 1608, came to his assistance with a loan of one thousand Hungarian florins.Even the two delegates of the Chapter were men of considerable distinction. Benedek Kisdi, Provost of St George at Esztergom-Z\u00f6ldmez\u0151, later became Bishop of Szer\u00e9m, V\u00e1rad and finally Eger; among his lasting achievements was the foundation of the Academy of Kassa (today Ko\u0161ice) in 1657. His companion, canon Istv\u00e1n Mih\u00e1ly, later attained the titular abbacy of P\u00e9csv\u00e1rad.Ferenc Ill\u00e9sh\u00e1zy evidently recovered from his illness, thanks to the timely loan and the physicians of Nagyszombat: he lived for another seven years, dying on 13 January 1641.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n\n

This time, however, it is not primarily the contents of the charter that command our attention, but its provenance. Stamped over the initial letter N of the document is a familiar red crowned ligature containing the letters AC\u2014Archivum Camerae or Archivum Camerale, the Archives of the Hungarian Chamber. The same stamp can be found on thousands of documents from the Chamber now preserved in the National Archives of Hungary. \n \nTurning the charter over reveals another familiar mark: an old reference written in red ink, N. R. A., standing for Neo-regestrata Acta (\u201cNewly Registered Records\u201d), one of the best-known and undoubtedly one of the richest archival fonds of the Hungarian Chamber. These markings establish beyond doubt that the charter once belonged to the National Archives or one of its predecessor institutions. But when did it leave?<\/p>\n\n

Thanks to the staff of the National Archives of Hungary, we were able to discover that in the place where the charter should have been preserved under its former reference\u2014Neo-regestrata Acta, fasc. 534, no. 27\u2014there is instead a removal slip recording the circumstances under which the document was taken from the collection. According to this slip, the original charter was handed over to the Royal Director of Legal Affairs on 15 December 1841. The official who signed the slip, \u201cWezinger\u201d\u2014K\u00e1roly Wezinger, registrar\u2014even recorded the reference numbers of the instructions under which the document had been retrieved. Further research may eventually reveal why Ferenc Ill\u00e9sh\u00e1zy\u2019s declaration was required and perhaps even which other records left the Archives of the Hungarian Chamber together with it. It is probably not far from the truth to suppose that the Royal Director of Legal Affairs was investigating the legal status of certain Ill\u00e9sh\u00e1zy estates. \n \nIn the summer of 1838, Count Istv\u00e1n Ill\u00e9sh\u00e1zy had died, bringing the centuries-old family to extinction in the male line. The Treasury would therefore have had good reason to investigate whether the Crown had any legal claim to part of the family\u2019s enormous landed estate. \n \nOne thing, however, is certain: for the next 185 years, the charter never returned to its proper place. It may have become lost among the records of the Royal Directorate of Legal Affairs, or perhaps it was later discarded. From there, it must have followed an eventful path, passing through numerous hands before finally appearing on the antiquarian market in 2026. Now, after 185 years, it is finally returning to the place where it belongs.<\/p>\n\n

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Abstract of the Charter:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

5 February 1634.<\/strong> The Chapter of Esztergom records that, at the request of Ferenc Ill\u00e9sh\u00e1zy (gen. et magn.), it delegated Benedek Kisdy, Provost of the Church of St George at Esztergom-Z\u00f6ldmez\u0151, and succustos<\/em> Istv\u00e1n Mihaly, to witness and hear the following declaration. Upon their return, they reported under oath that on 5 February they had gone to the house of J\u00e1nos Chere\u00f6dy (nob. et circumsp.) in the city of Nagyszombat, where they found Ferenc Ill\u00e9sh\u00e1zy seriously ill. Before the delegated witnesses, and assuming responsibility for all his relatives and especially for his children\u2014Tam\u00e1s, Istv\u00e1n and Zs\u00f3fia (gen. dom.), wife of Ferenc Ochkay (egr.)\u2014Ill\u00e9sh\u00e1zy, after mature deliberation, made the following declaration. Compelled by his present necessities, and particularly by the expenses arising from his serious and dangerous illness\u2014including payments to physicians and apothecaries, the cost of medicines, and other expenses necessary for his recovery\u2014he pledged his entire small estate (possessiuncula) called K\u00f6zeps\u0151 Behenicz in Nyitra County, together with all its revenues and appurtenances, to Mih\u00e1ly Vizkelethi of Septincz Uyffalu (magnificus) and his heirs for the sum of one thousand Hungarian florins, which he actually received in the presence of the witnesses. The pledge was made on the condition that Ferenc or his heirs might redeem the estate at any time upon repayment of the same sum. The pledgee and his heirs would nevertheless remain entitled to harvest crops already growing within the boundaries of the estate and to collect outstanding dues. Ferenc undertook warranty for the transaction. Datum in festo Agathae virg. et mart., 1634.<\/p>\n\n

The charter survives on paper, torn along its folds, with a paper-covered seal on the reverse and the stamp of the Archives of the Hungarian Chamber impressed over the initial letter of the text. Beneath the text, on the right, appears the notation \u201cLecta.\u201d In the lower right-hand corner of the reverse, a contemporary hand wrote: Pro magnifico domino Michaele Vizkelethy. Another, approximately contemporary hand added: Illeshazi Ferencz, Ke\u00f6zepse Behenicz. Former archival references: Ill\u00e9sh\u00e1zy Elen. II. nr. 8 and N. R. A. fasc. 534. no. 27.<\/p>\n\n

Tibor Neumann<\/p>\n\n

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