Medieval Hungary
Hungarians have lived in the Carpathian Basin for over a thousand years. The area is surrounded by the Alpine mountain complex and the northern chains of the Carpathians, making it a frequent meeting place and battle ground for western and eastern powers. The first period of Hungarian history in the Carpathian Basin (896-1301) was largely under the dynasty of the chief conquering prince, Árpád. The Árpád family brought Latin Christianity to Hungary and developed economic and political institutions that followed western European models, though always modified to suit local customs. In 1241, the Mongols invaded, turning major portions of the Carpathian Basin into a wasteland. The reconstruction that followed further moved Hungary toward western influences and developed a society divided into distinct classes.
​
After the death of Andrew III, the last Árpád, Hungary’s throne became a mixing pot. Rulers from Bohemia, Bavaria, Luxemburg, Austria, Poland, and Naples all took the throne at one point. This era ended with the Battle of Mohács in 1526 when the Ottomans dominated.
As a result, Hungary was divided in three. The center of the country remained in Ottoman hands for 150 years during which the population dropped to half its previous number and soil eroded so drastically that the effects lasted until the mid 1900s. The northwest edge of the country (where Erzsébet lived) elected Ferdinand Habsburg as King of Hungary, beginning the Habsburg empire which lasted until 1918. The northeast edge of the country, effectively an independent Transylvania, elected János Zapolyai. The three areas of Hungary were at war with each other repeatedly during the next 150 years. These conflicts involved important religious, cultural, and constitutional issues. The Reformation reached Hungary during this time, first in its Lutheran and then Calvinist versions. Unitarianism was born in Transylvania in the 1560s. These conflicts, including continued attempts by the Ottomon Empire to conquer more of Europe, were active during the time of our story.
ÄŒachtice Castle
Perhaps her most notorious castle, this is where Erzsébet was confined toward the end of her life. ÄŒachtice Castle (also known as Csejthe) is a historic site in what is now Slovakia. The castle sits atop a limestone-dolomite hill in the ÄŒachtice Kras above the Jablonka brook in the northernmost part of the Little Carpathians.
​
Architecture
It was originally built in 1263 at the behest of King Belo IV. The castle passed through many hands, eventually landing with Stibor II in 1414. At this time, a courtyard with a Gothic chapel, defense walls with a corridor and battlements, outbuilding, and a tunnel like entrance were added. In 1436, under ownership of Michal Országh de Guth, a three story chapel was added on. Ownership of the castle eventually passed to the Nádasdy family in 1569 as payment from the crown for another castle. Ferenc took official ownership of the castle in 1602, shortly before his death.
After Erzsébet’s imprisonment and death, the castle was converted into a fortress and was raided by the Turks. Extensive restorations were done between 1664 and 1670. In 1703, the castle fell into the hands of rebels. In 1707, the castle was reoccupied by troops and the defense walls were destroyed so that it couldn’t be used by rebels again. The castle was instead used as a prison for some time and in 1799 it was abandoned and burned down. Since then, the castle has been deserted. It was partially secured in 1990 and in 2012 an archaeology and restoration project began. The castle was opened to visitors in 2014.
Sárvár “mud castle"
Built over swamp and moorlands 200km outside of Budapest, Sárvár literally translates to "mud castle." The first known reference to Sárvár is in a document from 1288 when the palatine, János KÅ‘szegi, invited the nobleman from Vas county to the castle for a meeting. The castle was seized by the crown in 1319 and remained in royal hands until 1390. The castle's current architectural form was established during Tamás Nádasdy's reign between 1549 and 1562. The castle is adorned with famous paintings on the ceiling depicting battle scenes are one of the most monumental, large-scale Hungarian Baroque pieces of art, and it is the only one which is still intact. The paintings were made by Hans Rudolf Miller 1653 and they depict the battles of the Black Bey himself, Ferenc Nádasdy II.
