Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov – Special Issue Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 10 (59) No. 1 - 2017

ADMINISTRATIVE-TERRITORIAL LAIC INSTITUTIONS IN 12TH CENTURY MEDIEVAL TRANSYLVANIAN DOCUMENTS

Alexandru CIOLTEI1

Abstract: The realm of Hungary has known a territorial expansion during the 12th century, which meant that Transylvania was also included on this particular expansion route. It was gradually included within the realm, on two axes: north-west and south-east. After the conquering stage, the organizational one followed. It was during this latter period, that the practice of institutional- administrative writing was growing roots on a European level. The Hungarian royal authority fully understood the importance and necessity of implementing this practice. The present paper is an attempt to analyze 12th century medieval documents which make reference to the particular administrative-territorial institutions that were developed in Transylvania and to the personalities that occupied positions within these institutions.

Key words: county, medieval Transylvania, 12th century, medieval documents.

1. Introduction

The occupation of Transylvania by the Hungarian royal authority is seen as the first phase within the process of enclosing this territory within the realm of Hungary. The next stage meant introducing a new administrative-territorial structure. The Hungarian administrative apparatus had to make use of the already existing and functioning administrative units in Transylvania during the 11th century. The transition from the existing system to the entailed one took place during the 12th century. It was at that point, that the royal authority started to favour the European medieval pattern for regional administrative-territorial units.

2. Administrative-Territorial Laic Structures

At the start of the 11th century, an important part of Transylvania entered under the authority of the Hungarian kingdom. This was the consequence of the conflict between Stephen I. and Gyula. The Hungarian domination was thus emerging over the northern, western and central parts of this region. The Hungarian royalty faced a new challenge: to assert itself through an administrative-territorial organization, replacing thus the old structures. A first consequence consisted in an initial overlapping of autochthonous and Hungarian institutions (Pascu, 1972,

1 Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, [email protected] 12 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Series VII • Vol. 10 (59) No. 1 - 2017 p.95). The first territorial structuring of this region took place during the reign of Stephen I. During a first phase, the administrative-territorial ecclesiastical institutions served as patterns for the counties. The territories of the counties overlapped the one of the dioceses. (Niedermaier, 2012, p. 68) At that point, only a small number of counties existed as such. In spite of their small number, the area covered by these counties was larger than the one covered by the newly developed ones. Initially, the counties of Dăbâca and Alba were brought into existence. Alba was the first one to be developed in Transylvania, encompassing a significant part of the region’s southern area. The western part of the region was divided, namely structured into the counties of Bihor and Cenad. All of these emerged surrounding important settlements, such as: Dăbâca, Alba Iulia, Biharia and Cenad. (Kristó, 2005, p. 1050) The restructuring of the territorial units was further on developed during the 12th and 13th centuries. Within the Hungarian kingdom, the county was a relatively small sized administrative- territorial unit in comparison with the duchy, the voivodeship and the banate. This unit is known in the medieval documents as comitatus, led by a comes. The importance of this structure was twofold. On the one hand, the counties expressed a military character, the so called iobagiones castri residing inside the territorial existing fortifications. By definition, this was a group obliged to carry out a military service. On the other hand, the counties expressed also an economic character, the comes being appointed to manage the entire territory appointed to him. The first comites were mentioned in documents dating back to the 12th centuries. It was during the same century, that counties such as Bihor, Sătmar or Crasna were being documented in the western part of present day Romania, in the region of Crișana. More to the south, in the region of Banat, three counties were named at that time: Timiș, Cenad and Caraș. The county of Bihor stretched over an important territorial unit, located between the Pannonian Plain to the west and the Western Carpathians to the east. Biharea was the the admnistrative centre of this particular county (DIR C, XI-XIII. vol. I, p. 2, no. 2). By analyzing the 12th century documents, we are able to trace back the importance and the rank given to the postion of comes of Bihor. Speaking in terms of their quantity, the 12th century documents are not that many and the ones referring to the county of Bihor are even fewer. Furthermore, we do not know exactly when the county was founded. What we do know is that this particular administrative unit dates back to the end of the 11th century, if not to the first years of the 12th one. (Pascu, 1972, p. 135) The importance is thus given by a document issued in 1075 which mentioned several establishments that were given to the county. Moreover, the fortification of Biharea was also mentioned within this document (DIR. C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 1-2, no. 1) Regardless of an approximately 50-year gap, the 14 documents contain the names of 7 personalities who were appointed comes of Bihor. Out of all these comites, Micha (Mike or Mica) stands out. We do not know for how long he was holding this position, but in 1191 he was replaced by Nicolae for a short period. At this point, we should mention, at the turn of the century that Micha was also holding the most important position within the realm. He was appointed comes palatinus. In Crișana, the existing documents are mentioning Ianos, comes of Crasna in 1164 (DIR. C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 3, no. 7) and Nicolae, comes of Sătmar in 1181 (DIR. C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 6-8, no. 13). The county of Sătmar stretched around the eponymous fortress. To the north, the county bordered with the Tisza River and to the east, with the Oaș and Gutâi mountains. To its south, the county was neighboured by the county of Solnoc, its natural borders being the Chioarului Hills, the Codrului Hill and the Crasnei Hills all along to the Tisza River. (Niedermaier, 2012, p. 71) In comparison with the references regarding the comites of Bihor, the documents attesting the latter are considerably fewer. A. CIOLTEI: Administrative-Territorial Laic Institutions in Medieval Transylvanian Documents13

The comes of Bihor during the 12th century Table 1 The name of the appointee and The mentioned Document edition the held position year Saul, comes of Bihor 1111 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 2, no. 2 Saul, comes of Bihor 1113 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 2, no. 3 Bucan, comes curiali et Bichoriensi 1135 Monumenta Hungariae Historica. Diplomataria, vol. VI, p. 49-50, no. 19 Achus, comes of Bihor 1138 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 2-3, no. 4 Esew, comes of Bihor 1181 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 6-8, no. 13 Esau or Esew, comes of Bihor 1183 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 9-10, no. 15 Petru, comes of Bihor 1197 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 12-13, no. 20 Micha, comes of Bihor 1198 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 13, no. 22 Mica, magister cubiculariorum (head 1198 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 13-14, of the royal chambers) and comes of no. 23 Bihor Micha comes curiali (placeholder for 1199 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 16, no. the comes) and comes of Bihor 28 Nicolae, comes of Bihor 1199 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 16-17, no. 29 Mike, comes of Bihor 1199 DIR C, XI-XIII, p. 17-18, no. 30

Mike, comes of Bihor 1199 DIRC C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 18, no. 31

Mika, comes palatinus (head of the 1200 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 19, royal household; com-mander of the no. 33 royal host and king’s deputy after the mid-12th century) and comes of Bihor

Based on the availability of documents, as a first conclusion we can state that only the county of Bihor was stated as a an administrative-territorial unit in north-western Transylvania during the first half of the 12th century. Subsequently, during the second half of the same century, the counties of Crasna and Sătmar were being mentioned together with the one of Bihor. Currently, the diplomatic information for the region of Banat is relatively reduced in comparison to the ones regarding the region approached so far. For the first phase of the administrative development, we are able to suppose that the county of Cenad was the only 14 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Series VII • Vol. 10 (59) No. 1 - 2017 administrative unit functioning as such. Esau, comes curialis and comes of Cenad was mentioned for the first time in 1197, at the same marking the first documentation of the county. (DIR. C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 12-13, no. 20) This comes Esau is most likely the same person with the one referred to within the documents between 1181-1183 as occupying the position of comes of Bihor. Two years later, a new document was issued, where a one Weyceh was referred to as comes of Cenad. (DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 16, no. 28) We might suspect that the administrative-territorial unit was founded sometime during the first half of the 12th century. The argument in this respect would be an 1111 issued document, referring to one Laurențiu, bishop of Cenad. (DIR. C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 2, no. 2) Thus, organizing the laic administrative-territorial unit would have taken place at some point after the ecclesiastic one had started to function. The time frame between the two documents is nonetheless a bit too extended. Two further administrative-territorial units were summarily mentioned during the second part of the 12th century, the Timiș and the Caraș counties. (Oța, 2002) A certain Pancracius comes Tenissiensis (DIR. C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 6, no. 12; Wenzel, VI, p. 69- 70, no. 33) is referred to in 1177 in the county of Timiș and Wieteh as comes curiali and comes of Caraș (DIR. C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 19, no. 33) in 1200. The Timiș county used to occupy an important area along the Timiș River, going all the way through the Timiș- Cerna corridor and down to the Danube. The Caraș county had built its southern border, stretching between the Danube and to the west all the way to the Tisza River. (Niedermaier, 2012, p. 75) Within the Carpathian basin, the supreme authority during the 12th century was not carried out by the voivode. This particularity is traceable by going over the royal solemn documents. The dignitary lists of these royal documents comprise not only the voivodes, but also, right next by their side, the comites of the northern counties. This is easy to understand, if we are to take into consideration that the voivode’s authority was wielded in southern Transylvania, having been extended to the region north of the Mureș River during the 13th century. (Makkai, 2001, p. 397) This position was held during the 12th century by two persons, Legforus (Kovács, 2011, p. 14), as it is stated in a document from 1199 (DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 16-17, no. 29), and Eth, mentioned in a document from 1200 (DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. 1, p. 19, no. 33). The counties inside the Carpathian Basin came across a series of changes as a consequence of the territorial restructuring, which took place during the second half of the 12th century. The county of Solnoc initially stretched in the west from the Tisza River to the central Transylvanian part. After its reorganization, the county was divided into four smaller ones: Dăbâca, Inner Solnoc, Outer Solnoc and Middle Solnoc. However, we are not sure when this territorial division took place. Most likely it all happened gradually. By means of a document issued in 1164, we are able to state that by that point the process had already started. This particular document was confirming the emergence of the county of Dăbâca through the naming of Eustach as its comes. (DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, pp. 3-4, no. 7) In respect to the county of Solnoc, we do not know when exactly was it divided into three smaller ones. This decision likely took place in the last years of the 12th century. (Pascu, 1972, p. 133) The confirmation of this situation is being emphasized by means of documents’ analysis, on which occasion we are able to observe that this position was held by two persons.

A. CIOLTEI: Administrative-Territorial Laic Institutions in Medieval Transylvanian Documents15

The comites of Solnoc during the 12th century Table 2 The name of the appointee and the The mentioned Document edition held position year Hermo, comes of Solnoc 1197 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, pp. 12-13, no. 20 Petru, comes curial and comes of Solnoc 1198 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 13, no. 22 Ampudin, comes of Solnoc 1199 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 16, no. 28 Tiburțiu, comes of Solnoc 1199 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, pp. 16-17, no. 29 Ampudin, comes of Solnoc 1199 DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 18, no. 31

Another county that emerged during the process of administrative-territorial reorganization was the county of Cluj. This one found its way into an independent administrative unit by detaching from the northern part of the Alba county. The structure of Cluj was mentioned in a document from 1177, on which occasion the comes Toma was referred to. (DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 6, no. 12; Wenczel, VI, p. 69-70, no. 33) Gall, comes of Alba was also named within this document, thus marking the first mention of the county managed by him. (Kovács, 2007-2008, pp. 203-204) Subsequently, he would also be the one to simultaneously hold the position of comes of Cluj (DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 10, no. 16) One Toma, comes of Alba, was invoked in two documents from 1111 (DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, pp. 1-2, no. 1) and 1113 (DIR C, vol. XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 2, no. 2). However, we cannot state with certainty whether it was the case of Alba Regia or Alba Iulia. We might be inclined to accept the fact that the county of Alba emerged before this document was issued. The initial territory comprised inside this administrative-territorial unit was much more extended during the 11th century. Its territory became smaller after the Transylvanian Saxons’ settlement and the following reorganization. It was at that point, that the counties of Turda, Hunedoara and Târnava had split from it and asserted themselves as independent structures. (Kovács, 2011, p. 12) The medieval documents issued between in 1111 and 1113 were naming, together with the above-mentioned institutions, one Mercurius princeps Ultrasilvanus. He was cited within a witness list. The principality was a central political institution, originating from the German milieu. (Nägler, 2003) However, the most important office in Transylvania was the duchy. Two dignitaries were named as holding this position during the 12th century. The first one was referred to in a document from 1075 (DIR C, XI-XIII, vol. I, p. 1-2, no. 1), where one Ladislau dux was mentioned by king Géza I. Ladislau was most likely the king’s brother and the next to hold the realm’s crown of his head. The second documents referring to a dux dates back to 1165. It was on that occasion that one Almus dux was mentioned. However, we do not have much information regarding this position. What we know for certain is that, during the 13th century, this became a position to be occupied only by the successors to the Hungarians crown. The effort undertaken by the Hungarian royalty for reorganizing the administrative- territorial system was a huge one and is not to pass by unnoticed. This was a long process, 16 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Series VII • Vol. 10 (59) No. 1 - 2017 initially stretching over more than 50 years.

3. Conclusions

The administrative-territorial restructuring in Transylvania was a necessity for the Hungarian kingdom. The old, existing units were seen as an inefficient setback. Resizing the counties into smaller ones led to units that were easier to manage. This became an administrative-territorial structure pattern that went on and marked its influence upon Transylvania up until present day.

References

Primary sources Documente privind Istoria Romîniei. Seria C. Veacul XI-XIII (vol. I) [Documents on the Romania History. Series C. The 11th -13th century]. (1951). București: Editura Academiei Republicii Populare Romîne. Monumenta Hungariae Historica. Diplomataria (vol. VI). (1960). Pesta: Eggenberger, Ferdinánd.

Secondary sources Kovács, A. (2007-2008). Administrația comitatului Hunedoara în Evul Mediu [Administration of Hunedoara county in Middle Ages]. Acat Musei Devensis – Sargetica, XXXV-XXXVI, 203-240. Kovács, A. (2011). Voievozi și vicevoievozi la conducerea comitatului Alba în evul mediu [Voivodes and vice-leaders at the head of the Alba county in the Middle Ages]. Annales Universitatis Apulensis. Series Historica, 15(1), p. 7-41. Kristó, G. (2005). Geschichte des Frühen Siebenbürgens. Herne: Gabriele Schäfer Publishing House. Makkai, L. (2001). Transylvania in the Medieval Hungarian Kingdom 896-1526. History of Transylvania from the beginnings to 1606, vol. I. New York: Columbia University Press, p. 333-592. Nägler, T. (2003). Transilvania între 900 și 1300 [Transylvania between 900 and 1300]. In I. A. Pop (Ed.). Istoria Transilvaniei [History of Transylvania], vol. I. Cluj-Napoca: Centrul de Studii Transilvane. Niedermaier, P. (2012). Habitatul medieval în Transilvania [Medieval habitat in Transylvania]. București: Academia Română. Oța, S. (2002). Câteva date de ordin istoric privind evoluția teritorială a comitatului Caraș până în secolul XIV [Some historical data on the territorial development of Caraş County until the 14th century]. Muzeul Național de Istorie, XIV, p. 36-43. Pascu, Ș. (1972). Voievodatul Transilvaniei [Transylvanian Voivodeship] (vol. I). Cluj- Napoca: Dacia.