Henrik Marczali about Transylvania

Abstract

Henrik Marczali presents the past of the eastern province embedded in the general Hungarian history; his approach is not Transylvanistic. The present study lists in chronological order the Transylvanian events, the method of their discussion, occurring in Marczali’s works of Hungarian history and illustrates the author’s style with ample quotations.

The most important events of medieval Transylvania are included in the volume of several hundred pages titled History of Hungary in the Age of the Árpáds, published in 1896. Relying on sources, Marczali discusses in detail the origin of the Szeklers, the settling process of the Saxons, and the arrival of the Romanians. In describing the Mongol invasion, he quotes Gibbon’s favorable opinion about the work of Canon Rogerius.

Hungary’s History from the Treaty of Satu Mare to the Congress of Vienna (1711–1815), published in 1898, also includes Transylvanian events, presenting their significance to the whole and highlighting its special characteristics. In his opinion, upon adopting of the Pragmatica Sanctio Transylvania was the experimental site. He writes extensively about the causes of the peasant uprising led by Horea, placing the movement in a regional context.

The second volume of his monumental work titled History of Hungary in the Age of Joseph II., published in 1885, contains several special issues regarding Transylvania, such as the decree of tolerance and its consequences in the eastern province. When processing the history of Horea’s peasant revolt, he used as source the official documents.

History of Transylvania, one of Marczali’s last works was published in 1935, this being a summary of everything he wanted to tell about the past of the eastern province based on his earlier researches. His volume is not suitable for a detailed study of the Transylvanian history, but even without reference sources, it is observable that he rephrased the previously published sections with great knowledge of the material.